I am neither Balinese, nor am I a princess. But it was that secret wish into which I would be magically transformed on April 10th, 2006, my wedding day. Not forever - just for that day.
I've often heard it said that a girl's wedding day is the happiest day of her life. I had always found that a bit sad. To think of it as 'the happiest day of my life' - the apex of the
culmination of all of my childhood dreams, would then suggest that everything
thereafter goes downhill from that point. I found that quite a
depressing notion and rather chose to think of the day I would be
married, to be the launch of a new chapter from which a new era in my
life would begin with that someone special. That having been said, even with this mindset, you want it to be a special day, looking your best and with some control over the preparation and proceedings.
As Kadek, my Balinese husband to be, and I had made the decision to make Bali our home together and as the wedding was to take place there, we decided to go the whole Balinese nine yards with it. And thus, my control over anything to do with the wedding was thereby rescinded.
As Kadek, my Balinese husband to be, and I had made the decision to make Bali our home together and as the wedding was to take place there, we decided to go the whole Balinese nine yards with it. And thus, my control over anything to do with the wedding was thereby rescinded.
But a Balinese wedding meant donning Balinese wedding apparel. There are the golden earrings, the golden necklace, the golden arm bands and the golden headdress. The wedding 'dress' itself consisted of layered sarongs in red and gold and a long, wide strip of satiny material that's wrapped around the torso, twisted and over one shoulder. If this whole ensemble, in its regal elegance, has the ability to transform even the most common of Balinese village girls into the most enchanting Cinderella princess, then surely this was a trade off I'd be happy to make. However, operative word here, being 'Balinese'.
I am not Balinese and I was not sure how I would fare in this attire. But hope upon hope, once outfitted, gilded and dramatic make up applied, I too would make that magical metamorphosis. But alas, I looked more like a 'bule' going to a costume party than a Balinese princess.
I may not have looked the part, but that's not what really matters. I've been married now for just over seven years to the best husband a woman could hope for and every day since then has been, as it should be, the happiest day of my life.
John Lennon said: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Life is short. Appreciate and make the most of every day.
