Before they were the couple at the centre of the celebrations, Vinila Baljepally and Parth Goenka were guests whose paths kept crossing at other people’s weddings. They first met in 2018, but it took a few more encounters and a place at the same medical school in 2022 for friendship to become something more. Vinila, from Knoxville, and Parth, from Johnson City, Tennessee, are now newly graduated doctors pursuing their residencies in Washington, DC.
Their wedding at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami brought together Telugu and Rajasthani traditions with a shared love of Latin food, music and dancing. Coordinating Aisha Rao ensembles set the mood for their Latin Soirée sangeet, while Vinila chose a Tarun Tahiliani Kanjivaram for the ceremony. Alongside the fashion were details with a longer history: a century-old family ring and a banyan tree that reminded the bride of her Ammamma’s home. From apple picking on their first date to handing their sisters the sangeet microphones, the couple tell Manifest how their relationship shaped their wedding celebrations.
Manifest (M): How did you meet, and when did friendship turn into love?
Vinila Baljepally (VB): We first met at a mutual family friend’s daughter’s wedding in 2018, where we briefly learned each other’s names. We crossed paths again at another wedding in 2021, and once more in 2022. Each time, we learned a little more about one another.
When we started at the same medical school in 2022, Parth was the only person I knew in our class, so we naturally gravitated towards each other. We like to think of our story as the ‘invisible string theory’. Our paths kept crossing until the timing was right. Friendship slowly became something more, but being each other’s best friend has always remained the foundation.
(M) What was your first date like, and when did you know Parth was the one?
(VB) Parth planned an entire day around some of my favourite things. We started with brunch, went apple picking and ended by making a homemade apple pie together. Apple picking has since become one of our favourite traditions, and we return every year around our anniversary.
There wasn’t one moment when I knew he was the one. It was the ease of our friendship, the way we could make ordinary days fun and the feeling that we were always on the same team. Eventually, imagining life apart became harder than imagining a lifetime together.
(M) Tell us about the proposal.
Parth Goenka: (PG) I proposed on New Year’s Eve in Cartagena, Colombia, while our families were travelling together for the holidays. I kept the actual proposal intimate and private, which made the moment feel entirely our own. Afterwards, we were able to celebrate with both families and welcome the new year together.
(VB) It was a complete surprise. To this day, I am still shocked I didn’t figure it out beforehand!
(M) What did you want your wedding to feel like?
(VB) We wanted it to feel personal and reflective of who we are and what we value. More than anything, we wanted to remember our wedding by being fully present with each other, our families and friends, rather than simply moving from one event to the next.
Each celebration had its own personality, with the outfits, décor, music and details reflecting its theme. The weekend brought together Telugu and Rajasthani traditions with the colour and energy of Miami. We also included elements of our love story so that it always felt like us.
(M) Why did you choose the Biltmore Hotel?
(VB) We wanted historic charm, beautiful and varied event spaces, and plenty for guests of all ages to enjoy. Choosing the Biltmore was the easiest yes of the planning process. Guests could golf, lounge by the pool, explore the grounds or enjoy a drink at the speakeasy, making it feel like a weekend getaway.
We loved its history and Spanish and Latin influences. For me, the banyan tree on the back lawn was particularly special. It reminded me of the banyan trees around the local temple near my Ammamma’s home. That unexpected connection made the venue feel deeply personal.
(M) Take us through your wedding wardrobe.
(VB) For the haldi, we embraced a Rajasthani-inspired palette of pinks and purples. I wore a multicoloured patchwork sharara by Vandana Sethi with a custom blouse. Handcrafted bandhani detailing on the back of my dupatta paid homage to Parth’s Rajasthani Marwari heritage.
For our Latin Soirée sangeet, we both wore custom Aisha Rao. The coordinating looks were bold and playful, with aquatic elements that suited Miami and the evening’s energy.
For the ceremony, I wore a Tarun Tahiliani Kanjivaram sari. I had always wanted a Kanjivaram, embracing the beauty of a traditional Telugu bride while interpreting it in a way that felt modern and true to me. My jewellery was custom-created by PMJ Jewels in Hyderabad, a jeweller my family has visited for more than 50 years.
For the reception, I changed into a rose-gold Amit Aggarwal lehenga, while Parth wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo. We spent two weeks shopping together in Delhi and turned the trip into a food tour along the way. Finding our outfits became one of our favourite planning memories.
(M) Which piece held the greatest sentimental value?
(VB) My paternal grandmother’s Vanki-style wedding ring, which has been in the family for more than a century. I grew up seeing my Mama wear it. Although she couldn’t attend the wedding, wearing the ring made my family and me feel as though a piece of her was there throughout the day.
(M) How did your shared interests shape the celebrations?
(PG) We bonded over food and music when we first became friends and discovered how naturally our tastes aligned. Our love of reggaeton, Latin food and Latin culture, along with our engagement in Cartagena, made those influences a natural reflection of our story.
(VB) A few months after we started dating, we began taking salsa lessons. We loved them so much that we incorporated salsa into our first dance, to ‘Señorita’ from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and ‘NUEVAYoL’ by Bad Bunny. We still take lessons and attend local salsa nights whenever we can.
(M) How did you divide the planning, and what was the biggest challenge?
(PG) Vinila was more involved at the beginning. My goal was to give her the wedding she deserved, and I did my best to make what she envisioned happen. I became more involved in the second half, helping bring our shared vision to life. I also took the lead on planning our honeymoon through Lake Como, St. Moritz and Hvar.
(VB) The biggest challenge was ensuring clear communication between ourselves and our families. We wanted to enjoy the process and look back fondly on everything that went into creating the wedding.
(M) Which moments will stay with you?
(PG) Seeing Vinila walk down the aisle towards me. I had often imagined what that would feel like. After falling in love with her, I knew she was the person I wanted beside me on our wedding day and throughout my life. It became a memory I will carry forever.
(VB) Our sangeet was another highlight. Our younger sisters are the same age and have become close friends. We handed them the microphones and gave them complete control as MCs, without knowing what to expect. Their personal stories, playful banter and heartfelt tribute to our relationship made the evening special.
(M) What are you looking forward to in this next chapter?
(PG) Planning the wedding reaffirmed how well we complement each other and that we always have someone to lean on. Whatever challenges lie ahead, we will navigate them together.
(VB) We are excited to build a life alongside each other through our careers, children, friendships and family. More than anything, we look forward to growing together and eventually growing old with our best friend.