Karen Sun first noticed Vikram Ramakrishnan in the fall of 2018 on a class trip to Mexico. Spotting him from afar, she asked a friend, “Who is that very loud and very tall guy?” His response was simple: “That’s Vik. He’s cool, I promise.”

Nearly a year later, fate brought them together again – this time on a group hike in Lake Tahoe that happened to be Karen’s first hike ever. As the rest of the group made their way down the mountain, Vik patiently stayed back, walking with her long after everyone else had descended. It was there that they began talking about life, friendships, careers, and everything in between.

In 2022, Karen took a major leap, leaving New York to move to California full time. After countless visits to one of their favorite wineries, Vik planned a proposal that felt perfectly “him.” In the fall of 2023, he tucked the ring into a ski jacket so it would be hidden – despite it being 70 degrees outside – and insisted he was “so cold” as they went for a walk. The ruse worked, and the heartfelt moment became another cherished chapter in their love story.

When it came time to plan their wedding, neither Karen nor Vik had a fixed vision of what the day should look like; however, they did know they wanted nature to do most of the heavy lifting. Deer Valley, Utah, felt like the obvious choice, as it was a place they had visited every year throughout their five-year relationship and held memories tied to pivotal moments of their journey together.

The celebration seamlessly blended Hindu and Western traditions against a breathtaking mountain backdrop with 140 guests in attendance. Incorporating a meaningful Western tradition that resonated with the couple, Karen’s father walked her down the aisle.

Cultural traditions were then thoughtfully woven into the nuptials, with a hybrid Hindu-Western ceremony, preceded by a sangeet the night before and a traditional baraat. A close friend officiated, seamlessly integrating cultural Hindu elements into the script, with Vik’s mother and aunt adding to the ceremony with a religious ritual before the “I dos.”

"It was such a spectacular weekend – and it happens so fast!"

Visually, the wedding design came together organically. While the couple initially had no clear aesthetic direction, Karen selected her bridal look first, followed by Vik’s sherwani. Photos of the chosen pieces were sent to their wedding planner Irene, who designed the entire event around the attire. From the beading on Karen’s dress echoed in the chandeliers above the reception tent to their shared green-and-white color palette reflected in the altar florals, every detail of the day felt cohesive and intentional.

Florals leaned into a timeless palette of green and white, with calla lilies – Karen’s favorite flower – taking center stage. The couple chose to concentrate florals at the altar, while the reception was styled primarily with elegant candelabras. The most striking feature of the wedding day for Karen and Vik was the design of the altar florals, which captured their aesthetic perfectly and quite literally took their breath away. In a final thoughtful touch, leftover florals were donated to a local senior center after the celebration.

Outside of their attire, choosing the band was one of the couple’s most deliberate decisions, and it was certainly one that paid off. Music set the tone throughout the weekend, from the string quartet at the ceremony to the high-energy band that kept the dance floor alive into the night, reflecting Karen and Vik’s shared love of a great party. Among the many unforgettable moments of their nuptials, both sets of parents’ speeches stood out, as they delivered heartfelt sentiments alongside perfectly timed roasts.

Looking back on their magical day, Karen and Vik only wish they had arrived in Deer Valley earlier to soak in even more of the experience with each other and everyone they love most. "It was such a spectacular weekend – and it happens so fast!" they share.