Haldi

Sangeet

Beach Wedding and Vows

Ceremony

Reception

After Party

Our Wedding

Over ten years ago, John went on walkabout to India before graduating med school. After making his way through the typical touristy sites, he found himself in a hilltop club in Goa, where he met Christina. Although decidedly not yet a doctor, he introduced himself as a doctor. Disclaimer: the details of this meet cute are disputed due to alcohol units consumed and, of course, the effects of Father Time. When asked for her number, Christina generously offered up her email address. John immediately sent himself an email from her phone as his iPhone 6’s battery had died (a harbinger of Apple’s battery health woes that would plague him throughout his life).The next day, nursing a nasty hangover, Christina and her sister, Lisa, popped down to a beach shack for a little hair of the dog. Kingfisher in tow, Christina took in the sights. Glancing down, she noticed a loud redhead, the tallest man she had ever seen, and, an incredibly ripped young fellow, running down the beach. As he got closer, her heart beat a little faster—she knew this strapping lad. It was Doctor John. After a brief summer fling, John went back to America and Christina went back to college—tangent lines fated to only cross once, or so they thought.Years passed, John finished intern year, then residency and his fellowship. He became an attending, just like Dr. McDreamy. Christina graduated university, started writing and became a person who binge-watched shows about attendings, like Dr. McDreamy.As Covid wound down, and the phrase, “now, more than ever” slowly faded from our vernacular, John texted Christina, seemingly out of the blue (a film with a 95% rotten tomato score). He maintains it was not “out of the blue”. After a couple days of bantering, Christina drunk-dialed John on her birthday. She maintains it was not “a drunk-dial”. Three months later, John found himself flying across continents (yes, plural), to meet Christina in India. After two weeks, they decided their tangential lines should remain tangential no longer.

The Lore

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Do I need a visa? You will need a tourist visa to enter the Republic of India. Apply for an e-visa <a href="https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. It usually takes about two to five days to get your visa. You don’t need to have your tickets or accommodation booked before you apply for your visa. Use the resort address and information to fill your application.

What is the dress code? For the Haldi ceremony dress in Indo-Western, comfortable attire in shades of yellow, orange or pastels. No white, as white is typically worn at funerals in Hindu culture.The sangeet is a celebration of music and dance. Wear your glitziest Indian attire: sharara sets, saris and lehengas for the women or kurtas or sherwanis for the men. Avoid white. Bring your best beach cocktail attire for the wedding vows and reception. Think sunset colours and midi dresses, linen pants and floral shirts, strappy sandals and espadrilles. No shorts, no white, no flipflops. You can shop for Indian outfits at <a href="https://www.kalkifashion.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kalki</a> or <a href="https://www.azafashions.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aza Fashions</a>, road trip to Edison, New Jersey or get thrifty with it on Depop.

How do I get to Goa? International flights land in India very early in the morning, at around 2 AM on average. We’d recommend arriving in India on Thursday morning, so you have time to acclimatize and rest up before the Haldi on Friday.We suggest flying directly to Goa via the Mahonar International Airport (GOX), as that is closer to the venue, but the Goa Dabolim International Airport (GOI) is also only about an hour away. You could also fly in via the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai (BOM) or Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and take an hour-long domestic flight to GOX.Uber is not available in Goa, the best option would be to book a prepaid taxi from the arrival section of the airport. It should cost between $20 to $25 at most. For a steal deal of $50, you can have John personally pick you up in his auto rickshaw.

Are there any cultural norms we should know about? Goa is an incredibly beautiful and welcoming state without any dress code restrictions. You are free to dress in whatever you’d like. However, we would discourage walking into any establishment in a city or town bare-chested or only in swimsuits. Please respect the locals who have allowed us to experience their hospitality. If you are visiting any religious place of worship like a temple or a church, please dress modestly (even in Goa). Your shoulders should be covered and your skirt or dress should come to at least your knees. No shorts allowed for any gender. Drinking on the beach or in a public area, not in a designated restaurant or shack, is illegal. Please do not litter. Tipping is not required, but it is encouraged. A %10 tip is usually met with gratitude. Bargaining is a part of shopping in India, but please do not wear vendors down for sport.

Can I bring my kids? Yes, your kids are welcome at our wedding. However, we will not have designated childcare services available.

Q + A

We have booked the entirety of the Prainha Resort by the Sea from the 15th to the 17th of January. However, we may not have room at the inn for everyone. We are reserving rooms first for family and then friends who are travelling from outside the country. If you would like consideration for these rooms, please let us know when you RSVP on the website. We are also getting a block of rooms at O Pescador, the resort next door.If you would like to book your own accomodation, there are multiple resorts, AirBnB’s, and hotels walking distance from the venue or a short drive away ranging from $40 to $300 per night. If you are traveling from outside the country, we suggest booking a room from the day before you arrive as you will have limited options at 2 AM in the morning.

Prainha Resort By The Sea

Taj Cidade De Goa Horizon, Goa

Taj Cidade De Goa Heritage, Goa

O Pescador An Indy Resort

Vivanta Goa, Miramar

Fortune Miramar, Goa - Member ITC hotels' group

POUSADA ST. INES BOUTIQUE STAYS

Accommodation 

Our Favorite Places To Eat and Drink

You haven’t visited Goa if you haven’t eaten a fish thali. Our favorite spots to get a fish thali are The Ritz Classic, Kokum Curry, Vishal’s Goan Food, Workshop Restaurant, and Vinayak Family Restaurant. For drinks, we love Joseph’s Bar, Antonio@31, Cajy Bar, and Miski for that taverna vibe, For The Record for cocktails and Bar de Goa for karaoke. If you want to get a little crazy after 1 AM take a taxi to Chapora Lane or hit up Don Robs.

Touristy Experiences 

Goa gained independence from the Portuguese in 1961, fourteen years after India freed herself from the yoke of the British. There’s some stunning colonial-era architecture and gorgeous hidden waterfalls. Here are some places to visit and things to do:Visit the Tomb of Saint Francis at <a href="https://share.google/5P2h1Fqxam7fNf7Gg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Basilica of Bom Jesus</a>Take in the sunset at the top of <a href="https://share.google/cuSREh2ZXgCQUGN3P" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fort Aguada</a>Go kayaking at <a href="https://naturesretreatkayaking.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cola Beach</a><a href="https://share.google/l1JaokdeeMYugk7dP" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Surf</a> at Arambol BeachExperience traditional food and drink at <a href="https://urbanaut.app/spot/luxury-water-experience-at-fazenda-cazulo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Floating Feni - The Table in the Water Experience</a>Drink like a local, take Panjim’s Taverna Tour

Christina & John

Christina & John

Registry

Your presence is the greatest gift you could give us. However, money is close second. If you are inclined to give a gift, please contribute to our honeymoon fund. Alternatively, you can help John continue to give the gift of sight to underserved communities in Sierra Leone.