Five Days, One Extraordinary Love Story: Inside Pankti & Avish’s Luxurious Wedding in New York

The most memorable weddings don’t reveal everything at once. They unfold, one meaningful moment at a time.

That was the spirit of Pankti and Avish’s five-day celebration in New York City, where every experience was thoughtfully connected to the people, places, and passions that had shaped their journey together. Rather than simply hosting a series of events, they invited their guests into a world that felt unmistakably their own, where South Asian traditions found fresh expression through music, performance, immersive design, and one extraordinary baraat that brought the spirit of celebration to the heart of Fifth Avenue.

Join us as we retrace every beautifully crafted chapter of their unforgettable celebration, where every moment tells a story of its own.

Meet Pankti & Avish

In a city that never runs out of concerts, coffee shops, or chance encounters, it seemed only a matter of time before Pankti Doshi and Avish Jain found their way to each other. Deeply rooted in New York’s South Asian music and events scene, their worlds had been quietly overlapping for years. Pankti, an event producer and creative director, is best known as the co-founder of Masala Mixtape, the largest South Asian music festival in New York and Los Angeles. Avish, better known as Musical Avish, has established himself as a singer and performer. Beyond their creative pursuits, Pankti is a board-certified Cancer Genetic Counselor, while Avish is an Endocrinologist and medical journalist.

Although they had long been familiar with each other’s names, it wasn’t until November 2023 that their paths truly crossed, when Pankti’s events company hired Avish to perform at an event hosted at Somewhere Nowhere NYC in Chelsea. The couple kept it “purely professional” at first, but a mutual friend saw sparks fly. Convinced the conversations between a musician and a genetic counselor would be far too good to miss, they brought the two together through an Instagram group chat.

Their first date unfolded much like the relationship that followed: unhurried, effortless, and filled with the things they both loved. It began over masala chai at Kolkata Chai Co., continued at a Raja Kumari concert, an artist who had previously headlined Masala Mixtape, and ended at Double Chicken Please, one of New York City’s most inventive cocktail bars. More than a tour through the city, it marked the beginning of a partnership built on music, culture, curiosity, and a shared love for discovering what was around the next corner.

From there, New York became the backdrop to their story. They raced across Manhattan from concert to concert as Avish performed, travelled to Mumbai for his independent music releases with Saregama and Universal Music Group India, and poured their creativity into experiences like Masala Mixtape, Gully Gang, Chai Chai & Paint, and Chai & Chocolate. In between packed schedules came quieter rituals they cherished just as much, from Bollywood movie nights and exploring coffee shops across the city to unwinding with Grey’s Anatomy and escaping to the Hamptons for weekend getaways.

As their relationship grew, so did their collaborations. Together, they created experiences like Vatavaran, an intimate gathering where guests sipped chai while Avish performed acoustic sets, alongside seasonal concert series like Summer Jam and Spring Jam. Their story naturally became one of creativity, culture, community, and partnership, making a wedding that celebrated all of it feel like the perfect next chapter.

The Celebration

Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, every celebration was thoughtfully designed to reflect the couple’s love for music, creativity, and modern South Asian culture. The festivities unfolded across a collection of unconventional venues, from rooftop clubs and immersive LED experiences to hidden speakeasies, each setting revealing a different chapter of their story. At its heart was a first-of-its-kind Off-Broadway Sangeet, where performance art intertwined with community storytelling, transforming the evening into something far beyond a traditional celebration.

The journey continued with a South Asian parade-style baraat that brought the energy of Indian weddings to the iconic streets of Midtown Manhattan, shutting down Fifth Avenue in what the couple believes to be a first in New York wedding history. Every venue carried its own significance, coming full circle at the very place where they first met and where Avish had once performed, creating a celebration that was as much about their shared journey as it was about redefining what a modern South Asian wedding could look like.

A Manhattan Rooftop Mehendi Filled With Meaning

Some love stories begin with a grand gesture. Pankti and Avish’s began on a rooftop in Manhattan.

High above the city’s endless energy, on the 38th floor of Somewhere Nowhere, the couple welcomed their family and friends to the very place where they crossed paths. Three years earlier, Pankti’s company had hired Avish to perform at a Diwali celebration hosted at the venue. Neither of them could have imagined that one evening, one stage, and one introduction would quietly change the course of their lives. Returning to Somewhere Nowhere for their Mehendi and Welcome Party wasn’t simply about revisiting a meaningful location. It was about inviting the people they loved into the place where their story first began.

As the sun dipped behind the New York City skyline and the Empire State Building lit up in the distance, the rooftop transformed into a celebration that felt unmistakably New York. Inspired by the spirit of the concrete jungle, the evening paired the city’s vibrant pulse with the color, warmth, and joy of a South Asian Mehendi. Guests arrived in striking Desi ensembles, bringing bursts of color against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers and golden skies. For Pankti, the evening carried another deeply personal detail. She chose to wear a custom creation by the same designer who had created her outfit for that unforgettable Diwali celebration three years earlier, a quiet tribute to the night that changed everything.

As twilight settled over Manhattan, the rooftop came alive. The evening opened with a choreographed performance to one of the couple’s favourite ’90s Bollywood songs, setting the tone before seamlessly flowing into an electrifying mix of Bollywood hits and EDM. The dance floor filled almost instantly and rarely emptied. Guests wandered between dancing beneath the open sky and sitting with mehendi artists as intricate henna designs took shape. An Asian-inspired menu, thoughtfully chosen to reflect one of the couple’s favourite cuisines, added another layer of personality to the celebration, while handcrafted cocktails, laughter, and panoramic views of the city created the kind of evening guests would talk about long after it ended.

The music slowed only briefly as family and friends gathered to share heartfelt speeches, reflecting on the journey that had brought Pankti and Avish back to the rooftop where it had all begun. Dessert shooters offered a celebratory toast to the wedding festivities still to come, while thoughtfully curated goodie bags awaited each guest at the end of the night. Filled with South Asian masala chai cookies and a selection of brands close to the couple’s hearts, they were more than wedding favours. They were a small reminder that the most meaningful celebrations are often the ones that bring a story back to where it first started.

A Haldi Like No Other

For Pankti and Avish, the Haldi was never meant to be just a daytime ceremony. Held at Hall des Lumières, it was envisioned as a multi-sensory celebration where centuries-old traditions were reimagined through immersive design, playful storytelling, and unexpected moments, creating an experience that felt as innovative as it did deeply personal.

The ceremony unfolded inside an immersive LED projection space, where floor-to-ceiling ocean visuals created a surreal backdrop for the Haldi rituals. An authentic Gujarati thali paid tribute to Pankti’s roots, while Bollywood-inspired games like “dance to the hookstep and “find the item” brought both families together through laughter and friendly competition.

The celebrations further continued, and guests were guided through a long, glowing LED corridor, a striking red hallway that felt almost cinematic, before entering the final chapter: an electrifying space pulsing with color, light, and energy. With LED ceilings and walls bursting to life and bold red benches lining the room, the stage was set for something unforgettable.

The celebrations then moved into a vibrant LED-lit space, where Pankti and Avish gave Garba a modern twist with an energetic Garba-EDM fusion, giving one of Gujarat’s most beloved traditions a fresh, contemporary rhythm. Dressed in traditional Gujarati outfits sourced from the streets of Ahmedabad and lovingly styled by Pankti’s mother, the couple led the celebrations as Garba flowed into Dandiya and ended with the infectious energy of Sanedo.

Guests left with thoughtfully curated goodie bags featuring turmeric-inspired keepsakes and skincare products from local South Asian founders, taking home a small reminder of a celebration that beautifully blended heritage with innovation.

When the Sangeet Took Center Stage

If the Haldi celebrated tradition through immersive experiences, the Sangeet became a celebration of Pankti and Avish’s shared love for music, performance, and storytelling. Hosted inside an Off-Broadway theatre, the evening unfolded as a full-scale theatrical production, transforming a cherished wedding tradition into an unforgettable stage experience.

The evening was a reflection of the couple themselves. Avish, a third-generation trained Bollywood singer, and Pankti, the creative force behind large-scale events, brought their worlds together to create an original stage production that retold their love story. More than 140 performers, including family, friends, artists, influencers, and collaborators, became part of the show, turning the celebration into a tribute to the community they had built together.

With over 140 performers—including family, friends, artists, influencers, and collaborators who’ve been part of their journey—the evening became a living, breathing tribute to the community they’ve built over the years.

The theatrical experience began long before guests arrived. Months earlier, invitations arrived in the form of Broadway tickets, which later became each guest’s official entry to the performance. On the night, a red carpet welcome and a custom Playbill set the tone, while nearly 11 professional choreographers helped bring the production to life. Every detail, from the set design and lighting to the music and transitions, was personally curated by Avish, ensuring every performance became another chapter in the couple’s story.

The show unfolded in three acts, following Pankti’s journey, then Avish’s, before bringing their worlds together in a grand Bollywood-inspired finale. As the curtain came down, guests were treated to a menu inspired by Mumbai’s vibrant street food culture, with touches of Lucknow’s rich culinary heritage, before leaving with thoughtfully curated goodie bags filled with the couple’s favourite South Asian snacks and homegrown brands.

The Baraat That Had All of Manhattan Watching

The Baraat and wedding marked the emotional high point of Pankti and Avish’s wedding celebration, bringing together the ideas that had quietly shaped every experience along the way. More than a celebration of their union, it became a reflection of what matters most to them: a partnership built on equality, traditions honoured with reverence yet allowed to evolve, and a community that has been woven into every chapter of their journey.

From the very beginning, every decision was guided by intention. Drawing from Haryanvi and Gujarati customs and grounded in the spiritual richness of Jain traditions, each ritual was approached with thoughtfulness and purpose. Their intention was never to rewrite tradition, but to create space for it to feel more inclusive, more balanced, and more representative of who they are as a couple. Every ceremony became a shared experience, preserving the essence of centuries-old customs while allowing them to reflect a modern partnership.

That vision came alive long before the ceremony.

In a spectacular tribute to Manhattan, the city where their story first began, the Baraat set off from the iconic Lotte New York Palace before making its way down Fifth Avenue. More than 400 family members and friends danced through the heart of the city, transforming one of New York’s most recognisable streets into a vibrant celebration filled with dhol beats, colour, and unfiltered joy.

Leading the procession was a magnificent parade float where Pankti stood alongside Avish, gently reimagining a space traditionally reserved for the groom. As the procession moved through Manhattan, strangers stepped off sidewalks, office workers leaned out of windows, and countless phones were raised to capture the extraordinary spectacle. Within moments, Fifth Avenue had become more than the backdrop to a wedding; it had become part of the celebration itself.

Then came a moment that could only belong to Avish. Picking up a microphone in the middle of his own Baraat, he transformed the wedding procession into a live performance, singing for nearly twenty minutes as hundreds of guests danced through the streets behind him. There was something undeniably moving about a groom quite literally singing his way into the next chapter of his life. It was spontaneous, exhilarating, and deeply personal, blurring the line between performer and groom, and capturing not just what he does, but who he is.

The celebration quickly reached far beyond those walking in the procession. Videos of the Baraat spread across social media, with guests and complete strangers alike sharing how they had stumbled upon the celebration and found themselves dancing, smiling, and swept up in its infectious energy. For a few unforgettable moments, one couple’s wedding became a shared celebration for an entire city

A Ceremony & Reception Rooted in Love

The exuberance of the baraat gradually gave way to one of the wedding’s most heartfelt moments: the Milni, a traditional Hindu and Sikh pre-wedding ritual where the bride and groom’s families formally meet and embrace. For Pankti and Avish, that moment unfolded beneath the towering skyline of Rockefeller Center, where centuries-old tradition met one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.

High above the city, the ceremony at Radio Park atop Radio City Music Hall carried that same spirit of honoring tradition while gently reshaping it. Every decision reflected the couple’s belief that rituals become even more meaningful when everyone is invited into them. Officiated by an interactive female priest, the ceremony was conducted entirely in English, allowing every guest, regardless of their cultural background, to understand not only what was happening, but why. Ancient customs became shared stories, transforming spectators into participants.

That spirit of inclusivity extended into the rituals themselves. In a quiet yet deeply symbolic gesture, Avish was gifted a mangalsutra bracelet, a recognizable symbol of marriage as an expression of mutual commitment. It was a simple moment that spoke volumes about the values at the foundation of their relationship.

Their wedding wardrobe told a story just as personal. Avish chose a striking red sherwani by Samant Chauhan with jewelry from Raabta by Rahul, two Delhi-based brands with whom the couple had built a relationship through their New York fashion platform. By wearing red, a color traditionally associated with the bride, he embraced its symbolism while quietly challenging convention. Pankti echoed that connection with a blouse and veil by Samant Chauhan, but the most meaningful piece she wore was her mother’s saree, wrapping herself in a family legacy as she walked toward the next chapter of her life.

Her entrance became one of the day’s most unforgettable moments. Rather than a familiar processional, she walked down the aisle to an original song recorded by Avish especially for the occasion, a reimagined version of the very song that had accompanied his proposal.

As the celebrations drew to a close, guests departed with thoughtfully curated gift boxes filled with beloved South Asian brands, carrying home more than a keepsake. They carried a piece of the couple’s culture, thoughtfully shared.

The final chapter of the wedding was perhaps its simplest. A seated Punjabi thali dinner gathered everyone around one table, where conversations lingered long after the celebrations had ended.

Following the breathtaking nuptials, it was time for the wedding reception. Pankti and Avish traded the traditional ballroom for a hidden cabaret-style speakeasy, bringing the spirit of New York nightlife into their celebration. Guests descended a dramatic spiral staircase, whispered a secret password, and stepped through two concealed refrigerator doors before discovering an intimate world where every detail was designed to surprise, from custom prescription bottles filled with multivitamin gummies that doubled as seating assignments to signature scents curated for each table. Heartfelt speeches, meaningful dances, and an elegant Italian feast brought warmth to the evening, while aerialists, live violin, saxophone, tabla, and dhol gradually gave way to house, EDM, and hip-hop, transforming the space into an unforgettable dance floor. Thoughtfully brought to life by 118 vendors over five days, the reception was a fitting finale that celebrated not just the couple’s love story, but the community that made it all possible.

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As the celebrations drew to a close, one thing was undeniable: Pankti and Avish had created something that refused to fit into a single moment or a single venue. It was immersive, theatrical, unexpected, and unapologetically New York, with every celebration revealing a new layer of their story. Guests weren’t simply invited to witness the festivities; they were drawn into an experience where every venue, performance, and carefully considered detail built anticipation for what would come next.

Long after the final song faded and the city returned to its familiar rhythm, the memories of the celebration lingered. From dancing through the streets of Manhattan to applauding an original theatrical production and discovering hidden worlds behind unassuming doors, every experience felt distinctly unforgettable. More than a spectacular wedding, Pankti and Avish created the kind of celebration that leaves guests inspired, talking about it for years to come, and wondering if they’ll ever experience anything quite like it again.

List of Vendors:

Photo & Video: @ptaufiqphotography
Planner & Producer: @pankti_doshi @dr.musicalavish
Coordinator: @nvpweddings
Content: @rishcreations24 @houseofjoya @paloozacam @yourforevermemories
@raveenaakumar | Rings: @rockrush
Hair & Makeup: @pjsmaisondebeauty @rams_glam @glamorousbyjuanita @amnakardar @vanitysisters.t @vanitysisters.s @thesabssalon
Mehendi Artists: @aahennaaa @rups_art @mehendibymonika
Dhol @artist.siva @rajdaffu @premierdrummers
DJ: @djarjun1129
Decor: @houseofdipali
Jewelry: @raabtabyrahul