In September 2025, a London-based Indian couple did what very few in history have managed – exchange vows at one of the world’s most sacred and protected heritage sites. Dr. Monica Nayyar and Vivek Nandha made international headlines after receiving rare permission to host a private wedding celebration at the Great Pyramids of Giza, becoming the first Indian couple and only the third globally to do so.
Meet the extraordinary couple: Dr Monica Nayyar and Vivek Nandha
Dr. Monica Nayyar is a highly respected cosmetic dentist based in Central London, known for her expertise in aesthetic dental transformations and smile design. She is an alumnus of King’s College London and received her qualifications in 2016. According to SE1Dental, She also has a certificate in Dental Implants from the VSS Academy.
Vivek Nandha, meanwhile, is Vice President at JPMorganChase and alumnus of the London School of Economics (LSE) as per his Linkedin. Known for his extensive global exposure, Nandha has travelled to over 125 countries. His professional journey has given him a deep understanding of international diplomacy and governance – skills that would later prove instrumental in orchestrating one of the most logistically complex weddings ever attempted. The couple met in 2015, though they did not start dating until 2020 – right before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The wedding that made history at the Pyramids of Giza
From September 3 – 6, 2025, the couple hosted a four-day celebration that culminated in a private reception on the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramids of Giza and The Sphinx adorning the background. Securing approval from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities was no small feat. The site is rarely privatized, and the permissions involved months of diplomatic coordination.
Strict conservation rules dogged the couple at every step. According to Vogue UK, every detail required approval from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the couple wasn’t allowed to have a wedding cake, fire for the ceremony or even a bridal veil to ensure that the “location’s sanctity was honoured.”
The wedding was an incredible experiment in cross-cultural fusion and it ultimately paid off. Festivities included a Haldi ceremony at the Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah and a traditional Hindu wedding at the Dahab Island Palace on the Nile as per Vogue. Fashion reflected the same sensibility – Dr. Nayyar wore creations by Indian designers Dolly J and QBik, while Nandha opted for both a Khan Market sherwani and then a bespoke suit by iconic custom Savile Row tailor, Huntsman & Sons.
Beyond the logistical success, their wedding connected the ancient and the modern – making for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that few have the privilege to experience. The grand finale at the Giza Plateau featured a dinner served directly at the foot of the Sphinx, where 180 guests gathered under a starlit desert sky. As the evening peaked, the air was filled with notes of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” and the sight of glowing paper lanterns launched into the night sky by guests.
