Are you planning to celebrate your wedding in Maldives after this Corona crisis? that’s awesome and I miss this place so much. Without considering about peak season and pricy rate of stay in its luxury resort than I’m ognna tell you that Maldives is one incredible place that you must visit before you die.
Hi lovely couple my name is Bima and thank you for visiting my blog, today is so amazing because I want to share about my experience of serving a destination wedding photo shoot in Maldives. I was born as an Indonesian based photographer that serving wedding photo shoot for international couple in such beautiful destination.
It was like a dream come true when two humble couple who is coming from Hong Kong and Singapore asking me to fly thousand miles and captured their engagement and pre wedding in Maldives. I do have a Maldivian friend couple years ago but I exactly don’t know where this country located, so when my couple asking me for shooting than I open the Google maps on my computer to see where the country is. It’s really small country in the middle of huge ocean even you have to zoom in your screen monitor to see it till I know that Maldives is located right on the south of Srilanka, if you never visiting Srilanka too than this beautiful country is located in the south of India.
3 Reasons Why So Many Couple Want to Visit Maldives for Wedding and Honeymoon?
1 – It’s Beautiful as It Is!
That a simple word that I could telling you after twice being there and serve 2 different engagement and pre wedding in Maldives, do I told you that I coming from Indonesia before? surely I do have Bali, Lombok, and several beautiful beach here in my country but it doesn’t make me don’t wanna go anywhere but this pride bring me want to learn more and get some fun in some other place that also have beautiful scene too.
When your flight is getting closer to Velana International Aiport which is formerly known as Ibrahim Naser Airport, I highly suggest you to open your flight window and see the scenery outside, there you gonna see such romantic ocean view that come with two colour, blue and green. You might get a bit of turbulence before landing because I had it twice but don’t worry about it because it’s quite normal to visit Maldives.
As a person who also get beautiful beach scene in my home town, there is always interesting to visit different kind of beach if you truly a beach lover. I know Bali is incredible place but Maldives is like different ambiance that you must see too. When I read about history of Maldives, this country have over than 1000 islands which stand in 22 beautiful atolls that will blown your mind.
Male, you must visit this capitol city that come with super friendly citizens and gourmet local food that have a taste like Indian food. When I get a night transit in this city I saw so many foreigners also enjoying their stay in this small city where you can sightseeing around it with a walking distance. Traffic light might be on in some part but you must stay aware if you gonna cross the street because scooter rider seems to be the king of the street but they still nice anyway.
2 – Absolutely Have a Unique Geographic Condition
I can’t believe that I can not walking from the airport terminal building to Male City and that’s make me laugh after landing in Maldives. In fact just the opposite of the terminal building is the sea, so if you want to go to Male City just for sightseeing around or you must stay there for a night transit just like me than you must ride the dhoni traditional boat for $1 because I think there is no way except you want to get sweat by swimming, LOL!
Shooting for wedding in Maldives at the first time also open my mind that I still can’t go to the resort anytime just like what I had in Bali wedding. There is a regulation of flying and using speed boat due to geographic condition so Maldivian tourism government will suggest us to stay in Male City or nearby city from airport when your flight is landing after 4 pm, I think it must be related to safety for all of us. Since it has unique condition than it will become of benefit of visiting Maldives so we couldn’t get into the resort by walking or car but we can use speedboat, domestic flight, or seaplane – the most unique experience by flying with twin otter airlines that landed in a water, what’s better than this!
3 – You Have a Full Freedom to Choose, Enjoying Maldives in a Luxury or in a Budget
I truly apologise in advance because in this story I only can share to you about how to enjoying Maldives in a luxury way, it’s totally related to my photographer job where most of my couple will stay in 5 star luxury resort for sure during their honeymoon or celebrate their prestigious wedding in Maldives. But just in case you also want to know how to enjoy it in a budget I will try my best to deliver the information too.
Maldives is superb because they provide several options for people like us who gonna spend money in their country, no matter who you are than you always have a freedom to choose how to enjoying this such beautiful oceanic scenery. Here you also can choose how to spend your day during staying under the starry night which it could be simply put your feet in the crystal clear sea water or take a joy sunset experience compliment a white dining table with 2 wooden bench including candle light and a nice local musician that will performing a good song for you.
Always love to see this beach front dining set up,
Best Travel Gear Recommendation That You Must Bring to Maldives
If you just staying in Maldives for 2 nights like me than you might not need to bring any best travel gear that I recommend for but if you feel that you gonna make your journey as best as you can than this several things will suit on your journey to Maldives, lets check it out!
Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion
Absolutely need this stuff because I got my skin burned just within an hour of photo shoot, Maldives sun light was extremely insane!
Travel Pen for Immigration Card
Make sure to bring pen to fill your immigration card
Why I suggest you to bring a sun screen? it’s not that big deal but trust me, Maldives sun light was insane and I got my skin burn just within an hour of having an outdoor photo session. Your next thing to be consider is snorkel because here in Maldives you could swim for hundred meter away with only 60 to 90 cm water deep and surely you will get some nemo and other friendly fish that gonna swim together. Renting a snorkle at the hotel is truly possible but you must be get your own freedom if you could bring it on your luggage right!
Lonely Planet Maldives is cool, I know you can get a cool suggestion from my article today, it’s 100% real from me but as long as you love reading a book than this travel guide is useful too. Others is up to you because those recommendation above is the best travel gear that you might consider due to my experience.
Visa for Entering Maldives
As I know that Maldives government will allow all nationality to entering their country in free visa for max. at 30 days but checking your country list on Maldives ministry of foreign visa page will help you to figure out. When your flight attendant offering you a pink sheet of immigration card than make sure you bring your own travel pen since fill it that form inside the Maldives airport is not my suggestion. Actually it was a small terminal building so when 3 to 4 airlines landed in the same time than the immigration area will full of tourist that sit down or standing up and asking for pen.
When I was arrive in Maldives around 12pm noon there are few airlines that landed almost in the same time, I flew with Tiger Air from Singapore than others plane like Turkish Airways and Cathay Pacific also landed within next few minutes and this long queue is happen during that day. It was still nice because I’m so excited to visiting Maldives at the first time but waiting for this queue without any travel pen to fill the form is make you a bit nervous.
Cool recommendation that I could deliver is,
If you go to Maldives and wanna stay in luxury resort than I suggest you to make an arrival confirmation to your resort staff that standing by at outside the terminal building. They already got your name on the lists so the are looking for you and wanna know that you are safely arriving in Maldives. Down here is the booth where your resort staff standing by. If you book a resort with Agoda than you can check your booking itinerary file because there is a note of your resort booth number on it.
How to Prepare Your Wedding in Maldives Properly
Legalities
First thing that you should know about wedding in Maldives is if you and your fiancee are coming from two different nationalities that it wouldn’t set as legal marriage, so most of couple that send me an enquiry is already get their legal blessing in their hometown than go to Maldives for celebration and making some short vow in the middle of the ocean and yes that could be fantastic celebration too. Most of the resort also provide their own package for wedding and honeymoon so if you considering to do this than you could ask to the resort.
How is the Ceremony Looks Like
Wedding in Maldives should be interesting because the resort will provide you with exchanging rings, saying a vow and set some nice dining table that face to the ocean and bring a spectacular memory that matter for your next decades. Some resort also will provide you with group local musician that bring a local drum procession Bodu Beru that belong to their tradition.
Some resort will have chapel like what I had in Angsana Velavaru but some others are not and serve with a nice and simple beach front wedding decoration.
Choosing Transit Hotel in Maldives
When I told you before that you might think to stay for a night transit due to your flight arrival schedule than this is all about.
It’s time to go to Male City
As the capitol of Maldives, Male is one great place to stay, meet the locals, buy some magnetic fridge (this is my favourite), and find cheap transit hotel. I was leaving the terminal building and get the $1 Dhoni traditional boat to Male City that take around 15 minutes sail, it’s amazing and feels like I was in Venice in other type, it’s all the sea when you see around.
3 (three) general suggestion about looking for transit hotel are:
- It must be close to harbour where you can catch dhoni to go back to Velana Airport
- Small rooms will just fine as long as it comes with nice and tidy facilities
- Close to local food and some merchandising store
- Providing breakfast will be adding value
Good thing and nice first impression of touch down in Male City is when someone help me to figure out where my hotel is, he just an ordinary Maldivian guy but lately I know that he is a CEO of one of office in Maldives, that was incredible local kindness that you can see in Maldives, God bless you sir!
Lets considering Lucky Hiya
I walk up on the street, passing by big mosque and some local restaurant till I found the chick and cool hotel called Lucy Hiya. I open the door and someone who wear a black hijab is smile to me and my wife and send me a lovely greetings.
It’s Lucky Hiya,
A small hotel and surely come with small room but it comes with outstanding hospitality, staying here than you will get nice greetings, help from the staff to bring your luggage up and the most important thing is we definitely get tasty breakfast before I leave. Generally all hotel staff is know that people like you and me are tourist so once we checking in that they will asking about do we stay there for another destination which is mean we are going to another resort.
I was surprise when they asked me about it but lately I know that those staff is making a phone call to the resort staff who standing by at the airport terminal building.
Pros. about Lucky Hiya
- You got a welcome drink and breakfast here
- Close from Male harbour – within 15 minutes walk
- Close to hospital just in case you need to check your health
- Rooms are clean and well maintenance
- All staffs are superstar
Cons. about Lucky Hiya
- Only got 1 elevator and it suit only for 3 person with light luggage max, if you bring large luggage than you must go up separately
- Rooms are small
I stay in this hotel twice so I can telling you that I fully satisfied with it and one day you gonna go to Maldives and need a simple transit hotel than you can check Lucky Hiya’s present room rates and book it immediately!
Choosing Your Best Resort for Celebrate Wedding in Maldives
I know you waiting for this part because this is what you looking for and this what all about Maldives. At the beginning of this story I already told you that I will focusing to share about enjoying Maldives in a luxury way because I’m here for serving my couple wedding procession. Surely stay in luxury resort like mine will get more advantages and experiences even only few of us who able to pay the bills, in other words a night in this resort may worth few days in a budget hotel in Maldives.
Both between luxury and budget will also have beach front view but staying in this 5 star luxury resort is one good experience that you must try before you die. I personally ever to stay in 2 difference resorts, all of them are 5 star and get a high score of review from the previous guest, what I’m going to say here is I will give you my honest review about those 2 resorts for your kind inspiration even at the end you got your own decision.
1 – Lux* South Ari Atoll
Love this resort so much and I’m impressed from the beginning my boat take me and my wife to this resort and feels so homy when I saw their staff sway their hands toward me and other guest who coming to Lux*.
Swaying their hand towards me make me feels so homy!
If you going to stay in Lux* there are 2 ways to go there, take a joy flight with seaplane or do as what I did during that time, taking a domestic flight from Velana International airport to Maamigili island and connecting your journey by using speed boat. Honestly using my way is cheaper and still become the best journey comparing to seaplane because it was too noisy inside those plane. I heard that they offering an earplug now but my choice is still goes with domestic flight and boat.
Once you arrived in Lux* every guest will accompany with 1 assistant who gonna help you proceeding your checking procedure, you may sit on their lovely lobby or you may sit ANYWHERE and enjoying your welcoming drink just like my wife. Free buggy will stand by from early morning (I think around 8 am) to 11pm and this is one of the best way to sightseeing around the island since Lux* is standing on 2km long island that you can explore within an hour.
Don’t miss their outstanding attraction at 4.30 pm this is about baby shark and sting ray feeding where you can sit down on the wooden deck and the staff will throwing meat into the sea, by the way me and my couple are stopping our photo session just to see this show.
Pros. about Lux*
- Quite close from the Male City, I took around 40 minutes for domestic flight and speedboat and surely faster if you take twin otter seaplane even it might be more expensive
- Hotel staff are incredible, they made every single human being as a superstar
- When you think you staying there for special interest like honeymoon or celebrating wedding in Maldives that tell them, they will set your bedroom with a nice decoration for free
- They provide free buggy to go anywhere even I still give the driver some tips too, it’s up to you
- The hotel staff work so great to arrange your schedule to got to Lux and leaving the Lux* even they will give you a letter directly to your room related to your schedule
- Breakfast are extremely amazing, just sit down on the edge and just nearby the ocean
- I knew that they re-decorate their interior room design and some details on the landscape, it will extremely better than when I was stay there
Cons. about Lux*
- You must book some tour or attraction immediately of it will fully booked and you can’t join in at all
- Some seaweeds on the sea may become a concern due to this huge space
Check Lux* Rate and Full Review Here
2 – Angsana Velavaru
My second resort that I ever stay is Angsana Velavaru, it was extremely different experience to be here because Angsana have different geographic condition than Lux*. When I just arrive at the airport and make a re-confirmation of my arrival, one good staff just accompany me to their private lounge which is come with fresh juice, some snacks, good WiFi and surely some nice and clean toilet and smooth sofa for relax.
Angsana divide their location into 2 separate part, the main island (turtle island) and one special complex where the water villa room located. Landing in Angsana will seems to be in other world because you must go there with twin otter seaplane that touch down on the water and you know what….you gonna only see floating wooden deck to put your foot on right after going out from the seaplane. Just wait for few minutes till the Dhoni traditional boat pick you up and ride you into their main island.
Once you complete with your checking procedure than you can walk to your room if you stay in a beach villa but if you stay in a water villa than you must wait for few minutes for the boat because they gonna take you there by the schedule. Angsana also come with huge area where you can walk or do morning jogging, they provide you with several restaurant and bars where you can chill your night out with someone that you love. Kaani restaurant is my favourite because we take a breakfast there and you can get your additional dinner with amazing starry night just like me.
Pros. about Angsana
- Rooms are big even you just stay in a beach villa so if you stay in water villa room than you can expect better
- Since it built in separate area and you need to ride with a boat to sightseeing around than you gonna have a cool experience
- Whole are is so huge so you can take a walking journey and do morning activities around the resort
- Breakfast area is so modern and luxury
- They got private lounge in Velana International airport that come with great hospitality
Cons. about Angsana
- Don’t have any option except going to the resort by seaplane that cost so pricy
- You must ride with a boat from the main island to water villa area but the boat is only moving every hour and not based on your request
Read all review and check the rate of Angsana
Other 5 Star Luxury Resort That I Could Recommend You to Stay
As a photographer and Airbnb host I have a bit knowledge about service and hospitality so when I see some resort than I could determine do they good or not. When I’m done with the photo session me and my wife is continue our journey to some other place that might not a common spot to visit, it help us to figure our and know more about travel and services. Base on my client enquiry so I can share to you some other resort that you could consider to book and stay in Maldives.
Considering My Sights of Capturing Your Prestigious Wedding in Maldives
Capturing wedding moment is belong to my passion and energy since 2009 and I spend the whole time to learn more about love and romance from my previous couple. It always nice to see them laugh, hug each other, and see their happiness tear following the ceremony. I work together with the only partner and assistant named Nina and she is my wife so when you invite me to capturing your glorious wedding than this beautiful will always stand next to me, helping me with some ridiculous photography gears and sometimes give a bit natural make up touch up for my bride’s.
It was honour for me when someone expecting my help and expertise of capturing moment because this is all about and I will be more than happy to be your eye witness, following your way to the aisle and give the best and romantic scene on your album that will remind how beautiful your wedding is till your next decades. Down here I’m gonna share to you some common question that couple need to know before get in touch with me.
What Will Include on My Services?
In general I will provide you with hundred of photographs that come with raw and edited files, a short clip for your procession that combine between the ceremony till behind the scene, and the most important part is I will provide you with the album and I sure you gonna need it and love it for your kind memory, in fact there is no photography till you printed it and yes I’m a maniac of printed wedding photos.
Who Gonna Work with Me?
I work alone as a photographer especially for small wedding like 30 to 50 people and like I said before, my wife will accompany me to any photo session because she is the only assistant that I have and we already do this system for over than 10 years. Surely you may expecting my second shooter if you celebrate large wedding like over than 100 people coming in even that’s not destination wedding all about because majority couple will love about romance and private moment with someone who they love for the most.
How to Contact and Discuss with Me?
When you want to make some discussion related to your wedding in Maldives or in any other destination than me and my wife are two person that gonna meet you in person. We get used to meet our couple through any online platform like Zoom, Skype, Whatsapp video call or any other system so just let me know. In a simple way, just drop me a message and tell me more about your wedding and procession because I will reply it as soon as possible.
To know more about my works you can go to portfolio or see some images below that taken in Maldives but some other are coming from my previous wedding in Bali Indonesia and I hope you enjoy for what I’m doing here.
