Bollywood in Mexico City: How a New York Indian-American couple wove heritage and fiesta into their dream wedding

• Indian-American couple’s wedding blended New York spirit with Mexican soul.
• Venues included historic sites like Ex Convento San Hipólito and Proyecto Público Prim.
• Personalized touches featured mezcal tastings, mariachi bands, and a live churro cart.
• The couple wore Sabyasachi and Varun Bahl for traditional ceremonies.
• The celebration reflected 2025 Indian-American wedding trends of intimacy, fusion, and storytelling.

It all began in New York City, the city of endless energy and unexpected connections. In classic New York fashion, Sumedh Sunkaraneni and Priya Gandhi, two ambitious young professionals in finance and tech, matched online in 2017 and met for a first date that neither expected much from. “We had been living just five streets away from one another without even knowing it,” Priya told Condé Nast Traveller.

Their lives were a blur of deadlines, travel, and city hustle, but somehow, they made space for each other. “In the beginning, we were long distance in a very New York way—living in the same city but rarely in it at the same time,” Sumedh laughed. But soon, “Thursday to Sunday became sacred for us,” the couple recalled, sharing that their relationship flourished through simple joys—late-night takeout, hidden cafés, and a shared passion for travel.

A destination woven in memories

When the time came to plan their wedding, the couple didn't look for grandeur; they looked for meaning. Having fallen in love with Mexico City during their travels, they chose it as the backdrop to celebrate their journey. “We had felt the same spark on its streets that brought us together in New York—the thrill of discovering hidden cafés, late-night bites, and neighbourhoods brimming with character,” Priya said.

Over 275 guests joined them for a multi-day celebration that reimagined Indian wedding traditions through the lens of Mexican culture. “What makes Priya and Sumedh so special is that they go out of their way to make others feel seen and valued. Their wedding made everyone feel like they were part of their story,” shared Priya’s sister, Suneri, in Condé Nast Traveller.

Where heritage met modern glamor

From Proyecto Público Prim to Ex Convento San Hipólito, every venue reflected the couple's vision of blending the oild with the new. “Mexico City inspired every element of our wedding weekend—from the lush greenery to the timeless stone structures that define its aesthetic,” said Sumedh.

Every detail carried a personal memory, a mezcal tasting recalling their first trip together, a mariachi band and cigar station reminiscent of the Xochimilco canals, a live churro card by El Moro, and even coasters designed after their favorite New York cocktail bar, Dante NYC. The weekend culminated in a secret Boiler Room-style afterparty, with groom himself DJ'ing, an unexpected yet fitting finale to their love story.

The style, the sentiment, the soul

Fashion played its own storytelling role. For the pheras and sangeet, the couple donned coordinated ensembles by Sabyasachi and Varun Bahl, while other events featured chic looks from Gucci, Kyha, and Bronx and Banco.

As Priya walked down the aisle to a friend singing Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”—a song they had heard while shopping for their wedding outfits in India—time seemed to stand still. On the morning of their big day, they exchanged handwritten love notes, “and without planning it, we ended up writing almost the exact same thing,” the couple revealed, calling it the perfect tone-setter for their life ahead.

A glimpse into the future of Indian-American weddings

Their wedding beautifully mirrors the evolving identity of Indian-American celebrations in 2025, where love stories are told through personalization, cultural fusion, and intentionality. Today’s couples are moving away from one-size-fits-all grandeur, favoring intimate, meaningful experiences rooted in both heritage and individuality.

Sumedh and Priya’s celebration wasn’t just a wedding, it was a journey through memory, culture, and emotion, reflecting the modern diaspora’s desire to honor the past while embracing the present. In the words of Condé Nast Traveller, their Mexico City wedding wasn’t just about where they got married—it was about how they made every guest feel like part of their love story.