Archdiocesan Shrine of the Heart of Jesus - San Pedro

The Wedding

Casa Pretelli

The Reception

Winter

Our Wedding

Ricardo was 13 years old when his parents moved to the USA from Perú in 2000. Cleveland quickly became home where he grew up with his extended family, sharing shenanigans with his cousins, embracing Cleveland sports teams and becoming a diehard Cavs/Browns/Guardians fan in addition to his loyal fandom to the club soccer team Alianza Lima and the Peru national soccer team. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Cleveland States University and was a happy Westsider until he met Shivani in 2017. Little did he know then what interesting turns his life would take when he said "Hello" to Shivani on app called Coffee Meets Bagel :). But more on that later... Shivani moved to the USA in 2014 starting as a research fellow in radiology at Case Western Reserve University, USA. After spending a year in The Land sampling the American dream, she decided the USA will be her home. Shivani loved books, movies, long walks, and traveling. She was going through her fellowship training at the University Hospitals, Cleveland when a dear friend set her on an app called Coffee Meets Bagel. Living in the charming Little Italy neighborhood on the Eastside of The Land, Shivani had no clue how her life would change when she said hello to Ricardo on Coffee Meets Bagel. But more on that later... Shivani and Ricardo met at Bir Markt in The Flats area of Cleveland. Enjoying easy conversations and casual outings together, they saw how they were different. Shivani was a Hindu and Ricardo was a Christian, Ricado followed and played every sport while Shivani just wanted to curl up with a book or go for a walk, Ricardo came from a proud omnivorous gastronomic heritage while Shivani grew up in a vegetarian culture where one procures food through non-violent means, Shivani's tastes in music are mellow while Ricardo enjoys upbeat Latin and urban tunes. Shivani is a morning person while Ricardo is a night owl. However, none of the above differences mattered :) Shivani and Ricardo quickly realized that despite their apparent contrasts, they enjoyed each other's company and shared their core values. They enjoyed trying different cuisines, watching movies, traveling, taking photos, dancing, karaoke, hosting and spending time with friends and family and playing with their pug Frank. To their great surprise and joy, these differences did not become a barrier when their families met. Shivani and Ricardo's parents were like long lost friends when they first met each other, and their families blended seamlessly together. One family is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi and the other speaks Español and both speak a smattering of English. We all realized that when the core language is love, hearts have no problem connecting :) Shivani and Ricardo were indeed meant to be forever! Shivani and Ricardo got married in a civil wedding in Cleveland in 2019 with plans to arrange their weddings in India and Peru soon after, so that both of them could see the country where their significant other was born and raised, understand the traditions and rituals of the country they were married into and celebrate with the family and friends not in the USA. And then the pandemic hit and changed all of our plans forever. Time flies by. Shivani and Ricardo moved to Kentucky when Shivani found a good position at the University of Kentucky. Ricardo completed Master's in Biomedical Engineering. They now are parents of an adorable pug, Frank. They have been through many up's and down's in the last 5 years but they feel that they have grown stronger and resilient together and their love has grown stronger with every passing year. Hence, it felt only right to finally celebrate their bond with friends and family in Peru this year. We look forward to seeing you!

Our story

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Country Club Lima Hotel

The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center

JW Marriott Hotel Lima

Travel

Machu Picchu&nbsp;is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-meter (7,970 ft) mountain ridge. Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of the&nbsp;Inca Empire. It is situated roughly 510 km east of Lima. The shortest way to way to get to Machu Picchu is to take a flight from Lima to Cuzco. The most cost effective and efficient way to visit Machu Picchu is to book a tour through the official website.

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

The&nbsp;Plaza Mayor de Lima, or&nbsp;Plaza de Armas de Lima, is considered the birthplace of the city of&nbsp;Lima. Surrounded by buildings that are as magnificent as they are culturally and historically valuable, the Plaza de Armas was&nbsp;declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO&nbsp;in 1991.This magnificent plaza is surrounded by the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Palace_(Peru)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Government Palace</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima_Metropolitan_Cathedral" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lima Metropolitan Cathedral</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop%27s_Palace_of_Lima" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Archbishop's Palace of Lima</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_Palace_of_Lima" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Municipal Palace</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_de_la_Uni%C3%B3n" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Palacio de la Unión</a>. It should not be missed on any sightseeing tour through Peru.

Lima Main Square

This is a bustling shopping center located on the Miraflores boardwalk with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. It has indoor and outdoor areas, includes a cinema, bowling lanes, a food court, museum, tourist shops, book stores, clothing stores, and electronics stores. It is directly across the street from the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_hotel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marriott hotel</a>.

Larcomar

Protected from the ocean breeze by a colorful wall of mosaics, this park in Miraflores is the ideal place to walk hand in hand with that special someone.

Love's Park

&nbsp;Known as the SoHo of Lima, Barranco is one of the city's hippest neighborhoods, with colorful street art, tucked-away bars and coffee shops, vibrant old mansions and summer houses, beautiful museums, delicious food, and plenty of bohemian vibes.&nbsp;

Barranco

The Museo Larco is housed in an exquisite 18th century vice-royal mansion, built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid and surrounded by beautiful gardens. The museum recounts 5000 years in the development of Peru’s pre-Columbian history. The galleries exhibit the finest and most magnificent gold and jewelry treasures from Ancient Peru. If you want to learn the Peruvian history, the journey begins at Museo Larco!

Larco Museum

The Art Museum of Lima (MALI) invites us into three thousand years of Peruvian art history, from Pre-Columbian and Colonial to Republican and Contemporary.&nbsp;&nbsp;The MALI’s permanent collection preserves more than 18,000 pieces –among textiles, ceramics, metal work, photography, drawings and paintings– that witness to more than 3,000 years of art history in Peru. MALI is located in the heart of downtown Lima.

Museo de Arte de Lima

Things to Do

How to get to Peru?

The easiest way to get to&nbsp;Peru&nbsp;from the US and India is by international flight. Delta,&nbsp;United,&nbsp;and&nbsp;American Airlines&nbsp;are the traditional carriers serving&nbsp;Peru&nbsp;from the US. Direct flights are possible from several cities in the US, such as Atlanta, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas fort-worth. In other cases, flights may have connections in Mexico, Colombia, or other countries in Latin America, as well as cities within the US. The travel time from USA to Peru ranges from 7-10 hours depending upon the starting oint. Unfortunately, there are no non-stop flights between India and&nbsp;Peru. However, most flights have connections in Europe or North America. You can fly from either Bengaluru, Delhi, or Mumbai’s International Airports and then get a connecting flight through New York, Miami, Atlanta or Houston to the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima. The most popular airlines from India to Peru are: KLM, LATAM, Iberia, Delta, American and United airlines. The India to Peru distance is 16,941 km, therefore, travel time could take more than 24 hours depending on the route and stops. Important Note:&nbsp;If traveling through the US, make sure to know everything about the documentation you may need.

Do I need a visa to travel to Peru?

Do US citizens need a visa for&nbsp;Peru? The answer is no, a tourist visa is not among the entry requirements for citizens of the North American country. However, what the immigration office does require is having at least a 6-month validity remaining in your passport along with two empty pages for the entry/exit stamp. Do Indian citizens need a visa for Peru? Indian nationals with a valid passport are exempted from the requirement of temporary visa for Peru if that they hold a visa with a validity of minimum six (6) months OR hold permanent residence from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia or any Schengen space country. The Indian nationals who are not in the above categories need to appy for a visa by visiting the Peru embassy in New Delhi. To ensure that your travel plans are not affected, consider applying for the&nbsp;Peru visa for Indians&nbsp;at least 4 weeks before your planned trip date. ﻿Please visit the Peruvian embassy website below for details:https://www.consulado.pe/es/nuevadelhi/tramite/Paginas/Visas/Issuance-of-Tourist-Visa.aspx

How do I get from my hotel to the Church and the Reception venue?

Please this check this space later for information about the reliable taxi operators in Lima. Cabs are easily available for Iglesia de San Pedro . It takes about 20-30 minutes to reach the Iglesia de San Pedro from the Country Club Lima, Westin and JW Marriott hotels. If you choose to stay at an Airbnb, the time may vary according to the location. Please bear in mind that traffic in Lima can be heavy near the center of the city where the church is located. So please allow an additional 15-20 minutes to the transit time to what is depicted on online directions. We will provide transport from the church to the reception venue. To return to your hotel/Airbnb from the reception venue, cabs can be booked ahead of time.

Do I need cash or can I use my credit card or US dollars in Peru? 

The currency of Peru is the&nbsp;nuevo sol&nbsp;(s/), but it's often just referred to as the&nbsp;sol. As the currency works on a metric system, one&nbsp;nuevo sol&nbsp;consists of 100&nbsp;centimes&nbsp;(cents). You can exchange US dollar for the sol at the airport on arrival. Credit cards (especially Visa) are accepted in upmarket and most midrange hotels, shops and restaurants in Peru's cities and towns.&nbsp;While you can make payments at eplaces like luxury hotels and fancy restaurants in the US dollars, you need to have&nbsp;nuevo soles&nbsp;when paying for almost everything else in Peru.

What else should I know when traveling to Peu? 

Peru is generally a safe country to travel, but like any destination, it's important to exercise caution and be aware of your&nbsp;surroundings. Petty and opportunistic theft is the most you’ll ever have to worry about here, as with the rest of South America. We recommend you always keep abreast of the latest news from your government’s travel advisory board before travelling anywhere. Also, keep up to date with Peruvian national news. Here are some general precautions: 1. Don’t display valuables (like expensive phones and cameras) in public2. Keep an eye out for pickpockets on public transport and crowded tourist sites3. Avoid travelling alone after dark.4. Travel with a reputable tour/bus/travel operator In a nutshell, if you take simple precautions, keep your valuables safe, and are reasonably vigilant, you’ll enjoy a rewarding and hassle-free trip in Peru :)

Shivani & Ricardo

Shivani & Ricardo

Photos