It was Ankur Jain and Erika Hammond’s wedding from the beginning, and these two individuals in love were certain that their special day would be absolutely extravagant.
Ankur’s first idea was to get married in space! Erika wasn’t quite on board with that, though. As she put it, “I don’t want to die on my wedding day!”
So, they settled on the next best thing: having the first modern wedding celebration at the base of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, right in front of the Sphinx. And to make it even more incredible, they got the world’s top Egyptologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, to officiate the ceremony.
Ankur, the billionaire founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, has always found ancient history to be fascinating. He first visited Egypt as a child and even went on an archaeological dig with Dr. Hawass as a teenager. So, this was his chance to share his love for the ancient world with Erika, a former WWE wrestler and creator of Knockout at Equinox.
Instead of focusing on traditional wedding details, the couple poured their energy into creating an unforgettable four-day experience for their 130 guests. They kicked things off with a “Modern Cairo”-themed welcome reception at the Muhammed Ali Palace, complete with belly dancers, fire dancers, and a shoppable bazaar. Despite some last-minute travel hiccups, the party went on until 5 AM!
Day two was all about diving into Egypt’s ancient history. Ankur and Erika arranged a private tour of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, including areas not usually open to the public. Then, they hosted an Ancient Egypt meets Met Gala-themed dinner at the soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum, featuring traditional performances and aerial dancers.
Dr. Hawass officiated a non-denominational ceremony at a custom-built event site in front of the Sphinx on their big day, April 26. Erika made a stunning entrance in a gold-embroidered gown by Indian designer Rahul Mishra, while violinist Lindsey Sterling played “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.
During the ceremony, the couple shared hilarious and heartfelt vows, cracking jokes and getting emotional as they reflected on their love story. Guests enjoyed a breathtaking cocktail hour with views of the desert and all six pyramids as the sun set.
Dinner featured the couple’s favorite New York dishes, followed by an epic afterparty with affogatos and dessert stations from their go-to NYC spots. Robin Thicke surprised everyone with a performance, and then Erika hit the stage to dance the night away as DJ Gryffin spun iconic house hits. The night ended with a mind-blowing fireworks display over the pyramids and an impromptu “Bye, Bye, Bye” performance by guest Lance Bass.
Looking back on their incredible wedding, Ankur and Erika are still in awe. “It was even crazier than we imagined,” Ankur said. “When the fireworks went off, it was one of the most spectacular moments. I was so emotional, I couldn’t even put it into words.
Erika added, “I literally am speechless. Looking at the photos, I was living my best life. I became a pop star onstage last night. It was the most incredible night of my life.”
Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Ankur summed it up perfectly: “If you only get married once, you want to make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everybody!”
The Information is Taken from Hindustan Times, Live Mint and People
