FAQ’s

Why are Bali Bach Weddings so cost effective?

When professional services, and decorations are shared, it helps consolidate costs. Here at Bali Bach, we work with incredible local vendors. Because of the compact nature of our intimate celebrations, and that we can marry up to two couples in one day, we can spread the cost of the decorations, vendors etc over multiple bookings - making this a super economical way for you to get married.

Are there differences in prices depending on the time of year?

Our Bali Bach Pop-Up weddings are the same exceptional value all year round.

Is the Manukau Harbour tidal?

Yes it is. The beauty of our magic spot here, is that the shipping channel directly in front of Bali Bach has extremely deep and visible seawater at all times, which is great for photography! With ever changing coastal scenery on display - tug boats, fishing trawlers, hovercraft, and pods of Orcas can be seen cruising past here throughout the year. The best photos are usually taken either side of the high tides, however it’s a totally picturesque spot no matter what the tide is doing! There are two beautiful beaches within a very short walking distance of Bali Bach. The larger beach is only available for photography at mid – low tide. However a cute little cove/beach a very short 5 minute stroll away is accessible 24/7, and is not dependant on tides. To aid your planning, feel free to check out what the Onehunga tides are doing on your special day!

Can I come from overseas for a Bali Bach wedding?

Yes, absolutely!!! In fact, we’ll probably see your plane arriving into NZ, as Bali Bach’s vista spectacularly looks out over the Manukau Harbour towards Auckland Airport. We are centrally located in Hillsborough Auckland, only a short 15min commute from the Auckland Airport. International couples are absolutely welcomed at Bali Bach. And if you give us plenty of advance warning, we’ll try to source your countries flag, and would happily fly it for you on our seaside flagpole! You do not need to be an NZ citizen to get married here. Visitors to NZ can marry or have a civil union at Bali Bach. Most people can get a marriage licence, and same-sex marriages are 100% legal in NZ. A few simple steps are required from you in advance to get married here. Please refer to this link for further information.

We’re a same sex couple - Will Bali Bach Marry Us?

Absolutely! Yes, love has absolutely zero barriers.

How do I secure a booking for a Bali Bach wedding?

To secure your booking, we’ll need you to provide us with a 50% deposit and a signed copy of our Terms and Conditions. Please contact us to let us know which date and package (+additional extras) you’re interested in, and we’ll help organise the rest.

What do I pay and when?

As explained above, a 50% deposit is required to secure your booking with Bali Bach, and then the balance is required one month before the wedding itself takes place. We also have no problem trying to accommodate last minute bookings. If you are making your booking less than a month before the event, 100% payment is required on booking. Contact us immediately if you’re looking for urgent nuptials.

When should I book a Bali Bach Wedding?

Given the unique oriental harbourside setting here, and very affordable nature of these pop-up weddings, it is highly recommended that you book your wedding with us ASAP. Some dates, particularly weekends throughout the summer period tend to be super popular for getting married. We operate daily, between the hours of 7am to 7pm, so if you’re looking to tie the knot last minute, weekday nuptials are a great option for you to consider!

What do Bali Bach Weddings Look Like?

Our harbourside weddings are romantic, and full of oriental charm. We put an enormous amount of effort into every event held here. Our aim is to make every wedding here incredibly special for you, with added personal touches that will make this a celebration to remember for a lifetime together. Check out our Moments to Remember gallery to get a feel for your own nuptials!

Where are Bali Bach weddings held?

We are conveniently located in Hillsborough Auckland. Only a 15 minute commute from Auckland Airport, and a mere 20 minute commute from Auckland City centre.

Can I view Bali Bach before making my booking?

Yes, however because we are a private residence, any bookings or site visits are strictly by appointment only.

Can I choose my own date?

Yes, If the date/time is available, absolutely. We are pretty flexible!

Can I get married during the working week?

Yes. Bali Bach offer pop-up weddings throughout the year daily, between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

It’s a backyard wedding, so what if it rains?

The greater the storm, the brighter the rainbow! Ideally the sun will be shining, but as we say in Auckland, we have four seasons in one day - so anything can happen! We’ll make sure you have a great time getting hitched, regardless of the weather. As a plan B, we have a large covered deck which can easily accommodate small wedding groups. Furthermore, as a backup, our usually private residence can also help provide the couple with unique undercover photo opportunities come rain or shine.

Can Bali Bach be decorated in a theme or colour of my choice?

Because these are pop-up weddings, within the package timeframes it is rare that there would be sufficient time between weddings to allow for this, however we are open to discussing anything. As part of our overall package, we manage the venue styling and decor for our couples, and it ties in beautifully with the oriental theme here. Consider it as one less thing for you to have to worry about on the day, and also one less expense! If you strongly feel differently, then let’s have a chat about options. You can for example book extended celebration time that could allow for additional decoration time to occur. Let’s chat.

How many guests can come to my wedding?

We specialise in small, intimate weddings. Our standard packages are for up to 10 people, however we could comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests here. You can add additional guests for $60 per head, to cover the cost of the additional food, non alcoholic drinks, hosting, and cleaning. Depending on final numbers, we may possibly also talk to you about the addition of a transport plan, to ensure that vehicles here don’t exceed the unitary plan requirements for this site.

Are children welcome at a Bali Bach Wedding?

Yes, children are welcome. Please ensure you include them in your guest numbers.

Are you pet friendly?

OMG, we are the biggest animal lovers ever! Pets are our gorgeous furry whanau, and yes they are absolutely welcome, we totally understand why you’d want them to be part of your special day! One of our dogs Skipper was a ring bearer when we got married here, which was super cute and so very special. If this is something you’d like to do, chat to us about it.

Do you have wheelchair access?

Yes! If someone requires wheelchair access, please drive straight down the driveway, and park on the flat parking pad on the left. From there, we can easily provide wheelchair friendly access to the event areas.

Do I need a valid marriage licence?

Yes you do, and the responsibility for making sure you have one is squarely in your court. If you don’t have a valid marriage licence on the day, sadly we can’t legally perform a recognised wedding. Your licence will take at least 3 working days to be issued, and its then valid for 3 months, so make sure you plan for this. Apply here.

Can we have personalised vows?

Definitely! Your celebrant Henry encourages couples to write personal vows to each other, which helps make the ceremony both personal and incredibly meaningful. We can also help you out with some examples of vows to assist your homework. Henry also recommends that couples write a letter to each other before the wedding, to read later when times get tougher and you need to remember how you feel about each other now. Make sure you forward a copy of your personalised vows to Henry before your big day, so he has a copy on hand.

Do we have to write personalised vows?

No, not at all. Bali Bach can provide you with some examples that you can use or draw inspiration from, if you’d like. From experience though, it is worth the effort, and makes it really special when it’s spoken from the heart! If personal vows are just not your thing though, don’t even worry about it! We’re here to make things stress free for you! You can still be legally married saying the required legal vows.

Do I get to choose the music?

Yes! You can choose your own music. Our suggestion is to bring your iphone, ipad or ipod to play via bluetooth or streaming. Alternatively, we can supply a great selection of tunes.

Can we include readings in our ceremony?

Yes. You can customise your ceremony however you like. Please remember though, that we’re working to a schedule - we expect the ceremonies themselves to take around 20 minutes at Bali Bach. If your ceremony takes longer than that, we’ll have to cut down your reception and/or portrait session time.

Do I get a Bridal bouquet / Grooms buttonhole?

Yes, all of our packages include these beautiful floral blooms. If you are a same sex couple, either two bouquets or two buttonholes will be provided instead.

Can I get extra florals for my wedding party?

Yes. If you have a wedding party, we are happy to quote you additional matching bridesmaids bouquets and groomsmen buttonholes.

What are my food options?

You can ditch the generic traditional bland grazing platters that we’re all accustomed to when you get married at Bali Bach! We have partnered with our favourite local Thai restaurant, Chill Out Thai, to bring you an incredible feast of unbelievably mouth watering authentic Thai grazing platters. Their exquisite flavours will be a true highlight of your celebration, and firm favourite with your guests. With succulent Thai flavours delicately plated for your guests, really what’s not to love!!! Check out our mouth watering menu!

What are my cake options?

Part of customising your Bali Bach Wedding is that you get to pick your sumptuous cake flavour, but the choice won’t be easy, they are all delicious! Choose from either Lemon Poppyseed White Chocolate, Banana Salted Caramel, or a Lemon Raspberry White Chocolate cake. Check out our menu.

I have special dietary requirements?

That is not a problem, we just need to know in advance. Let us know if you have any allergies or intolerances that we need to be aware of.

Are we able to supply our own catering service?

Unfortunately, we cannot allow any outside catering. The only exception to this is a wedding cake / sweet station.

Will there be non-alcoholic drinks?

Yes, too right. As responsible hosts we’ll have plenty of juice, sparkling water and soft drinks available to quench your thirst.

Who will be our photographer?

Kate Baskova is our principal photographer here at Bali Bach. In-fact Kate snapped all of the incredible photos that you see here on this very website!!! Kate is oozing in artistic talent, she is truly gifted, and is exceptional behind the lens. Her ability to capture each and every celebration is second to none. If for some reason Kate is not available, we have a select few photographers that we consider the best, that we can alternatively book in her place.

Can my guests join the private portrait session?

Yes, of course, and we understand that you’d like to capture your nearest & dearest! Our photographer Kate will take photos of you and your guests during the ceremony and reception. At the end of your reception, we’ll whisk the couple away for portraits, then shortly after we’ll bring the rest of your wedding party together to join in the fun.

How long will it take to get my photos back?

We know you’ll be hanging out for your pics!!! Our photographer Kate will aim to get your photos to you within two weeks of your event.

What if I want to bring my own photographer?

If you choose to bring your own photographer, that’s fine – please then chose a package that doesn’t include photography.

What if I want to bring my own celebrant?

Again, this is not a problem, however our costs are fixed, the package prices remain as is however you are welcome to bring your own celebrant if you choose.