Models or Married?

In mid-June we were living and working in Bali, Indonesia. One day, while working at home we received an unexpected text from our landlord, Agnus. She asked us if we “would be interested in modeling for her friends spa and in exchange he would fix us a big traditional Balinese meal”.

Intrigued, and slightly flattered to have been deemed ‘model material’... we said yes. It’s amazing what a couple broke travelers will agree to in exchange for free food and a free massage. Agnus picked us up that afternoon and we headed to a nearby village. We assumed that we would arrive, take a few photos while getting a massage, and then eat. Turns out the afternoon went very differently...

We were greeted by Agung, the spa owner, and about 30 members of his family. After a quick hello, Agung started asking Tatum if she would be alright with wearing a ‘traditional costume’. Tatum agreed, and Corbin snickered in the corner thinking that he would be exempt.... he was wrong! Before we knew it we were both in a small room with a professional hair and makeup team. Not sure what we had gotten ourselves into... we sat smiling while the Balinese women put layer upon layer of makeup on our faces (yes... Corbin too!)

Corbin and his makeup lady!

Getting your make up done will start to raise some questions (more than one about Corbin). When we asked what was going on the answer we received was “You’re getting married.” What?!!! We realized that we had unknowingly agreed to dress up as a traditional bride and groom. After about two hours, we were photo ready!

We spent the next hour in a very real feeling wedding ceremony. Confused and lost... we ate sticky rice, walked in circles, and smiled while a man (priest maybe?) chanted lord knows what in Balinese. We kept asking “This is pretend, right?” Due to the language barrier, the only response we received was awkward giggling and nodding.

T&C with Agnus and her friend.

We made it through the wedding ceremony and were starting to get hungry. But... we weren’t quite done. It was back to hair and makeup for a costume change... this time in ‘western’ wedding wear. The makeup/dressing crew had been told that a southeast Asian couple (aka small humans) would be the models, not giant white people. Let’s just say Corbin's pants didn’t leave much to the imagination, he was prepared for a flood, and his voice was about 2 octaves higher. Tatum was squeezed into a wedding gown that wouldn’t zip up... the solution was sticking a gigantic white bow on the back! There is nothing more humiliating than 3 Asian women pulling on a dress that you are too big for.

After another series of photos we were finally finished! We spent the evening laughing with our new friends and eating yummy food. Let’s just say that the day was far from what we expected... and we loved every second of it (except we never did get that free massage).

So... did we actually get married? Well... we don’t think so (but who knows!)

Tatum & Corbin Blackmail: https://youtu.be/weS3dYJLVW4

With Love,

Boots Abroad