Billionaire Ankur Jain and former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond tied the knot Friday in an over-the-top ceremony that took place in front of the Great Pyramids in Egypt.
“We’re New Yorkers and there’s something so special about being in a completely different world environment,” Jain, the founder and CEO of the cashback tech company Bilt Rewards, told People following their nuptials.
“So we decided, our wedding is about having a moment together to celebrate the new beginning, having a really special party with our friends somewhere where you’re in a different world.” (Jain had originally suggested getting married in space, but Hammond was not keen on the idea.)
They invited 130 guests to watch them wed in front of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, according to People. Erika Hammond/Instagram “We’re New Yorkers and there’s something so special about being in a completely different world environment,” Jain told the outlet. Erika Hammond/Instagram Interestingly enough, they admitted they were not involved with much wedding planning at all. Erika Hammond/Instagram “We’re not traditional wedding people,” Jain reasoned. Erika Hammond/InstagramExplore More
While the location of their wedding was unique, it wasn’t the only unorthodox detail about their celebrations: The couple had no bridal party, no wedding cake — although they did serve a birthday cake from Milk Bar — and seemingly left most of the planning process up to their coordinators.
“I had no idea what the napkins looked like or what the table setting looked like,” Hammond, 32, told People.
Jain, 34, added, “We’re not traditional wedding people. Why do you have to spend $20,000 on flowers? It doesn’t make sense.”
The one detail they were certainly involved in was the transportation of their wedding guests from the safari they brought them on in Africa back to Cairo for their ceremony.
Ahead of their nuptials, they took their guests on a South African safari. Erika Hammond/Instagram Travel delays their private jet experienced made everyone three hours late to their “Modern Cairo”-themed welcome party. Erika Hammond/Instagram Their guests included Lance Bass and Robin Thicke. Erika Hammond/Instagram Thicke performed a surprise set for his fellow wedding guests. Getty ImagesAhead of their welcome party, their private Egypt Air flight was halted by the South African government, leaving them in a huge bind. After the bride and groom stayed up hours trying to get their guests to Egypt, they eventually pulled it off — but it made their welcome event kick off three hours late.
“We partied until 5 a.m. having just the best opening night,” Jain recalled to People April 25. The event, which was held at the Muhammed Ali Palace, had a “Modern Cairo” theme and featured belly and fire dancers.
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Jain and Hammond’s 130-person guest list was impressive as well. Some of the biggest celebrities celebrated their love, including Lance Bass and his husband, Michael Turchin, Robin Thicke and his wife, April Love Geary, “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary and his wife, Linda, influencer Serena Kerrigan, several politicians and prominent businesspeople.
Thicke, 47, surprised guests with a performance, while Bass, 44, gave an impromptu show of “Bye, Bye, Bye” near the end of the night after a stunning fireworks show over the pyramids.
Jain and Hammond met at a gym she co-founded. Erika Hammond/Instagram They got engaged in November 2022. Erika Hammond/Instagram“We had the best time. It was so special,” Jain gushed to the outlet. “When the fireworks went off, it was one of the most spectacular moments. I was so emotional, I couldn’t even put it into words.”
The newlyweds met at Rumble Boxing, where Hammond is a founding member. She was also an instructor there when they first interacted.
A few years later, they hit it off and got engaged in November 2022.
