A Modern Romance: Anna and Sachin's Destination Wedding at Fontenille Menorca

Love Story

Their story begins in the bustling world of New York City advertising, where fate had other plans for these two colleagues. "Initially, we were just great colleagues," Anna shares, "but at a company Halloween party, we discovered how much we clicked outside of work." Little did they know that the upcoming pandemic would strengthen their bond in unexpected ways.

During the 2020 lockdown, while quarantining alone in New York with families continents away, they became each other's sanctuary. After building a life together in NYC for 4.5 years, they embarked on a new adventure, moving to Dubai in May 2023.

The proposal came during a pivotal family gathering in the Catskills Mountains. "Everything that could go wrong did," Anna laughs, recalling her parents' delayed flights and various mishaps. Meanwhile, Sachin and his family were secretly transforming their Airbnb into a magical proposal setting. "Hundreds of candles lined a path to a breathtaking overlook of the mountains. When we returned, I was speechless to see Sachin standing at the center, waiting for me.," Anna reminisces. "Despite all the chaos leading up to that moment, it was absolutely perfect."

With guests traveling from across the globe, Anna and Sachin envisioned more than just a celebration—they wanted an unforgettable getaway for their closest friends and family. "When we visited Menorca for the first time, we instantly knew it was the place where we’d get married," Anna shares. "There was just an undeniable energy about the island that made it feel like nowhere else we’d visited, and we really wanted to share that with our loved ones."

The couple, who share a passion for cooking and exploring new cuisines, wanted their wedding to reflect their belief that food connects people with cultures and experiences around the world. "Above all, it was important to us that our wedding truly reflected who we are," they explain. "We wanted every detail of our day to feel like an extension of us—our style, our hobbies, and our shared journey."

Their venue—a stunning 17th-century-palace-turned hotel—provided the perfect backdrop for their vision of contrasting old and new. They thoughtfully incorporated elements of both Menorcan and Indian cultures throughout the celebration. "We were very intentional about how we incorporated these influences throughout the day," says Sachin. "For example, most of the florals were kept white for a timeless look, but during our aisle kiss, guests tossed vibrant red and yellow petals, a nod to the traditional colors of Indian weddings."

The celebration unfolded across various enchanting settings: a family-style pre-wedding dinner in the vineyards at Torre Vella, the ceremony and cocktail hour in Santa Ponsa's gardens, dinner beneath a centuries-old tree, and dancing in the palace's opulent lobby.

What truly set their wedding apart were the thoughtful details for their guests. "The most exciting part of planning was creating those little moments of surprise and delight for our guests—details that made the experience uniquely ours," the couple reveals. They created custom welcome bags with personalized letters and local treats like Pomada, a famous Menorcan drink. A close artist friend designed cocktail menus with hand-drawn illustrations and custom matchboxes featuring icons of their relationship's significant places.

Reflecting on the day, the couple reminisces: “At one point during the dinner, we both paused to take it all in. Around the table, we saw Sachin’s childhood best friends laughing with Anna's parents’ closest friends from Costa Rica, Sachin’s dad’s business partner snapping a selfie with Anna's sorority sisters, and the unmistakable hum of joy and togetherness. From that moment on, it felt like one big family, and we realized our dream had come to life: we’d brought together all of our favorite people, and they were now each other’s favorites too. Watching those connections form and knowing we had created this space of love and unity – regardless of age, culture, or walks of life - is a memory we’ll cherish forever.”

Morning details

The morning preparations began with attention to meaningful details that would set the tone for their entire celebration. The couple designed their invitations themselves, hand-embossing each one with a mix of paper and font styles to reflect their "modern meets classic" aesthetic.

Their ring choice carried special significance, rooted in their New York story. "Although our ceremony was in Menorca, we actually got legally married at the New York City courthouse in January, just the two of us and a close friend as our witness," they share. Their choice of Cartier's 'Love' collection was deeply meaningful: "These rings are iconic and have such a beautiful symbolism behind them — designed in New York in the '70s, they symbolize a love that is both free-spirited and everlasting."

The day was adorned with cherished family heirlooms. Anna wore diamond earrings passed down from Sachin's grandmother, and a diamond necklace from her own grandmother. "Each piece connected me to the generations of incredible women in our families on one of the most important days of my life," Anna says emotionally. For the wedding itself, she added a diamond bracelet from Sachin's mother and carried her grandmother's pearl clutch—the same one her mother had carried on her wedding day.

Sachin's accessories told their own story of family legacy. "On our wedding day, I wore a vintage Cartier Pacha watch, which was gifted by my mother to my father 30 years ago," he shares. He complemented this with a Cartier Love bracelet from his mother, black crystal tuxedo studs, and custom cufflinks engraved with their initials.

The wedding stationery, designed by a close artist friend, added another personal touch to the celebration. She created hand-drawn illustrations for the cocktail menus and custom matchboxes featuring playful icons representing the key places in their relationship—NYC, Dubai, and Menorca.

Bride getting ready

The morning of the wedding found Anna in the peaceful honeymoon casita at Santa Ponsa Hotel, a quiet historical cottage tucked away on the property's 100-hectare expanse. Surrounded by her mother, Sachin's mother, her two sisters-in-law, and her two best friends from college, the atmosphere was filled with joy and anticipation.

Anna's wedding dress journey was a story of perfect timing. "My mom and I spent two days hunting for the perfect gown, visiting five different shops," she shares. "The Cizzy dress was the last one I tried on at the very last shop, and I knew instantly it was the one!" The exclusive design from Cizzy Bridal Company, found at The White Magnolia shop in Atlanta, featured a stunning train and delicate vine and floral appliqué that perfectly mirrored Santa Ponsa's lush gardens. For the reception, Anna changed into a more modern ELLIATT dress, chosen specifically for its elegance and movement on the dance floor.

Her look was completed with carefully chosen accessories: a Toni Federici veil, complementary sleeves from Cizzy Bridal Company, Bella Belle shoes, and Lola Knight earrings. The finishing touch was her bouquet, crafted by 2ManyFlowers. "I love peonies," Anna explains, "unfortunately, they weren’t in season, but we selected David Austen roses to get a similar look." The bouquet held special significance, wrapped in fabric from her mother's wedding dress sleeve.

Groom getting ready

Sachin's attire paid homage to classic cinema while incorporating personal touches. His bespoke white tuxedo, crafted by designer Binish Chandran and Vavci Dubai, was inspired by Humphrey Bogart's iconic look in Casablanca. He accessorized with meaningful pieces, including a vintage Cartier Pacha watch—a 30-year-old gift from his mother to his father.

First Look

The magical first look took place at the honeymoon casita, with the Mediterranean wilderness providing a breathtaking backdrop. Sachin's reaction was deeply emotional: "The moment I turned around and saw Anna, it felt like my breath was taken away. She looked absolutely stunning, and for a second, it didn’t feel real—like I was in a dream. Her dress, the way she smiled at me, the way her eyes sparkled—it was all so perfect."

For him, the moment transcended mere physical beauty. "Standing there in front of me was the person who has been my best friend, my support system, and my partner in every way for the past five years. I just kept thinking, ‘How did I get so lucky?’ As I stood there, I felt my throat tighten and my eyes start to sting—I was doing my best to hold back tears because I didn’t want to lose it before the ceremony even began. That moment, seeing her for the first time, is something I’ll carry with me forever."

Anna's experience was equally moving. "The day leading up to the wedding was fairly calm, and I hadn’t felt stressed or anxious at all. But when they told me Sachin was on his way for the first look, I was suddenly so nervous! I didn’t know what his reaction would be or how I would feel when I saw him. But when he turned to look at me, all I felt was peace and joy," she recalls. "Our relationship has always felt like home to me, and seeing him standing there, looking so handsome and smiling at me, reminded me that whenever I’m unsure or overwhelmed, he will always be my safe place."

Ceremony

The ceremony unfolded in the terraced gardens of Santa Ponsa, with Anna making her entrance through a cupola on the historic stone wall. The musical selections were deeply personal: Sachin walked down the aisle to "Concerning Hobbits" from Lord of the Rings (one of his favorite movies), while Anna processed to "River Flows in You" by Yiruma, all beautifully performed by local guitarist Icar Toset.

The couple incorporated a touching 'ring warming' tradition, where their rings were passed to each family member for a blessing or wish before the exchange of vows. "Family is incredibly important to both of us, and it was such a touching way to involve our loved ones in the ceremony and the commitment we were making," they explain.

Anna's father officiated, weaving together writings from the Bible, Rumi, and Rabindranath Tagore to honor their diverse cultural backgrounds. The couple's personal vows brought tears not only to their own eyes but to their guests' as well. "We were both overcome with emotion as we read our vows, and we saw our guests wipe away tears, too," they remember. "It was such a deeply emotional and meaningful moment that we will never forget."

Photoshoot after the ceremony

Following their vows, the newlyweds celebrated with a champagne toast alongside their families before capturing intimate moments in Santa Ponsa's lush gardens.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Fontenille Menorca proved to be the perfect setting for their vision. "Menorca captured our hearts from the moment we first visited, and we knew it was where we wanted to celebrate our wedding," the couple shares. Working with their planner, Isabel Suñer of The Wedding Social Club, they created an intimate wedding that blended old and new throughout various spaces of the property.

“When we travel, we always seek out unique, boutique properties that offer their own character and charm, and Fontenille Menorca exceeded all of the criteria. We've been fortunate to stay at several Relais & Châteaux properties around the world, and we’ve always appreciated how each one celebrates the local history, culture, and architecture. The fact that no two rooms are identical only adds to the sense of a truly one-of-a-kind experience,” the couple shares. “As food lovers, having incredible cuisine was also essential to us. The chefs at Fontenille Menorca crafted a menu that was not only personalized to us, but absolutely blew our guests away. With its stunning architecture, beautiful surroundings, and warm hospitality, Fontenille Menorca was everything we dreamed of and more.”

The color palette remained neutral and classic, allowing the venue's natural beauty to shine. White hydrangeas (which Sachin used to grow for Anna on their NYC rooftop) and baby's breath dominated the ceremony space, while strategic pops of color appeared in the cocktail hour arrangements and during special moments like the petal toss.

Reception

The reception began with a show-stopping first dance to Haley Reinhart's version of "Can't Help Falling in Love." "We were excited to surprise our guests with a sophisticated dance," the couple reveals. They had worked with a choreographer in Dubai for months to perfect their routine, which transitioned seamlessly into salsa steps for "Bamboleo" before getting all their guests onto the dance floor with Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

The success of their destination wedding was made possible by an exceptional team of vendors. “We were incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team of vendors who brought our vision to life and made the entire process feel seamless,” they share. Their planner, Isabel Suñer from The Wedding Social Club, navigated the challenges of planning across time zones and language barriers with expertise and grace. Photographer Puy Cermeño captured every emotion with authentic energy, while the Fontenille Menorca team, including General Manager Nicolas Orget, Reservations Manager Marta Castro, and Hotel Manager Sandra created an unforgettable experience for all their guests. Their florist, 2ManyFlowers, created the most stunning and sculptural arrangements that perfectly complemented the natural beauty of Menorca and the architecture of Santa Ponsa.

"On a small island, we didn’t expect to find such talented and passionate partners," the couple reflects, "but their skill and creativity showed in every moment of the wedding weekend. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better team."