The rich have their own quirks. Billionaire founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, Ankur Jain, wanted his wedding to Erica Hammond to be a luxurious and extravagant event.
Initially, he proposed to the bride to get married in space. However, the bride wasn't thrilled with the idea: "I thought, 'I don't want to die on my wedding day!'"
As a result, the couple came to a compromise and tied the knot at the foot of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, in front of the Sphinx. The ceremony was led by the eminent Egyptologist, a friend of the Jain family, Professor Zahi Hawass, reports PEOPLE.
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“We're New Yorkers, and there's something special about being in a completely different world environment. So we decided that our wedding is a moment where we celebrate a new beginning together, have a really special party with our friends somewhere in another world,” said Jain.
“I am obsessed with ancient history and society,” says Jain. “The pyramids are just crazy. You're simply speechless. I can’t believe this is even part of our civilization,” Hammond adds.
The couple came to the conclusion that they were more interested in the experience itself than in the traditions of a classic wedding. There were no bridesmaids or best man; no wedding cake cutting or toasting moments. And they left decorative details to the discretion of the designers.
“Why do you need to spend $20,000 on flowers? It does not make sense. And none of this matters when you have the opportunity to sit and dine at the base of the pyramids!” (Editor's note: PEOPLE was invited to the wedding itself, and FYI, the flowers were spectacular, including many native Egyptian flowers and plants)
The couple focused on creating an incredible four-day itinerary for their 130 guests.
Jain and Hammond headed out late into the festivities on April 24, hosting a "Modern Cairo" themed welcome reception at the Muhammad Ali Palace in Cairo, which included belly dancing, dancers, fire dancers and an oriental bazaar for guests, with a DJ playing Arabic house music . “We partied until 5:00 in the morning and it was the best night.”
The second day was dedicated to the ancient history of Egypt. The couple organized a private tour of the Pyramids and Sphinx, including areas not usually open to the public, followed by an Ancient Egypt x Met Gala themed dinner at the yet-to-be-opened Grand Egyptian Museum. “We wanted the vibe to be similar to the Egyptian section of the Met Gala, but in a real Egyptian area, with one of the largest statues of Pharaoh Ramses II in the center of the room,” says Jain.
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On the third day, guests gathered in a specially built area in front of the Sphinx at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza just before sunset for a non-denominational wedding celebration hosted by Hawass.
Ankur's parents Naveen and Anu Jain, escorted him to the ceremony. The bride then made her grand entrance on stage with her parents as famed violinist Lindsey Sterling played Ed Sheeran's "Perfect."
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The bride wore a stunning gold embroidered dress by Indian designer Rahul Mishra.
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