Editor’s Favorite: Two Transportive Wedding Retreats in Bali Worth Knowing

At Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, exchange vows along Bali’s longest water wedding aisle, host an oceanfront reception at Coconut Grove, or celebrate in the privacy of a clifftop villa – all with panoramic Indian Ocean views. For those called to something more ethereal, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan offers a suspended lotus pond floating above the jungle, riverside ceremonies under banyan trees, and a setting that feels entirely transcendent.

Header Image: Four Seasons Resort at Sayan

Four Seasons Resort at Sayan

Weddings here dissolve into the landscape. Nothing is staged, the land leads. Vows unfold beneath banyan trees. Light pools at golden hour. The jungle listens. And just beyond the hush, Ubud breathes with ritual; temple bells, incense trails, a slower rhythm of life.

Sayan’s wellness rituals feel equally rooted. A 120-minute ceremony begins with frankincense smoke rising through an open-seated box, followed by sound healing and massage with local lemongrass, vetiver, and ginger. In the bamboo yoga bale, you can float in silk hammocks during a Sacred Nap, lulled by singing bowls and Sanskrit blessings.

At Sayan, time doesn’t pass. It softens. This is not just a destination, but a crossing – a place where you don’t arrive, you return. And so will we.

“It’s not just the beauty, that’s immediate upon arrival,” she shared. “It’s emotional. You feel it everywhere.”

Wedding Notes

Our creative director, Gabby, whose own chic wedding went viral and revealed her incredible attention to detail, immediately began dreaming the moment Jennifer’s images came pouring in. She found herself diving deep into each property’s characteristics. Gabby: “That lotus pond is beyond dreamy. The idea of exchanging vows or dining up there, suspended in stillness, is just magic.” Suspended above the jungle canopy, she imagines this serene circular pavilion offering a cinematic setting for a wedding ceremony surrounded by still water and tropical forest. “For a more intimate celebration,” she adds, “it could be transformed into a sculptural dining space: a long, candlelit tablescape floating above the pond, perfect at dusk or beneath the stars.”

Another idea that came to mind would be situated at the Ayung Terrace. Gabby envisions a curved tablescape that hugs the edge of the restaurant balcony, overlooking the jungle and creating a breathtaking setting for a welcome dinner or post-ceremony celebration. With the Jati Bar still vivid in her mind, Gabby offered, “Imagine standing in the center of those pillars exchanging vows. What a striking spot for a cocktail hour overlooking the trees.”

Further down by the riverbank, she noted the beauty of hosting a ceremony or drinks beneath the banyan trees. And for those dreaming of a true elopement, one of the private villas could offer the most intimate setting of all. Just the two of you, framed by nature.

Wedding Notables

From treetop ceremonies to riverside dinners, the property offers distinctive indoor-outdoor spaces immersed in nature:

Lotus Pond: Iconic floating circular rooftop venue above the forest canopy (up to 20 guests)
Riverside Pool Terrace: Under the trees, ideal for 30-person dinners or 80-person cocktail receptions
Ayung Terrace: Scenic covered terrace with capacity for up to 50 guests
Royal Villa: A secluded three-bedroom residence for private events up to 20 guests

Caters events from intimate 20-person receptions to 80-person cocktail celebrations

Largest: 80-person standing event by the riverside
Smallest: ceremonies or private dinners for two in secluded villas or rooftop spaces

“Tucked into the rice paddies, this place feels deeply secluded, but never isolated. The rainforest is always there – hugging you, holding you.”

“Weddings here dissolve into the landscape. Nothing is staged, the land leads. Vows unfold beneath banyan trees. Light pools at golden hour. The jungle listens. And just beyond the hush, Ubud breathes with ritual; temple bells, incense trails, a slower rhythm of life.”

Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay

Just steps beyond is the resort’s 57‑meter beachfront lap pool, the longest in Bali, edged by stone walls and palms. It recently captured attention with a discreet Dior installation, echoing the hotel’s fusion of artistry and elegance.

Another highlight is the striking TELU Bar, tucked in an herb‑garden courtyard and crafted almost entirely from upcycled materials, where zero‑waste cocktails celebrate local ingredients. “It has life‑force,” says Jennifer. “It’s the most stunning upscale distillery I’ve come across.”

Throughout, the thoughtfulness is near obsessive. Butter is hand-stamped with the Four Seasons logo. An entire house is devoted to pastry alone, with chefs trained in France. “You can feel the energy behind it all,” Jennifer says. “The time, the pride.”

Many of the staff have worked here for over 25 years. There’s a sense of quiet devotion: to the land, to the craft, to each guest’s experience. “They’ve stayed because they love it. And it shows,” she says.

A place for families. A place for honeymoons. A place where you may not feel the need to leave your villa at all. Just the sea, the sunrise, and the slow, elegant passing of time.

“It’s old-world Bali, but reimagined with contemporary restraint. Understated and incredibly luxurious, but it never loses its sense of place.”

Wedding Notes

Gabby also offers some thoughts for couples imagining a wedding at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay. “I am drawn to this idea of a ceremony at the infinity pool, with it being along Bali’s longest water wedding aisle. Visually it would be so striking: a clean, architectural moment, all reflected in water.” By the Coconut Grove, she imagines something softer and barefoot. “You could hold a ceremony or dinner right on the beach,” she muses, “or host cocktails as the light shifts. There’s a simplicity to it, but it still feels elevated.”

The Jimbaran Garden and Waterfall Garden sparked further ideas. “How incredible to create a stylized, sculptural tablescape in the garden. The grand staircase adds drama, and the tropical greenery frames everything so naturally.” Looking toward Gili Jimbaran, she notes the sense of privacy and immersion. “It feels almost like a private cove or island. If you’re hosting up to 100 guests, you could do an incredible tablescape that runs right along the viewline.”

Another idea emerged while considering one of the private villas for a small-scale ceremony. “Creating a tablescape on the lawn of one of the private villas. The shape of the table could mirror the lawn’s clean rectangular form, or it could follow the landscape more organically. Either way, with the ocean as the backdrop, it would be something to remember.”

Wedding Notables

Over 10 distinct wedding venues, from private island to beachfront lawns:

Gili Jimbaran: Private island with lush gardens (up to 120 guests)
Coconut Grove: Beachfront, up to 210 (banquet) / 250 (reception)
Sundara Restaurant: Up to 200 (buyout), or 100 banquet / 140 reception on mezzanine
Alu Poolside: 120 banquet / 220 reception
Waterfall Garden: Tranquil setting for up to 30 guests
Imperial Villa Lawn: Sea-view lawn (60–100 guests)
Jepun Sari Pavilion: Traditional thatched-roof space (80–100 guests)

Caters events from 2 to 250 guests

Largest: 250-person reception on the beach
Smallest: intimate dinner for two or garden ceremony for 30

“An all-encompassing feeling of freedom crescendos at sunrise, as the bay begins to glow and fishing boats drift across the horizon. On certain mornings, two Balinese staff arrive quietly at your door to prepare a floating breakfast, a delicate tray placed in your pool just as the sky turns apricot.”

“It’s such a singular setup,” she finds. “To have that kind of privacy, your own place to swim or just watch the sky change; it’s beautifully freeing. You feel completely at ease, completely yourself.”

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