Harleen & Karamjot

Bride — face and jewelry in serene portrait

A Wedding Story

Harleen & Karamjot

I

The Stage Was Set

Three days of marigolds and midnight chai runs.

Marigold garlands hanging from trees
Marigold spiral with glass candles on lawn

Orange threads, candle smoke, and the promise of what tomorrow would bring.

Night view of lit venue with draped marigolds

The night before,
nobody slept.

II

The Night Before

Everybody said they wouldn't dance. Nobody kept that promise.

Men in turbans posing — B&W
Two women dancing in warm light
Bride making selfie face
Women laughing, tongue out

Unscripted. Unapologetic.

Elderly woman dancing gracefully
Mother watching with pride
Solo dance on checkered stage
Woman covering ears in crowd — B&W

Beautifully loud.

III

Getting Ready

Her hands were steady enough for winged eyeliner. Not for the necklace clasp.

Women at yellow window — watching
Back of bride's head, golden jewelry in hair
Mother helping with bride's hair

Her mother's hands hadn't stopped shaking since morning.

Bride looking at herself in mirror
Bride applying lipstick
Mother and bride reflecting in ornate mirror
Black and white profile of bride smiling

A quiet moment of elegance before the color begins.

B&W bride sitting in lehenga — reflective

The last quiet.

IV

The Arrival

He couldn't see three feet through the sehra. Didn't stop him waving the kirpan like a Jedi.

Grandmother leading groom — backs to camera
Groom on decorated horse
Groom surrounded by men in red turbans
Rose petals showering over groom's sehra

The sky turned to roses.

Family laughing and looking up

Then it got quiet.

V

The Ceremony

Four lavaan. Four promises. She held the palla like it was the only thing keeping her standing.

Bride entering under palla
Groom and boy seated
Men on stairs in blue turbans
Wide view of Anand Karaj congregation
Couple facing wall of marigolds
Kalire detail close-up
Palla ceremony — noble
Groom laughing
View from behind Guru Granth Sahib
Woman watching with sunglasses
Mother watching ceremony — loving
Bored child resting chin on hand

Not everyone got the memo.

Bride looking upward — centered
Bride drinking water, groom laughing

Water never tasted that good.

VI

And Then It Was Just Them

Partners in laughter, from this day forward.

Bride smiling at groom — adoring
Bride laughing under orange veil — radiant
Couple laughing together — intimate
Bride laughing with mehndi hands — bashful
Bride smiling under veil — charming
Couple looking at each other — blissful
Couple with children — grand
Bride dancing with kalire — triumphant
Formal couple portrait in garden — resolved
VII

The Leaving

Men walking on dusty road

The day began to settle into dust.

Bride in the car — the Doli

He held on for one more second.

Harleen & Karamjot

2025

Photographed with love