This article was published in Journeys Winter 2020. Click here to read more articles featured in this issue.

Tying the knot in the midst of a global pandemic is no easy feat, but that did not stop Anup Suresh (Class of 2007) and Yashika Mody (Class of 2008) from continuing with their matrimonial plans— with a twist. On August 21, 2020, the happy couple livestreamed their wedding ceremony, and their union was blessed with the virtual presence of family and friends from around the world. The outpouring of messages seen over live chat, the multiple videos of pre-recorded speeches and videos for the Sangeet; a music night that celebrates the bonding of both families, and the fact that 700 friends and family members tuned in to watch are a testament to the love and care that surround Suresh and Mody. 

The couple shared, “It was such an amazing day for us, and truly one of the most special and memorable weddings we could have ever thought to have, especially in these tough times. Though it wasn’t the wedding we had originally planned, it really ended up being the wedding of our dreams!” 

The Journey
The journey to their wedding aisle began in 2007 at Singapore American School when Mody and Suresh met for the first time in Mr. Jason Adkison’s Modern Asian Perspectives class. They were just classmates then and they never made plans to reconnect after Suresh graduated in 2007. 

Mody graduated from SAS in 2008. She went on to Bentley University in Boston and subsequently moved back to Singapore for a role at Accenture as a consultant. Suresh served two years of National Service in Singapore before making his way to the University of Virginia. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he worked with Morgan Stanley in Philadelphia for a year before spending four years working at the New York City office. 

It was meant to be... 
Suresh was given the opportunity to move back to Singapore three years ago, and he jumped at the prospect to be closer to his family. As fate would have it, Mody was with her fellow alumna Shih Yiu Liu (Class of 2008) at a bar/restaurant in Singapore when Suresh laid eyes on her again for the first time in 10 years. He mustered up the courage to send her a message the following day and they made plans to meet up the following week. The rest, as they say, is history. 

Back to where it all began 
The engaged couple had plans for a pre-wedding photoshoot at some of their favorite and most memorable spots in Singapore. While they were working on their list of locations, Mody’s father suggested that they consider having their photoshoot at SAS. They reached out to SAS’s associate director of alumni relations, Beth Toole, and everything else fell into place. 

Setting foot on the SAS campus grounds for their photoshoot brought back fond memories for the couple. As they walked past the high school foyer where break gigs are usually held, they remembered the times when Suresh and his band would perform for their classmates. Mody mentioned, “It was such a lovely experience being able to walk around the campus and recognize elements that were so familiar from our time at SAS. It was also a really special way to get to learn more about each other’s unique experience at SAS.” 

Where are they now? 
Mody is currently an associate director at KPMG Singapore on a team called KPMG Digital Village. Her team functions as the innovation arm of KPMG, designing and developing technology-based products for their clients using innovative technology, such as blockchain. Suresh is a vice president at Oaktree Capital Management. He joined the US-headquartered investment firm three years ago. 

When asked about their future plans, the couple shared that Singapore will continue to be their home for now, especially with both of their families living in the Lion City. There is so much to love about the gorgeous city-state, and there is no place quite like Singapore! 

We wish Suresh and Mody the very best as they embark on the next phase of their journey together!

---

Journeys, our print publication, shares current, in-depth stories written by and for members of our school community. It is mailed to current families, faculty, staff, and alumni in December and June. If you are interested in contributing an article to Journeys, email communications@sas.edu.sg. Read more articles here.