Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
They say love makes you see the world through rose-colored glasses. That is, until you see the wedding bill.
In Jakarta, planning a wedding is often the first real test of a relationship. And more often than not, it starts with a fight over the venue, which can easily cost Rp 200–500 million (US$12,000- $30,000) for a mid-range cookie-cutter ballroom.
It’s not surprising then that more and more couples are opting for something more personal, albeit more unusual, to create a wedding that reflects not just what they can afford, but also who they are.
A decade ago, these venues might’ve raised eyebrows. Today, they’re breaking conventional rules as couples choose intimacy over grandeur, substance over spectacle and meaning over menu options.
Whether it’s saying “I do” in a library or over a plate of fries, Jakarta’s next generation is getting married on their own terms.
For those who secretly identify as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, this one’s for you.
Mass weddings at Jakarta City Hall aren’t held often, but when they are, like during New Year’s Eve, they make headlines. Picture it: Dutch colonial architecture, the governor in attendance and your vows echoing through a heritage landmark.
The ceremonies may lack intimacy, but they make up for it with symbolism and scale.
The best part? These weddings are occasionally free, courtesy of city-sponsored social programs. Just be quick, spots are limited and love doesn’t wait for bureaucracy.
The KUA ceremony has become the minimalist’s dream wedding: no middlemen, no fuss, just paperwork, witnesses and sincerity.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, registering your union takes just three simple steps, whether online or in person: register, pay, then submit your documents.
No wedding organizer, no staged reception, just a handful of loved ones and a legal binding. It’s not glamorous, but it gets the job done, and that’s kind of the point.
It’s quietly gaining traction among Gen Z couples who see it as a rejection of wedding excess, and a celebration of what really matters.
If you’re always worried about catering, or the inevitable Tupperware aftermath, this might be your dream setup.
Restaurants have long hosted small weddings, like Nanny’s Pavilion at La Riviera, Pantai Indah Kapuk 2.
But some are taking it further.
McDonald’s, for instance, offers wedding packages starting at around Rp 7 million for a minimum of 100 guests. Each package includes full use of a private space for three hours and a service crew. Optional décor, backdrop, flowers and a welcome sign, is available for Rp 4 million to 6.5 million, bringing the total cost to at least Rp 11 million.
Before you judge, remember: fast-food weddings have already made their rounds in Singapore and Hong Kong. They’re unpretentious, affordable and they’re lovin’ it!
Think of it as the ultimate “happy meal”.
How does one make a big moment last forever? For bibliophiles, the answer might lie between the stacks.
Straight out of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, a library wedding is equal parts poetic and cinematic. Imagine rows of books surrounding you as you exchange vows inspired by Sapardi Djoko Damono, Aan Mansyur or Chairil Anwar. Or, if you prefer, the proclamation of Independence, whatever floats your love boat.
In Jakarta, consider the National Library of Indonesia or UPT Perpustakaan Proklamator Bung Hatta. They’re increasingly popular with wedding planners, offering spacious halls and elegant backdrops that hardly need extra flowers.
The Salemba branch, for instance, has all-in wedding packages that start from Rp 82.2 million for 300 guests.
It’s the kind of wedding that lingers, like your favorite paragraph.
This one’s straight from my childhood scrapbook: saying “I do” at the Bank Indonesia Museum. The fantasy has lived rent-free in my head ever since, so if anyone knows my future groom, tell him to send a carrier pigeon.
Jakarta’s museums, from colonial gems to modern icons like Museum MACAN, make stunning backdrops for nuptials. Surrounded by art and history, couples find the perfect blend of old, new and something blue. Bridestory listed the location at Rp 35 million for 75 guests.
Historic homes like Cikini 82, once the home of Indonesia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs, Achmad Soebardjo, has also opened their doors as a wedding venue, with a new price list coming in 2026. It’s nostalgia with a modern twist.
Prefer grandeur? The Indonesia Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) can host up to 2,000 guests for Rp 45 million on weekdays, Rp 60 million on weekends, before tax.
Each of these venues tells a story. And if you choose wisely, it becomes part of yours.
