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When planning his proposal to Poppy Thekdi<\/a>, tech entrepreneur Ajay Mehta<\/a> decided to get down on one knee where they first met. That initial date took place during the summer of 2020 while the world was in lockdown. \u201cWe\u2019d spent the weeks prior exchanging long, unhurried messages\u2014sending each other long essays about the state of the world, recommendations for grocery stores and hikes, and reviews of films we had watched during quarantine,\u201d remembers Poppy, who works in marketing at A24. \u201cOne day, Ajay told me he was planning on making kombucha popsicles. I wanted to try them. We decided to meet up.\u201d The two met for a picnic in Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles and stayed until the sun went down. \u201cWe talked about our dreams, our families, the films and artists we loved, and both left feeling like we\u2019d known each other our whole lives,\u201d shares Poppy.<\/p>\n The two would see each other every week after that first meeting. \u201cWe both worked from home at the time and spent those months between each other\u2019s apartments, cooking elaborate meals just for fun, going on long hikes in the Angeles Forest, and taking weekend trips around Southern California,\u201d says Poppy. \u201cWe always joke that we know we\u2019ll handle retirement just fine\u2014that first summer together was good practice.\u201d<\/p>\n After four years together, Ajay and Poppy were taking a walk together back at Echo Park Lake. \u201cWe lived in the neighborhood and probably walked around the park hundreds of times, but never once took the adorable and romantic swan boats out into the lake,\u201d says Poppy. Ajay suggested that they should be spontaneous and take a ride. After making their way out into the water, he got down on one knee. \u201cI was so surprised! I said yes, of course, and jumped up quickly to give him a kiss,\u201d remembers Poppy. \u201cWith two abandoned drivers, our swan quickly drifted far into the water lilies. We had to quickly reclaim our posts and pedal back to safe waters to avoid further disturbing the natural flora (and being permanently banned).\u201d Once safely back on land, the couple properly celebrated. A passerby even shared that he saw a fish jump out of the lake the moment Ajay proposed. Says Poppy, \u201cApparently it’s a sign of good luck!\u201d<\/p>\n Ajay and Poppy spent their first Valentine\u2019s Day together on a trip to Oaxaca City, where they fell in love with the region\u2019s art, food, and culture. So, when deciding on their wedding destination, they decided to take their guests on a journey back to that sentimental place over Valentine\u2019s weekend in 2026. \u201cIt was wonderful to do a destination wedding because it felt like everyone was on holiday\u2014ready to explore, enjoy Mexico, and let loose,\u201d says the bride.<\/p>\n The pair would host four days of events, including welcome drinks, an outing to Monte Alban, a sangeet-inspired welcome dinner, the wedding ceremony and reception at the Jard\u00edn Etnobot\u00e1nico<\/a>, and a farewell brunch. \u201cWe\u2019re both from Indian-origin families, so long weddings and lots of celebration are in our blood,\u201d adds Poppy. Guest experience was paramount for the couple, who took a few visits to Oaxaca City to craft the perfect recommendations and itineraries for everyone to enjoy on the trip. \u201cWe designed a custom website that matched our invitation suite and had a digital map of all the wedding event locations and must-see places in the city,\u201d shares the bride. \u201cWe wanted guests to arrive and feel immediately at home and taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n