Saturday, 12th December 2026

Asritha Johnson Daughter of Raoul Johnson and Saritha Johnson & Elvis Rodrigues Son of Ruth Sandya Rodrigues and the late Louis Rodrigues

Nusa Dua · Bali · Indonesia

The Ceremony · Apurva Chapel · Apurva Kempinski The Reception · Cloud Nine Lawn · St. Regis

—Days
—Hours
—Minutes
—Seconds

Our forever begins on the shores of the
Indian Ocean.

Bali is a long way from most of the places you will be flying from, and we know that asking you to come is asking a lot. So we have tried to make it worth the trip: one long weekend, one small island, a chapel of glass over the water, and a lawn where dinner runs until the band stops.

Everything you need to plan the journey is on this page — where to land, how to get a visa, where to sleep, and what to wear on grass. When you are ready, tell us you are coming at the bottom.

Asritha & Elvis

Saturday, 12 December 2026

The arc of the day

We begin in the full heat of the afternoon and finish long after dark. Here is the whole of it, laid out against the light.

1:00 – 2:00 PM The Ceremony THE APURVA CHAPEL, Apurva Kempinski Hotel Doors open at 12:45 pm. Please be seated by 12:55.

Select a time to see what happens

Friday 11 December · 5:00 pm Onwards

Welcome Sundowner — Elara at Hilton Bali Resort

An easy, unstructured evening for everyone who has landed — drinks, small plates, games and conversation.

Two addresses, ten minutes apart

Where it happens

The Ceremony · 1:00 – 2:00 pm

The Apurva Chapel

The Apurva Kempinski Bali

Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan Lot SW/1, Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali 80361

A glass pavilion set on the cliff edge, with nothing behind the altar but the Indian Ocean. The resort itself descends the hillside in stone terraces, so allow a few minutes to walk down — or take one of the buggies waiting at the lobby.

The chapel is covered and air-conditioned, and the walkways are stone. Heels are fine here.

Open in Google Maps →

The reception · 5:30 pm onwards

Cloud Nine Lawn

The St. Regis Bali Resort

Kawasan Pariwisata, Nusa Dua Lot S6, Benoa, Badung Regency, Bali 80363

An open lawn facing the water, where cocktails start as the sun goes down and dinner is served under the sky. This is where the evening lives: speeches, family performances and a live band.

This part of the night is on grass. Block heels, wedges or flats will serve you far better than stilettos.

Open in Google Maps →

Transportation will carry everyone between the two venues, and back to the main Nusa Dua hotels at the end of the night. You will not need to arrange a car.

Getting to the island

Travel

Nusa Dua sits at the southern tip of Bali, about half an hour from the airport. Entry rules do change, so please confirm anything official against your own passport before you book.

Fly into DPS

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), Denpasar. It is a 25–35 minute drive to Nusa Dua, on a toll road most of the way.

Aim to land on Thursday 10 or Friday 11 December. Arriving on the morning of the wedding is possible but unkind to yourself — the ceremony starts at one o'clock.

Arriving

We will arrange airport transfers for anyone who wants one.

If you would rather make your own way, Grab and Bluebird taxis both operate from the airport, and every hotel listed below runs its own car service.

Practicalities

  • Time zone — WITA, UTC+8
  • Currency — Indonesian rupiah; cards work everywhere in Nusa Dua
  • Power — 230V, European two-pin plugs (type C/F)
  • Weather — 28–31°C, humid, with a short heavy shower most afternoons
  • Language — Indonesian; English is spoken across the resorts

Entering Indonesia

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your arrival date, and One official site now handles the whole thing.

Start with the arrival card

A single official government site now covers the whole process — both the arrival card and the Visa on Arrival:

It begins with the arrival card. You can only apply for it up to a maximum of three days before you travel, so set a reminder rather than trying to do it the moment you book.

Use only the imigrasi.go.id address. Search results are full of agents charging several times the government fee.

Then pay for your VOA

Once your arrival card QR code comes through, the same portal offers you the option to pay for your Visa on Arrival there and then. Take it.

At that point you will only receive a payment receipt. The visa email itself arrives once you have passed through the auto gate or the immigration officer — so do not worry when nothing lands in your inbox before you fly.

You will need: a passport valid at least six months beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket, and one blank page.

On arrival — use the auto gates

Skip the queue for the immigration agents and use the green auto gates instead; they are much faster. Head to the far-left side of the hall, where most of the gates are, and avoid the right-hand side.

If you are travelling with very young children, use the agents instead and ask staff whether you can skip the queue — they will usually point you to the local or airline staff line.

Bali tourist levy (optional) — a one-off IDR 150,000 per person, payable at lovebali.baliprov.go.id or on arrival. Keep the voucher; it is occasionally checked at attractions.

Please do all of this before you fly

We strongly encourage you to complete the arrival card and pay for your visa before you leave home. The queues for Visa on Arrival can be extensive, and airport Wi-Fi problems can make obtaining the arrival card QR code slow and frustrating at exactly the wrong moment.

Routes to Bali

Roughly where each of you is flying from, and how the connections tend to work.

From India

One-stop routings are plentiful and cheap. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are the natural connections from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad — roughly 11–14 hours door to door.

Singapore Airlines and Scoot, Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, Thai and Vietjet all serve this. Seasonal direct services to Denpasar also appear in the December peak; worth a look, but do not wait on them.

From the United States

West Coast — the shortest path is over the Pacific. From LAX, SFO or SEA connect through Tokyo (Haneda or Narita), Seoul Incheon, Taipei or Hong Kong, then a 5–7 hour hop south to Denpasar. Total 22–26 hours.

East Coast — from JFK, EWR, IAD or ATL, go east instead: Doha, Dubai or Istanbul, then one flight to Bali. Or route via Tokyo and Singapore. Total 26–30 hours.

You lose a day. Crossing the date line means a Wednesday departure becomes a Friday arrival. Leave the US no later than Wednesday 9 December, and give yourself the Friday to sleep.

From Australia

You have the easiest journey of anyone. Bali is a direct flight from Perth, Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Cairns.

  • Darwin — about 2h 45m
  • Perth — about 3h 30m
  • Melbourne, Adelaide — about 5h 45m
  • Sydney, Brisbane — about 6h 15m

Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, Garuda and Batik Air all fly the route. December is school-holiday season, so fares climb sharply after September — book early.

Travel insurance

Indonesia does not require it to let you in, and we are not going to nag. But this is a long way from home in the wet season, and the one thing worth ten minutes of your time before you book.

What to look for

  • Medical cover — treatment in Bali is not free, and private clinics ask for payment or a guarantee before they treat
  • Emergency evacuation — the number that matters most. Serious cases are flown to Singapore, and an air ambulance runs into tens of thousands of dollars
  • Trip cancellation and delay — December is the wet season and connections do get missed
  • Baggage and passport — dull until the morning of the wedding, when it is not

Travelling from India

Tata AIG International Plus is the one most of our families use — medical cover from USD 50,000 up to USD 1 million, from around ₹29 a day, and you can pick a region that excludes the USA and Canada, which is considerably cheaper for an Asia trip.

ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO and Bajaj Allianz all offer comparable plans. Insurance is not compulsory for Indian passport holders entering Indonesia on a visa on arrival, so nobody will check it — buy it for yourself, not for the queue.

Travelling from elsewhere

From the US: your domestic health plan almost certainly does not follow you abroad. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions (the plans formerly sold as GeoBlue) covers single trips up to six months, with medical evacuation included and pre-existing conditions covered on the Platinum tier. Allianz Travel and Travel Guard are the usual alternatives.

From Australia: Cover-More, Allianz or Southern Cross. From the UK and the Gulf: an annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than a single-trip one if you travel at all — just check it covers Southeast Asia.

Two things that catch people out. Adventure activities are excluded from standard policies unless you buy the add-on — which matters if you are joining us for the volcano trek, the rafting or anything involving a boat. And if you rent a scooter, almost every insurer will decline the claim unless you hold a valid motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit and were wearing a helmet. Bali's traffic is not the place to discover your policy has a gap.

Staying on

We are not rushing home, and neither should you.

Come with us

The two of us are staying through 17th December to explore Bali for a few days after the wedding, and you are very welcome to join us for any part of it. No commitment and no schedule — turn up for one day or all of them.

Tick the box in the RSVP or just tell us on the night, and we will add you to the group chat where the plans actually get made.

What we have in mind

  • A Catamaran Day December 14th — sailing out from the south coast, swimming off the boat, lunch at Nusa Penida
  • Finns Beach Club December 15th — A vibrant beachfront escape where turquoise waters, golden sunsets, cocktails, and laid-back island energy come together
  • River Rafting through the Ubud Jungle December 16th — the Ayung river, gentle enough for beginners and beautiful the whole way down

Or go your own way

Ubud's rice terraces are two hours north. The Uluwatu cliffs and their sunset kecak are forty minutes west. The Gili Islands and Nusa Penida are both a fast boat away.

Ask either of us and we will happily point you at the places we love. We have been researching this for a while.

Where to sleep

Rooms in Nusa Dua

Everything below is in or immediately beside the Nusa Dua enclave, within fifteen minutes of the reception, and all our shuttles will serve them. They run from the very grand to the very reasonable, so pick what suits you rather than what suits the occasion.

Ceremony venue

The Apurva Kempinski Bali

The most dramatic address on the island: a hillside carved into stone terraces that step all the way down to a private beach, built to look like a Balinese temple complex. Staying here puts you a two-minute walk from the chapel.

  • LandscapeClifftop terraces above the Indian Ocean, private beach at the bottom
  • PoolsA 60-metre cascading main pool down the terraces, plus a beach club pool and private plunge pools in the villas
  • Best forAnyone who wants the wedding to start the moment they wake up
Expensive

Reception venue

The St. Regis Bali Resort

Flat, green and beachfront, right beside the Cloud Nine Lawn. The most convenient option for the Saturday night by a distance — you can walk to bed. This is where the two of us will be.

  • LandscapeGardens and palms on the beach, opening onto Nusa Dua's calm reef-protected water
  • PoolsA large saltwater lagoon that many suites open directly onto, plus a main pool and a quiet adults' pool
  • Best forNot having to think about transport at midnight
Expensive

Ten minutes away

Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort

The same beachfront as the St. Regis, a little further along, at a noticeably friendlier rate. Large rooms, a good breakfast, and a proper stretch of sand.

  • LandscapeBeachfront, tropical gardens, wide open lawns
  • PoolsA big lagoon-style pool with swim-up rooms and a separate family pool
  • Best forFamilies and anyone travelling with children
Mid-range

Ten minutes away

Novotel Bali Nusa Dua Hotel & Residences

Inside the same gated Nusa Dua complex as the reception, spread across nearly five hectares of garden rather than stacked into a tower. The residences come with kitchens, living and dining rooms, which makes it the sensible choice if you are bringing family or staying on afterwards.

  • LandscapeLow-rise buildings scattered through tropical gardens and fish ponds, with its own beach club on the sand
  • PoolsA 1,500 square-metre two-tier lagoon pool at the centre of the grounds, plus a children's pool
  • Best forFamilies, and anyone who wants a kitchen and a bit of space
Affordable

Ten minutes away · newly opened

Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua

The newest room in the area and the cheapest on this list: it reopened under the Hilton Garden Inn name in late 2025 after a full refurbishment, so everything in it is box-fresh. It sits on Jalan Pratama, just north of the Nusa Dua gates on the Tanjung Benoa side.

  • LandscapeA short walk from Tanjung Benoa beach; town rather than resort grounds
  • PoolsOne outdoor pool, plus a jungle-themed kids' club with a movie room and supervised activities
  • Best forKeeping the room bill down, and families who want a kids' club
Affordable

Twelve minutes away

Courtyard by Marriott Bali Nusa Dua

Set back from the water rather than on it, which is precisely why it costs a fraction of the others. Clean, modern, reliable, and a five-minute shuttle from the beach clubs. If you would rather spend the money on the catamaran than the pillow, stay here.

  • LandscapeInland within the Nusa Dua complex; free shuttle to the beach
  • PoolsA large central pool with a children's section and a waterslide
  • Best forLonger stays, and anyone who plans to be out all day anyway
Affordable

Price scale runs from one dot (affordable) to five (expensive), comparing December rates within Nusa Dua.

We can ask for a discount on your behalf. Tell us which hotel you are looking at in the RSVP and we will put your name on the wedding block and try to get you a better rate at The Apurva Kempinski or The St. Regis Resort. Bali in December is busy, so book early either way — rates and availability both move against you after September.

The dress code

December in Bali is warm, tropical, and humid, with the island in its rainy season, so think light and breathable for your stay here.

Welcome Party

December 11th Friday, 5:00 pm, Elara at Hilton Bali Resort — Theme: FLORAL

Women

Romantic prints, soft colours, and garden inspired patterns. Floor-length or midi dresses in a fabric that breathes — silk, linen, chiffon, cotton. Saris and lehengas with floral details are perfect and will look wonderful in that light.

Men

Floral Shirts - tropical prints, subtle florals, or playful patterns are all welcome. Kurtas and bandhgalas are equally at home.

Skip: Heavy dark wool. You will regret it.

The Wedding

December 12th Saturday, 1:00 pm, the Apurva Chapel — Theme: FORMAL and PASTEL COLORS

Women

Pastel greens, yellows, pinks, purples, blues etc — a sari in those colours, or western formalwear if you prefer. The chapel is glass and the light is extraordinary; colour photographs beautifully in it.

Men

Blue or Black suit. The chapel is air-conditioned, so a jacket is comfortable for the hour you are in it, and easy to shed afterwards.

Please avoid

White, ivory and brown. The first two belong to the bride, and the third disappears against the stone and the sand in every photograph taken that afternoon.

The Reception

December 12th Saturday evening, 6:30 pm, Cloud Nine Lawn — Theme: BLING

The Theme is Bling

There are no colour rules. Pick a colour that pops, bring the sparkle, and flaunt your finest look. Change out of what you wore to the chapel if you want to; most people will.

Women

Think glamorous, comfortable, and effortlessly you. Flowing dresses, sarees, lehengas, are all welcome. Sequins, shimmer, crystals and statement jewellery — wear your finest. If you'd like to keep it simple just wear a color that pops. Keep it light and breathable for Bali’s warm, humid evening, and choose flats, wedges or block heels for the grass. Barefoot on the beach later? Absolutely encouraged.

Men

You’re completely welcome to keep wearing what you wore to the chapel. Or, if you feel like switching it up, go for bold colors - statement shirts, kurtas, interesting textures, subtle shimmer, or a standout jacket — have fun with it. Opt for light, breathable fabrics and comfortable shoes suited to the grass.

Everything else

Questions we have been asked

When do you need to know if I am coming?

By Friday, 4 September 2026. Final numbers go to both hotels shortly after that, and we cannot add seats once they are locked. If your plans are still uncertain, tell us now anyway — a maybe is far more useful to us than silence.

Can I bring a plus-one?

We have kept the guest list small so the weekend feels like a group of people who know each other rather than a crowd. Plus ones are more than welcome, however we ask that you check with us before you RSVP for them

Are children invited?

Yes — children are very welcome at every part of the weekend. Add them in the RSVP with their ages so we can arrange the right seating and food, and tell us if you would like us to organise a sitter for the evening.

Can you help me get a better rate at the hotels?

We can try. Pick the hotel you are interested in from the dropdown in the RSVP and we will add your name to the wedding block and ask. We cannot promise anything — December is peak season in Nusa Dua — but we have had some success, and it costs nothing to ask.

What happens if it rains?

December showers in Bali are short and dramatic and usually over before you have finished your drink. The chapel is covered, and both venues hold indoor ballrooms on standby for the reception. Nothing gets cancelled; it simply moves inside for an hour.

How do I get between the ceremony and the reception?

There are three and a half hours between the two, which is deliberate — go back to your hotel, swim, sleep it off. Transportation to the St. Regis leaves at 5:00 pm, and shuttles run back to the main Nusa Dua hotels at the end of the night. There is no need to book a car.

Is there a gift registry?

Flying to Bali is a generous enough gift on its own, and we would far rather have you there than have anything shipped.

Can I take photographs during the ceremony?

We would love you to be fully present for the hour in the chapel, so we are asking for phones away during the ceremony itself — our photographer has it covered. Afterwards, please take everything you like and send it all to us using the QR Code on the site.

I have a dietary requirement. Will that be a problem?

Not at all. Vegetarian, vegan, Jain, halal, gluten-free and allergy-specific menus are all straightforward at both venues. Tell us in the RSVP and it will be arranged — please be specific about allergies rather than preferences, so the kitchens know where to be careful.

Who do I ask about something not covered here?

Write to us at ask@ashwedsel.com. We read everything, and we would much rather answer a question twice than have you guess.

Kindly reply by 20th September 2026

Will you be there?

One response per household. If you are travelling with others named on your invitation, add them all below.

Who you are
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Plans changed? Fill this in again and we will use your latest answer.

Thank you

After the weekend

Send us your photographs

Between all of you there will be a few thousand pictures of this weekend, and we will have seen almost none of them. Put yours in the shared album and we will get to see the parts of the day we missed.

How to add yours

  1. 1Scan the code with your phone camera, or use the button below.
  2. 2Sign in if Google asks you to, then choose the photos and videos you want to add.
  3. 3Upload them straight from your camera roll. Full-resolution files are very welcome; we would rather have the big ones.

Anything from the whole weekend belongs in there — the welcome drinks, the chapel, the lawn, the afterparty, and every badly-lit photograph taken after midnight.

Open the shared album
QR code linking to the shared photo album

Scan to add your photos