Few weddings in the world can claim to be preceded by just two others in history. Yet when London-based couple Vivek Nandha and Dr Monica Nayyar were granted permission to host their reception at the Great Pyramids of Giza, they stepped into a legacy reserved for the rarest love stories. “Standing at the base of the pyramids for the first time, we felt something shift,” the couple shares. “It was overwhelming: the scale, the silence, the sense of eternity. That’s when the idea started forming: What if we could marry here?” What followed was a wedding that felt less like an event and more like an epic, which was rooted in heritage, their personal experiences as a couple and held against one of the most awe-inspiring backdrops on earth.
A Love Story Forged Across Continents
Before the pyramids, the Nile and the desert winds, there was an intimate picnic in the English countryside. Vivek, an investment banker who has travelled to more than 130 countries and Monica, a Central London–based dentist, first met in 2015 as students when he was studying at the LSE and she was at King’s College. They reconnected years later during the hush of lockdown. “We finally had the space to talk, to truly see each other,” Monica says. Their first date was a simple spread in the Cotswolds, which reflected the essence of their effortless and real bond.
Travel, of course, became their shared language. Together they explored 50 countries, discovering new landscapes as they discovered each other. In 2024, after trekking to Everest Base Camp, they flew to Jaipur. On the rooftop of Samode Palace, as fireworks lit up the evening sky, Vivek asked Monica to marry him. “It was emotional and magical,” she recalls about the experience that set the tone for the monumental wedding journey ahead.
Civil Ceremony in London
Their celebrations began with an elegant civil ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall, followed by an intimate reception at the Taj Hotel. “We first held a registry ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall in London,” the couple shares. Monica’s sculptural ivory gown and Vivek’s classic tux set the minimal and modern tone, perfectly reflected in their effortless portraits on the streets of London.
A Bold Wedding Vision
Planning began more than a year before the celebrations. “We wanted a wedding that honoured our Indian heritage, our British upbringing and our shared love for world cultures,” Vivek explains. But it was that moment of stillness at Giza, with two people staring up at an ancient wonder that became the compass for the entire celebration from September 3-6, 2025.
Securing permission to host a reception at the Great Pyramids is a feat comparable to a diplomatic mission. Vivek’s prior work with the United Nations in Cairo, combined with months of negotiations with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, made the impossible possible. “There was no blueprint, no guide. We were only the third couple in history to do this,” he shares, adding, “Everything, from every nail to every structure, required individual approval.”
Construction teams worked nightly from sunset to sunrise for 10 days to build the venue from scratch and another four days to dismantle it completely, ensuring every grain of sand was returned undisturbed. Add to this security protocols on par with diplomatic events, desert winds and architectural restrictions and the challenge becomes clear. Yet through it all, the couple remained grounded. “We kept reminding ourselves: gratitude first, trust always,” Monica recalls.
Day One: A Sun-kissed Haldi at Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
The festivities opened on the banks of the Nile, where 100 guests gathered for a haldi ceremony radiating sunshine tones, laughter and blessings. Their family priest flew in from London to conduct rituals that felt familiar yet elevated by the exotic setting. “The Nile breeze, the colours, the joy was the perfect start,” they share.
Day Two: A Vibrant Hindu Wedding on Dahab Island Palace
Reaching the wedding venue felt like stepping into a storybook. Guests crossed the Nile by private boats to arrive at Dahab Island Palace, a royal Egyptian estate and a personal friend’s home. They were greeted by a traditional Egyptian drummer who led the procession, serving as a subtle merging of two cultures.
Under a mandap decked up in fresh flowers and flowy drapes, the ceremony unfolded in the palace gardens. Dinner that night was served in an Italian-style courtyard lit by hundreds of twinkling lights bouncing off the pink palace walls. “It felt like a fairytale that was soft, romantic, surreal,” Monica says. The pheras ended with lots of good food and dancing.
Day Three: The Once-in-History Reception at the Great Pyramids of Giza
On the final night, the entire Giza Plateau, including the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the surrounding desert, was privately secured for the couple and their 180 guests. “To stand in absolute silence inside a place visited by millions, knowing it was open only for us was indescribable,” shares Vivek.
Working with leading Egyptian architects, the couple built an entire venue, featuring kitchens, platforms, lighting infrastructure, directly on the desert sands. The décor echoed the landscape with soft sand hues, clay tones, pampas, handcrafted earthenware and a four-metre installation of M & V in Hindi as a tribute to their roots.
And then came the moment that left every guest breathless. With special approval, the Pyramids and the Sphinx were illuminated solely for their celebration. Under this golden horizon, they entered hand-in-hand, sharing their first dance to a fusion of ‘Stand By Me’ and an Indian love song. The night concluded with a lantern release, hundreds of glowing spheres drifting into the dark desert sky, the pyramids watching over them like ancient guardians. “It was one of the most emotional moments of our lives,” they say.
Design, Details & Guest Experience
Across the three days, Indian textiles and crafts like handwoven silks, lustrous organzas and rich embroideries were thoughtfully woven into global settings, ensuring that the soul of the wedding remained Indian. The menus paid homage to their lives with Indian curries, Egyptian grills, British desserts, all prepared by Indian, Egyptian and British chefs in a purpose-built kitchen constructed on the desert floor. It felt like a celebration that travelled the world in three days, just like the couple.
The Wedding Wardrobe
For the Hindu wedding, Monica wore a red raw silk lehenga by Dolly J, radiating classic bridal elegance, while Vivek donned a custom white sherwani from Delhi before changing into a Huntsman Savile Row tuxedo.
For the Pyramids reception, Monica chose a structured corset lehenga by Dolly J, which looked modern yet regal. Vivek paired a black sherwani with his grandfather’s gold-and-black pashmina as a piece of heritage woven into history. All of Monica’s jewellery was custom-designed by Vivek’s father, a fifth-generation jeweller where each piece crafted exclusively for her. Her beauty look remained soft and radiant throughout, with glowing skin and loose curls.
Favourite Memories
The 3am lantern release. The drummer procession on the island. Crossing the Nile by boat. And that moment, just before the celebrations began, when they stepped onto the pyramids plateau for the first time, realising that the dream they once dreamed under a desert sun had come true.
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Dr Monica Nayyar
The Groom: Vivek Nandha
The Photography: Naman Verma
The Videography. House On The Clouds
The Venues: Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah, Dahab Island Palace and the Great Pyramids of Giza
Bride’s Outfits: Dolly J
Groom’s Outfits: Custom sherwani and Huntsman Savile Row
Catering: The Cookery Co
