Sikh love in the heart of Mexico: love story in San Miguel de Allende

When the couple from San Francisco, Tanya González and Rahul Chandhok, got engaged, they began to think about how they could create a wedding that honored both of their cultures. Tanya is of Mexican descent, based in California, and Rahul is a second-generation Indian American from California. "We were really trying to envision what would offer the most intimate environment for large families," says Tanya, co-founder of the luxury fragrance brand Eauso Vert.

Tanya’s mother mentioned having visited San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato and thought it would be perfect for what the couple was looking for. When the couple visited the picturesque town, they fell in love with it. "I kept thinking, imagine having our closest friends and family coming to this place, meeting while having coffee or while sitting in the plaza listening to mariachi. In my opinion, that was the most special part," says Tanya.

The Mehndi Party

“I started getting henna done at 8 a.m., with my husband’s mom, my mom, and my husband’s sister. Throughout the day, my closest friends slowly started arriving. What was supposed to be a solo henna session for me ended up being a sort of party, where people toured the house and also got their henna done,” Tanya recalls. That was what she loved about the place: its small-town feel allowed for spontaneous interactions.

The Sangeet

“Sangeet essentially means to awaken, to celebrate. That’s the purpose,” she explains. Indian customs were new to Tanya, and she was so happy that the wedding allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of her husband’s faith. The event was held at the Instituto Allende, one of the oldest universities in the area.

Before the dance floor opens at a sangeet, there is a series of choreographed dances. Tanya didn’t know what songs would be played and expected traditional Indian music. “Rahul’s sister had choreographed a fusion dance; it had traditional Bollywood music mixed with Bad Bunny. It was really cute and sweet that she had taken my musical tastes into account,” she says.

The Haldi

The next day was the haldi, which took place just outside the city at Rancho Luna Escondida.

During the haldi, those close to the couple come up to them and apply turmeric paste to their face and body. “Indian and Mexican families really value and appreciate the blessings of our elders,” she says. “Seeing all the elders come up and lather us with turmeric and give us their blessings was truly meaningful.”

“Rahul’s father was crying because he really couldn’t believe that we had brought to life this cultural tradition that seemed to have been lifted straight from a scene in India and thrown and planted in Mexico. There were marigold garlands, hanging lanterns, really beautiful vignettes where we had stunning rugs under a bed of flowers and seating that was mostly on the ground,” Tanya explains.

The Baraat

The groom entered the wedding in a kind of procession followed by his family. According to custom, he’s supposed to enter riding a white horse, but that tradition had to be slightly modified. “It’s either an elephant, a horse, or a car you can enter in,” says Tanya. “We were looking at car options, and there was a classic white 1976 Mustang. I thought, ‘Oh my God, Rahul, maybe it’s not the traditional white horse we imagined, but it will be a white Mustang.’"

Anand Karaj

The Anand Karaj is the Sikh religious ceremony. It was conducted in both English and Spanish so all guests could follow along. “I was excited and nervous that morning, I could hear the huge drums and the crowd dancing as the car approached me, which was really fun. Then, when I saw everyone finally arriving where I was, I realized people were really having a great time,” says Tanya.

The Chef

The food was handled by Chef Hiran Patel, whom the couple knew from his restaurants in Chicago, including Naansense. Interestingly, Patel also owns an Indian restaurant in San Miguel de Allende: Ghar. "I don’t think the guests expected us to have Indian food in Mexico," says Tanya.

The Looks

In October, Rahul’s mother invited Tanya and her mother to travel with her and her daughter to India to shop for a wedding dress. “I had never seen so many beautiful textiles. We stayed in India for just under a month.” Tanya found the red lehenga she would wear during the ceremony at Rimple & Harpreet and began to think about the reception dress she would later commission from Sabyasachi. Once she returned to the U.S., she traveled to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles to search for looks for the other wedding events. While all her outfits were from Indian brands and designers, her jewelry and accessories were made by Mexican designers.

The Cocktails

Tanya wanted her guests to experience traditional Mexican folk dancing, as well as dances from Veracruz, where her father is from. There was mariachi music, and when the cocktail hour ended, the members of the traditional Mexican music band led the guests on a five-minute walk to the reception venue.

The Décor

“We opted not to do more traditional floral arrangements and instead went for really lush and green designs. I love green. A lot of the fragrance arrangements we do at Eauso Vert are a bit more abstract and sculptural. I wanted my reception design to mimic that,” Tanya explains. “I think people were really surprised.”

The Party

Tanya and Rahul entered the reception with a drummer playing a dhol – a type of Indian drum – set to a Latin song. "Our entrance was with a Latin song with Indian beats, which was really fun," she says. A pianist-singer duo performed during dinner, playing Spanish songs that the bride found “very vibrant.”

The Fragrance

Tanya and Rahul wore the same fragrance on their wedding day. “People say you should choose a scent you might never wear again because it will always remind you of that day. Even though I wear it every day, it always reminds me of being in San Miguel de Allende, dancing all night.”

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