Prescription for a Perfect Match

When it comes to planning a wedding, traditions often play a significant role. For the bride it may be having “something borrowed, something blue” or a coin tucked in her shoe for good luck. For the groom it could be arriving at the altar on horseback.

That’s just what Dr. Anand Haryani did five years ago when he and Divya Sadhwani exchanged vows at a resort in Riviera Maya, near Cancun, Mexico. Their waterfront destination wedding was a celebration of centuries-old Hindu customs with, as Anand notes, a few personal touches of their own.

“The groom usually rides a horse to the altar with family members following behind. It’s been a tradition in India for hundreds of years, and having it included was very important to my grandmother,” says Anand, describing what is known as the “baraat.” “While I wanted to make her happy, I also wanted to do something a little different.”