For Akinchita Kumar and Akshar Patel, getting married was never only about a single day. From the beginning, they imagined a celebration that could bring their families together, honor their roots, and feel aligned with the way they move through life as a couple.
Travel has always been part of their story, so choosing a destination wedding felt natural. Mexico offered the warmth, beauty, and openness they were looking for to host a Hindu wedding that felt traditional, intentional, and personal. Puerto Vallarta, in particular, gave them the balance they wanted between culture, ease, and atmosphere.
Why a destination wedding felt right
Bringing everyone together in one place
Akinchita, a medical student based in Fresno, California, and Akshar, a clinical specialist living in Dallas, Texas, knew that their families and friends were spread across the United States. So they felt a destination wedding was the best way to bring everyone together in one special place while also turning the celebration into a few days away together.
A destination wedding allowed them to:
- Gather loved ones in one setting
- Create space beyond the ceremony itself
- Turn the celebration into a getaway everyone could enjoy
Choosing Puerto Vallarta and Velas Vallarta
A destination that felt welcoming from the start
Mexico quickly stood out for practical and emotional reasons. Nonstop flights from Texas and California made travel easier for guests, including older family members who had never attended a destination wedding before. Once in Puerto Vallarta, the pace, weather, and scenery helped people settle in naturally.
When they discovered Velas Vallarta, they knew it aligned with what they envisioned.
A resort designed for connection
The layout of Velas Vallarta played a key role in shaping the weekend. Everything was walkable, from guest rooms and restaurants to pools, event spaces, and the beach. This allowed guests to move freely and spend time together without worrying about transportation or schedules.
Other elements that made a difference:
- One wedding per weekend, which allowed focused attention
- A variety of restaurants that worked well for group dining
- Pools and common areas that became natural gathering points
- A beachfront setting that framed both wedding events and downtime
Planning a Hindu wedding from afar
When distance brings questions
Planning a destination wedding from another country naturally comes with concerns. Some guests felt unsure about travel logistics, accommodations, and what to expect once they arrived. To address this, Akinchita and Akshar focused on communication early on.
They shared:
- Clear travel timelines
- Recommended arrival windows
- Detailed information through their wedding website
- Support with bookings and transfers when needed
This approach helped guests feel guided rather than overwhelmed.
The importance of the right planning team
Behind the scenes, the planning process worked because of the team involved. Alongside their U.S.-based planner, the couple worked closely with Michele, the on-site coordinator at Velas Vallarta, and the broader Velas Weddings team.
Michele's role went far beyond coordination. She anticipated needs, stayed organized across months of planning, and helped bring complex requests to life. Some of the ways she supported the process included:
- Coordinating large vegetarian menus for guests
- Organizing a pop-up Indian restaurant on site
- Working closely with an external Indian caterer to source ingredients
- Adapting quickly whenever the couple wanted to add something new
Having someone on site who understood both the venue and the cultural requirements of a Hindu wedding made all the difference in bringing the entire celebration together.
A four-day celebration that built community
How the dynamic changes once everyone arrives
One of the biggest shifts of a destination wedding happens after guests arrive. Daily routines fall away, and people begin to settle into the rhythm of the place. For Akinchita and Akshar, this meant watching their families and friends form new connections over four days.
Guests who had never met before shared:
- Breakfasts and afternoons by the pool
- Conversations between events
- Time exploring the resort and the town together
What started as a guest list slowly became a close-knit group.
A wedding weekend designed to evolve
Each event with its own energy
Rather than following a single theme, the couple designed each celebration to have its own personality while remaining cohesive throughout the weekend.
- Haldi: Light, joyful, and fresh, with florals and citrus elements that set a warm tone for the days ahead.
- Sangeet: High-energy and playful, centered on music, dance, and laughter. This event became one of the moments where both families truly came together.
- Wedding ceremony: Rooted in tradition, with rich reds and golds that honored cultural symbolism. Seeing the mandap reflected on the water became one of the most powerful moments of the weekend.
- Reception: Softer and more intimate, layered with candlelight and gold tones that created warmth as the celebration unfolded into the evening.
Each event told its own story, and together they showed the way Akinchita and Akshar wanted their wedding to feel.
Honoring culture while embracing the destination
Food as a bridge between traditions
The menu was designed with intention. Punjabi and Gujarati dishes were incorporated throughout the weekend to honor both families and make guests feel at home. At the same time, Mexican flavors were included as a way to acknowledge and celebrate the destination.
Rather than blending cuisines into a single concept, each cuisine was allowed to stand on its own. This allowed guests to enjoy both traditions.
Trusting local talent
Many elements of the wedding were sourced locally, from florals and décor to hair, makeup, music, and production. The couple discovered that Mexico offers a wide range of professionals experienced with South Asian weddings.
Working with local vendors brought:
- Flexibility during the weekend
- Easier coordination with the venue team
- A deeper understanding of the destination and climate
It also allowed the couple to focus their budget on guest experience and design rather than travel logistics for vendors coming from outside Mexico.
A spectacular destination wedding to remember for a lifetime
For Akinchita and Akshar, the days in Puerto Vallarta became a celebration that unfolded slowly, with time for their families and friends to connect in ways that rarely happen at home. People who arrived from different cities and backgrounds began to feel part of the same circle, sharing meals, stories, and long moments between events.
Along the way, a few things became clear:
- Clear communication helped everyone feel at ease before the trip
- Once guests were together, early worries faded
- The destination shaped how people related to each other
- A strong on-site team made planning from afar possible
Even now, their guests still talk about that weekend and many of them are already dreaming of returning to Puerto Vallarta and Velas Vallarta. That says a lot about how those days were lived. It was time spent together, thoughtful choices, and a setting that invited everyone to slow down and enjoy being there.
For couples considering a Hindu destination wedding, Akinchita and Akshar's celebration shows how the right place and the right team can turn a wedding into a few days that stay with you long after everyone has gone home.
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Bride: Instagram @akinchita
Groom: Facebook @akshar.patel.85
Photo: @kaybaconphoto
Planning & Design: KI weddings, Velas Vallarta
Floral & Decor: @dwsvallarta @tropicalflowers
Stationery: @paperdesignerandco
Indian Menu: @patravalicancun
Photography: @kaybaconphoto
Videography: @kwsay_films
Content Creator: @letteringbysav
DJ: @djshilpa
Bride's Hair and Makeup: @c_e_salon
Family Hair and Makeup: @erikac_bridal_specialist
Find more inspiration for your beautiful destination wedding on our social networks.