At the heart of Bali lies a world of rituals and traditions unknown to many. When I had the opportunity to participate in a wedding on the island, I was drawn into this fascinating culture and learned more about the value of family and the responsibility that comes with it.
I spent weeks with a friendly family who accepted me into their community and worked with them in the rice fields. I quickly noticed how important family was to the Balinese and how everyone was always connected. Family meant responsibility, and everyone always had to consider the impact of their actions on the family as a whole.
Yet it also proved difficult to always live as an individual within these family ties. Sometimes I felt limited by the expectations placed on me as a member of the family. But I also understood how important it was to maintain the honor of the family and how everyone worked together to achieve that.
The wedding began with a farewell ritual at the bride’s front door, where her family and friends blessed her for her new life. Then we traveled to the other Then we traveled to the other village, where the groom lived. I was impressed by how many people were present and how much care was given to every detail of the ceremony.
The most important ceremony was the dedication of the groom’s front door, connecting the bride’s family and the groom’s family. I witnessed h oe important family honor and how the wedding was the biggest ceremony to celebrate that honor. As I photographed the wedding, I understood how important family is to the Balinese and how everyone is always connected to each other.