Our story
We met our first week at Stanford - when Michael, seventeen and gallant, climbed a ladder to give a heart-shaped balloon to the beautiful girl from the third floor. Little did she know she was talking to the boy who would one day be the love of her life.
Since then, our story has unfolded across the world. We’ve danced our hearts out in Rio, signed our first lease at a rave in Dubrovnik, taken an overnight bus from Lisbon to Seville, and walked through Marrakech dreaming about life ahead. We’ve lived on 1 euro baguettes in Cannes, and fallen in love all over again along the Amalfi Coast.
So naturally, it was in Saint Thomas, surrounded by nothing but the ocean and sky, that Michael asked Vedika to marry him.
Vedika always says Michael is her greatest gift: for his integrity, his intellect, and his ability to make her laugh in every corner of the world. Michael says meeting Vedika is the best thing that happened to him: for her kindness, her heart, and her strength.
Together, we’ve written a story of friendship and adventure. But our favorite moments have been in building a life together in New York City, with the unconditional love of choosing each other again and again.
the samode palace
suspended between history and a half-remembered epic
500 years old, The Samode Palace remains one of India’s most extraordinary expressions of Indian heritage. Originally built as a fort in the kingdom of Amber, the palace is now a rare architecture of Rajput grandeur and Mughal refinement.
Carved from sandstone and marble, the palace unfolds through three courtyards, each with its own labyrinth of hidden alcoves, sprawling terraces and a series of salons.
The Palace’s Hall of Mirrors glimmers with thousands of hand-cut Belgian glass. Designed to magnify even the gentlest light, a single candle flame or ray of moonlight can illuminate the room like a canopy of stars.
Nearby, the Maharaja’s Grand Hall is a museum of Rajput craftsmanship. Its soaring ceilings are adorned with an extraordinary tapestry of hand-painted frescoes and miniature floral motifs, all embellished with liquid gold.
For centuries, Samode has welcomed artists, dignitaries and royalty under the Aravalli sky. We are honored to add our own chapter to its story and to celebrate this moment with all of you in a place that has inspired love for generations.
THE ROYAL FAMILY’S PRIVATE GARDENS
First laid more than 250 years ago, Samode Bagh serves as the royal family's private garden. Today, it remains one of India's oldest surviving Mughal gardens.
It belongs to the centuries-old char-bagh vision of garden design, which sought to create an earthly paradise, a sanctuary where nature, architecture, and beauty exist in perfect harmony. Vedika fell in love with the marble-lined water channels, reflecting pools and geometric pavilions guide the eye toward the hills beyond.
For Michael, the fragrant jasmine, climbing bougainvillea, roses, and century old trees. But, our favorite is the early mornings, when you can spot peacocks wandering freely through the pathways or parrots perched among the trees.
