South Indian Destination Wedding in Los Cabos

South Indian Destination Wedding in Los Cabos

August 31, 2026
Words by Lauren Ertl
Photos courtesy of MnM Photography

After moving to Pittsburgh without knowing anyone, Nikita decided to try dating apps. When she came across Prashanth’s profile, featuring a photo in a Santa hat that she found equal parts goofy and endearing, she followed a hunch and gave love a shot.

Three photos of an outdoor wedding event with guests in yellow attire, floral decorations, a welcome sign, and a ceremony area with chairs and a floral arch on a lawn.

Their initial meet-up at local favorite spot, The Summit, was supposed to be a quick drink. Instead, it stretched into hours of effortless conversation and laughter while playing life-size Connect Four.

“Everything just felt easy from the start, like we had known each other for much longer than we actually had,” Nikita says. “It was easily one of the best first dates either of us had been on, and it turned out to be just the beginning.”

A collage shows a woman in a yellow dress at a traditional ceremony, people in orange attire, and a hand holding a peach program with text.

Years later, Prashanth pulled off a clever proposal under the guise of an engagement party for a friend. He guided an unsuspecting Nikita to the rooftop of Over Eden in Pittsburgh.

“While we were getting ready, she started questioning why I was so dressed up,” Prashanth recalls. “She literally said, ‘You’re overdressed for Pittsburgh,’ and I was just like, ‘Let’s agree to disagree,’ trying not to give anything away.”

A couple holds hands in front of a floral display; below, an outdoor reception area with round tables is set up near a modern building.

Despite her noting his fancy outfit and questioning why the rooftop was completely empty when they got there, Prashanth convinced her to step outside. The sight of a photographer and a “Marry Me” sign revealed the true reason for the outing. Nikita’s answer, of course, was a joyful “yes.”

Wedding planning came around, and the couple promptly realized a traditional state-side celebration could easily swell to over 300 guests due to their large, extended families. Opting for a destination wedding offered the perfect solution to keep the guest count manageable.

Two photos: Top—A woman in festive attire reacts excitedly at an event beside a man. Bottom—A group of people in colorful dresses dance outdoors at night under string lights. Top: Five people in colorful traditional attire dance with arms raised. Bottom: A couple stands together, watching fireworks in the night sky.

“The other reason was that by making it a destination wedding,” the bride says, “it would essentially be a vacation for our guests and (hopefully) us!”

While weighing options between Cancún and Los Cabos, Prashanth took a solo site visit to Los Cabos while Nikita was working. Upon touring Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos and capturing extensive video for his bride-to-be, both felt the venue checked all their boxes. Working alongside travel specialists, the planning process across borders went smoothly.

A beach wedding setup with a couple in formal attire, a floral welcome sign, and tables under string lights at sunset. Two cocktails and a framed drink menu with cat photos on a bar; below, a person holds a kitten, and lit marquee letters “N & P” are displayed outdoors at night.

“Shaadi Destinations, our wedding agency, helped coordinate everything for us,” Nikita says. “From being picked up at the airport to the resort stay itself while in Cancún or Los Cabos, to the various site visits when trying to choose a venue — they really did make things very easy for us.”

To properly portray to vendors her decor vision for each event across the weekend, Nikita designed individual mood boards on Canva. The multi-day celebration would begin with a beachy, boho Welcome Party, followed by a bright Haldi filled with summer shades of yellow, orange, and pink. For the Sangeet, the couple selected a lush, rainforest-inspired design featuring vibrant blues, greens, violets, and bougainvillea plants, paying homage to their families’ South Indian roots. The ceremony itself was styled with soft pastels, leading into a shimmery reception highlighted by gold, silver, black, and sequin accents.

A group of women in pastel sarees take a selfie at an outdoor event; below, close-ups of gold jewelry and a woman adjusting her hair adorned with flowers. A groom in traditional attire poses with his groomsmen; above are close-ups of wedding accessories and a ritual with another person.

During the ceremony, the couple incorporated traditional South Indian customs, including the ring game, pouring rice, and the bead ceremony, alongside some silly moments like the shoe-stealing tradition. “I also had my bridesmaids and cousin steal Prashanth’s shoe,” the bride says, “and he had to pay a pretty hefty price to get it back!”

Beach wedding setup with floral decorations, a white aisle, a close-up of a floral-accented sign, and a couple in traditional attire standing under pink flowers.

Reflecting on the planning process from afar, Nikita advises future couples to “start as early as you can, but don’t overwhelm yourself.” There are so many decisions to make, and “decision fatigue is real,” the bride says. The couple recommends, therefore, pacing yourselves to just one major decision a day, or no more than five to 10 per week.

A wedding ceremony takes place outdoors on a beach under white canopies, with guests seated and floral decorations present. Three photos of a beach wedding: a bride seated as petals are showered, couple holding hands, and couple under a floral arch with guests, ocean visible in the background. A white event display with guest lists, white floral arrangements, and a hand holding a guava passionfruit martini through a circle labeled with the cocktail’s name. Three photos: an elegant event with decorated tables and a large NP sign, a couple in formal attire, and a wide view of the venue with hanging lights and the NP sign. A formal event with a couple dancing under chandeliers, decorative glasses, and a woman in a gown speaking or singing on stage. People in formal attire dance on a stage under hanging lights; below, a person paints and two people stand speaking at a microphone during an event.