Inside an unforgettable destination wedding in Tenerife

Some weddings are memorable for their grandeur, others for the story behind them. For Manan Shah and Kinjal Patel, the two were inseparable. Long before they exchanged vows overlooking Tenerife’s dramatic coastline, theirs was a relationship years in the making. Though mutual friends had spent years encouraging them to meet, the pair only knew of each other in passing. They first crossed paths at an engagement party before reconnecting a year later at the same couple’s wedding, where Manan decided to try his luck once more. What followed was a year of staying in touch, a New Year’s Eve first date in 2019, and a long-distance romance between New York and Chicago. As their relationship deepened, so did their shared love of travel—culminating in a spectacular proposal on the cliffs of Positano, with the sea stretching out below. Their wedding celebrations felt like a reflection of that journey. Spanning eight events across New Jersey and Tenerife and bringing together 500 guests, the festivities unfolded at The Ritz-Carlton Abama, where volcanic landscapes and sweeping Atlantic views provided a breathtaking backdrop.

Each event revealed a different side of the couple, from the lush Symphony of Wilderness sangeet and sunflower-filled Haldi to the glamorous Golden Era welcome party and the high-energy reception, All Of The Lights. Tied together through monochromatic themes and immersive experiences, every celebration was thoughtfully designed to feel distinct while remaining deeply personal to Manan and Kinjal. The scale was extraordinary, but so too were the details. Guests were treated to fire dancers, live performances, cigar-rolling stations and custom miniature 1942 bottles throughout the weekend, while the wedding ceremony centred around a handmade mandap reached by a dramatic 100-foot catwalk stretching across the lagoon pool. From the ceremony to the final afterparty, every element reflected the couple’s love of bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.

Captured by P. Taufiq Photography, the resulting images chronicle not only a remarkable destination wedding but also a relationship that began with persistence, timing and a second chance. Set against one of Europe’s most striking island destinations, Manan and Kinjal’s celebrations were ultimately a tribute to the journey that brought them there.

This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar India's June-July 2026 print issue.

Designed and directed: Elizabeth Priya Kumar; planner: Premini Events; decor and production: Pure Love; DJ: DJ USA

Image credits: P. Taufiq Photography 

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