Moni and Sach met during the very first week of medical school and, depending on who you ask, Sachin’s invitation to play squash was either spontaneous or expertly planned. He invited Moni to play “with him and a friend,” but that friend mysteriously cancelled at the last minute. After letting Moni win a game of Squash, Sach asked her out to dinner and the rest... is still unfolding.
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In the early days, somewhere between the late-night study sessions, Sachin asked Moni to take the Big 5 personality test with him. They weren’t even officially dating yet, and Moni was skeptical at first, but she couldn’t help but love it, it was such a genuinely Sach thing to do. That moment perfectly reflects who they are as a couple, committed to building something real from the very beginning.
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When Moni told her mom, Claudia, that she was getting to know someone outside their Latin American culture, her mom didn’t hesitate: “You should absolutely open your heart to him.” From early on, both families embraced each other’s cultures with so much love. Moni learned how to cook Indian food with Nani and Kavita, and dance with Sahil in Sangeet performances. Sachin is on a 850+ day Duolingo streak in Spanish and has become a great salsa dancer. Moni became the youngest of 11+ Indian cousins (and learned “Auntie” and “Uncle” are not just titles for your parent’s siblings). Sach became the oldest brother to Lala and Sarita, the son Raul and Claudia had been praying for their whole life, and the uncle to the newest member of the Rivero family, Mateo.
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In summer 2024, they spent two months backpacking through Latin America, including a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu. Somewhere between the blisters and altitude sickness they thought ‘If we could survive this, we could survive anything together”. They ended their trip in Cartagena, where, watching the sun set from the rooftop of the Movich Hotel as parrots flew over the Walled City, they both knew it was the place they wanted to get married. In a spontaneous and romantic moment, they bought Moni’s engagement ring together: a Colombian emerald, her birthstone, her favorite color, and the national stone of Colombia.
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Sachin planned a proposal beyond Moni’s wildest dreams while traveling through Thailand. He rented a private longtail boat to explore the Andaman Sea and proposed at the top of Ko Hong island, overlooking the iconic limestone cliffs and turquoise lagoons. They spent the rest of the trip doing what they love most: scuba diving in Koh Lanta, and beach hopping in the Phi Phi islands.
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In March 2026, just before the wedding, they’ll be finding out if they matched as a couple for medical residency. Moni dreams of a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Sachin in Psychiatry. Wherever they land, they’ll be building their next chapter together.  They’ll be celebrating this milestone with all of you on the wedding weekend!
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They chose Cartagena because it’s a city that captures everything they love, romance, colour, tradition, and joy. The historic walled city will bring together the sacred traditions of Indian weddings with the cultural richness of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, and they hope it tells the story of not just their love, but of two families coming together. They can’t wait to celebrate with you in the city where this chapter began.