Bali is literally the island of villas…they’re everywhere!! From small one bedroom studio types to grand 20 bedroom estates.
Anywhere you go in Bali you’re sure to see them, and probably even stay in them when you come here.
And while all of them are gorgeous to stay in, not all of them are good for, or even allow, events and weddings.
A lot of this is to do with the zoning of the areas and the layout of the villas themselves. While you may think inside the villa is spacious enough to hold your friends and family, you also need to consider the entry points for the vendors. Is there a vendor entry? Are the doors and walkways wide enough to fit your bar, tables, cocktail furniture or buffet setup? How accessible is it for transport?
I've often had clients tell me they’ve found the villa they want on Airbnb only to find out the villa doesn’t allow events. Usually it’ll be because they don’t have sufficient space or access for vendors. Furthermore, these Airbnb villas are often so close to their neighbors (sharing a wall), music curfews can be as early as 9pm.
But not to worry, there are stil so so SO many gorgeous villas to choose from here, and I’m going to name our top 8.
These villas are not numbered in any particular order, however the criteria I have used to include them in the top eight are:
· Cleanliness
· Accessibility
· Beauty
· Views/surroundings
· How easy it is to communicate with villa management
· How accommodating and corporative villa management is
· Ability of venue staff to support an event on the big day
Not wanting a villa? Don’t worry…I’ll be writing a post soon on non-villa venues which are just as special!
The Stones Villa
This has to be the villa of all wedding villas. It's beautiful, clean, spacious, well thought out, and is perfect for both holidayers to stay on a regular vacation or for those who want to throw an event.
I’ve found that so many villas that say they’re available for events aren’t really well thought out of in terms of layout and movement on the day. Many have huge pools leaving little grass space, forcing it to be useful and appealing only to micro weddings, or forcing the larger weddings to fork out and pay for pool coverage. Not The Stones Villa.
They have thought of EVERYTHING.
Spacious rooms, two well-kept lawn areas available for multiple uses, a pool with infinity views, undercover options for ceremony, cocktails AND dinner, guest restrooms so that guests don’t need to go through the bedrooms of those staying at the villa, a commercial kitchen for the caterers to use, and best of all, a late curfew.
The number of villas that have a 10pm1-11pm curfew is a pain point for many clients. They don’t associate Bali with early bedtimes, and this is due to the thriving nightlife here. So when they suddenly get told music off and pack down at 11pm, they’re shocked.
The Stones Villa have extended curfew hours meaning you and your guests can continue partying until 2am whether it’s on their manicured lawns under the stars, or in their specially built undergrown den equipped with PROPER speakers (no mini portable speakers here), a kitchenette and bar, toilet and more breathtaking views. Plus, its airconditioned! This villa just opened up in January 2023 meaning everything is in top working order, well maintained, and the fact it sleeps 28 people with the option of 4 extra beds, it’s a sure winner.
If I had to choose one for myself, this would be it.
Wonderland Uluwatu
This one is unlike any of the other venues in Bali.
It's become such a popular venue with our clients, that in peak season I've often joked I should just pitch a tent there and live there!
Wonderland Uluwatu sits on the Uluwatu clifftops and boasts a massive lawn space that has been divided into three sections: The Point, The Joglo, and The Pool.
Wonderland Uluwatu does not offer accommodation, it is a venue space only, but with everything you need on site and various accommodation options just minutes away, its obvious why it's such a popular choice.
The Wonderland staff are so helpful on your day, and you are free to spend as much time as you like getting ready there until your guests arrive because you will have access to the space from 6am until 3am the next morning!
The various grassed spaces offer so much flexibility in terms of layout, you can literally have back to back events there and none of them would look the same. It's the ultimate space for when you want to create a journey for your guests.
There are three bridal suites which have toilets and showers, towels and everything you need to get ready.
With plentiful restrooms for your guests around the property, you'll also have access to the pool in The Pool area and the Reflections building which allows you to have an undercover space connected to the lawn so if there's bad weather, you can easily move everything inside. On sunny days, this space can easily work as a lounge area, dancefloor or whatever you'd like!
Villa Semarapura
This is an older villa, but no less deserving of a spot on this list.
The main outdoor living area is the perfect welcome spot for your guests when they arrive to take in the views as they cool down with an icy drink and cool towelette.
The grounds below are massive, and while it’s all one great big space, don’t let that dissuade you from creating something wonderful.
The best part about vast spaces is that you can design them anyway you want, creating pockets and areas for different parts of your day.
There’s the decking around the pool which can be used as both a ceremony area or a dancefloor for the party (eliminating the need for a hired dancefloor), and the main lawn can be divided into cocktail areas, dining areas, and chill out zones. I’ve done so many weddings here, all completely different in style and its for this flexibility that I always recommend this place.
Kaba-Kaba Estate
This place is truly exceptional.
Its absolutely massive and has sprawling green lawns that you can turn into absolutely anything! When an event isn’t happening, you can play croquet on the lawn with their in-house set, and they have a beautiful big pool, no neighbors, and a super fun outside entertaining area.
There are so many rooms in different parts of the estate so it’d be easy to get lost – in a fun way. It’s covered in art and unusual artifacts making it more like a live-in museum than your standard Bali villa.
The space to hold your event is so big that literally all your vendors could be on site on the main grassed area and you’d never know.
The staff that manage the villa are absolutely divine and nothing is ever too much trouble.
They are always smiling and happy to help. AND they know how to make cocktails so you just bring your spirits and they can shake some sun downer cocktails while you relax and take in the peace.
It’s a fair way out, but I feel that’s one of the more appealing parts of this venue. You’re in your own private oasis. And if you’re worried guests won’t find it, they will. It’s massive, and you can always organize shuttles to take your guests there and back.
Seseh Beach Villas
What's not to love about this incredible estate. Located right on the beach front, it comprises of two separate villas on the same compound meaning you can have quite a few family members or your bridal party and their partners all stay in the one place. And when it' comes to getting ready on the Big Day, having the two villas means the boys can get ready in one, while the girls get ready in other. Being apart but in close proximity is an amazing advantage when it comes to keeping on schedule for the ceremony. Speaking of the ceremony, you really have so many choices . The back villa offers a lot of shade and perfect for more intimate affairs. The front villa is more open and you can get married with an open backdrop of the ocean behind you. And in recent years, they've opened up the grass space in front of the estate which is literally ON the beach for those of you who want to get as close as it gets. Having all these options extends to the set up for the rest of your wedding too giving you a combination of varying alternatives to hold your cocktail hour and reception.
Managed by the most gorgeous staff and boasting eleven bedrooms, it's an easy choice, especially because it's also in an area with many other accomodation options for guests - making it easy for them to come and go.
Pandawa Cliff Estate
If you want a venue that can sleep most of your guests, has MULTIPLE spaces to hold your event, and is in pristine condition, this is a no brainer.
Pandawa Cliff Estate is made up of several villas, sleeping a total of 40+ guests if rented all together. The villas are connected by way of sliding walls/gates which can also be locked and fully closed if you’re just renting partial portions of the villa.
During the pandemic, I made it my mission to keep visiting all the venues on the island to ensure they were being looked after for my clients because we had no idea when borders would open, but when they did, I’d hate for my clients to be going to their dream venue only to discover it had been poorly maintained, not aired out and left unloved.
Pandawa Cliff Estate was one of two villas I saw from dozens that was in the same condition as when people were regularly staying there.
It’s so professionally run, and the manager is a super funny guy who has your best interest at heart. It’s because of all this villa’s redeeming qualities that make it one of the most popular for weddings on the island.
Villa Pemutih
One of the most iconic villas on the island - and for good reason. This family home remains one of the original and last standing private villas with 180 degree views of the Uluwatu coast line. Will rolling waves below you and views as far as the eye can see, this five bedroom compound has witnessed the union of countless couples.
It's an older, more traditional style villa paying homage to Old Bali and her charm. It's perfect for small intimate weddings as well as larger more grand style events due to two main spaces that are utelized for all aspects of your Big Day.
Some of the best wedding photos are captured at this villa thanks to their private stairway down to a private gazebo which cannot be accessed to by the public.
What's more, it's in central Uluwatu, so while you may feel like the only people in the world while staying at the villa, just a minute outside you'll find a plethora of hotels and villas for your guests to stay at as well as all of Uluwatu's trendiest bars, cafes and restaurants.
Glamp Nusa
The latest development from the same group who has the now famous Bali Beach Glamping, Glamp Nusa follows the same concept offering forty luxury tents ranging in size and style. Perched in the Bukit with incredible views, what makes this venue a stand out venue is not just the fact you could sleep your entire wedding party here or that the manicured laws stretch out to some of the best ocean views on the island. But it's the thought behind the whole design. While most villas started off just as accommodation and later opened up for events, Glamp Nusa is specifically designed for events.
They have various sections to hold different parts of your weddng, and they have taken into account the climate of Bali by building an two story undercover space that is just as beautiful for a ceremony as it would be on the grass. Still maximising on the views, having a ceremony on the top part of this building followed by the reception downstairs with glass panelling surrouning the space, it really ticks all the boxes and is perfect for the anxious bride who has a wedding falling in or around rainy season. Of course you could still get married on the lawn when it rains, but having thought of this secondary undercover area means you don't need to use up precious budget on a marquee knowing you have the option not to.
There are of course so many gorgeous villas, and if I mentioned all of the ones I love I’d never finish typing.
But these are my favorites for events, and hopefully I’ve given you a little insight into all of them which may help you narrow down your search.
If I can stress one thing though. You want your wedding to be magical of course, but keep in mind you have to rent these places for their minimum stay meaning you’ll be using these villas predominantly as accommodation over an event space so make sure you choose one where the villa management and staff are kind, flexible, accommodating, courteous and are there to make your stay easy and enjoyable. I’ve come across some less than palatable management and for that reason alone I no longer recommend certain villas because at the end of the day, my client’s overall enjoyment and happiness comes first.
xxx
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