For Divya & Neal, planning a destination wedding meant more than just stunning views—it was about creating an unforgettable experience for their closest friends and family. Set in the heart of Mexico City, their wedding was a vibrant fusion of tradition, color, and community, set against the rustic charm of a historic hacienda.
The couple wanted a venue that was as unique as their story—something spacious enough for all events in one location, while still feeling intimate and full of character. Their planners introduced them to a colorful, open-air hacienda just outside the city, and it was love at first sight.
The proposal, true to Neal’s creative spirit, unfolded over their shared ritual of chai and New York Times crossword puzzles. He spent months coding a custom puzzle shaped like a question mark, hiding the words “Marry Me” diagonally across the grid. On a rainy Saturday in Brooklyn, he handed Divya the puzzle, and by the time she solved it, Neal was down on one knee. Back at his apartment, friends and family waited to celebrate the moment.
Their wedding in Mexico City was a joyful four-day adventure steeped in love and spontaneity. The ceremony was a riot of color—vibrant florals, natural wood textures, and a yellow hacienda backdrop. Neal led a lively baraat, beaming at the sight of loved ones dancing behind him, while Divya’s entrance was equally heartwarming, filled with waves and joyful greetings. They even exchanged personal vows, adding an intimate twist to their Hindu ceremony.
The evening reception glowed in green and gold, elevated but relaxed. Specialty cocktails, an incredible DJ set, and non-stop dancing set the tone. The night ended with a hilarious twist—without a cake knife, Divya used a cocktail stirrer to cut the cake, and guests eventually dove in hands-first. One of their favorite photos? Their sisters were eating cake straight from the platter.
From Sangeet dance parties to handwritten vows, every detail was infused with intention, joy, and just the right amount of chaos. Divya’s advice to future destination brides: “Be great hosts, expect the unexpected, and don’t take anything too seriously.”
Their wedding was proof that the best moments are the ones you never plan for.
Why and how did you choose this venue?
We wanted a location that was unique to the destination, that could accommodate the wedding, cocktail hour, and reception in one day, and still hold up to 200 guests. Our wedding planners found this location, and we absolutely loved the character of the place and its vibrant colors.
Who proposed and how?
We always do the New York Times crossword puzzle over a cup of chai. We also love trying new challenges, activities, and making things together. Neal decided that one of our future date ideas would be creating a crossword for each other (he actually came up with this before deciding to propose this way).
He spent months creating a grid shaped like a question mark and wrote code to design a crossword puzzle where the words “Marry Me” were hidden diagonally. It was a rainy Saturday—we were at a cafe in Brooklyn doing our crossword puzzles—and he proposed at the end. When we returned to Neal’s apartment, all of our friends and family were there waiting to celebrate!
Give us some insight into the wedding planning process.
We chose a destination wedding to give our closest friends and family a chance to go on an adventure together and create unforgettable memories. We picked Mexico City because we knew our guests would love the food, culture, museums, nature, and history.
After deciding, we interviewed two wedding planners with experience planning Indian weddings in CDMX. Xanath’s team won us over immediately—their energy was contagious, and they understood the cultural nuances of working with Indian families.
Describe the wedding day (Feelings, emotions...)
It was truly the most fun day of our lives. We both felt overwhelmed with joy seeing all our friends and family enjoying themselves so much.
Ceremony Ambiance
The ceremony’s color palette was colorful and rustic, with natural wood elements and a mandap covered in multicolored flowers. The guests wore vibrant colors, and set against the yellow hacienda backdrop, the whole atmosphere felt festive and joyful.
We kept things relaxed and full of natural, casual moments that helped us feel deeply connected to everyone there. Neal’s favorite part was leading the Baraat—he looked back and saw all of his people behind him, which was incredibly meaningful. Divya’s favorite part was her entrance, getting to wave and greet everyone who had traveled so far to celebrate. We also said personal vows, which is not usually part of Hindu ceremonies, and it made it even more special.
Reception Ambiance
The reception had a green and gold theme, more glitzy but still in harmony with the natural setting of the venue. The cocktail service was a hit—guests loved the specialty drinks and wandering through the hacienda. The DJs were absolutely amazing; everyone danced as hard as they could all night.
Wedding Attire
We had our wedding outfits custom-made in India. I wore a traditional South Indian white sari with gold embroidery and a red border, as per tradition. Neal wore a red velvet sherwani to match.
Favorite Moments or Highlights
All of our guests dancing to “Not Like Us” during the Sangeet was such a fun memory!
Advice to Future Destination Brides
Definitely hire a local wedding planner who loves what they do. Prioritize being good hosts—your guests have traveled far, and showing appreciation through great food, music, and comfort goes a long way.
Also, don’t take anything too seriously! Expect the unexpected, and just go with the flow.
Additional Details
We couldn’t find a knife to cut our cake, so I used a cocktail stirrer instead. By the end of the night, guests were just diving into the cake with their hands! One of our favorite photos is a candid iPhone shot of our sisters eating the unsliced cake—it’s hilarious and unforgettable.
