Pellikuturu · Goritanku · Mangal-snanam · Saptapadi | Candid Wedding Photography | Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh

Some weddings are held in a place. Vineela and Harihara's wedding was held in a feeling — the feeling of belonging to somewhere completely, of knowing that a river and a town and a set of traditions are a part of who you are.

Vineela lives in Hyderabad. Harihara is settled in the US. What brought them together was not just love for each other, but a shared love for Bhimavaram — a quiet town in Andhra Pradesh, close to the Godavari River, 20 km from the coast, and home to both of them in the truest sense. They married in a resort with the Godavari flowing behind it. Of course they did.

The Rituals

Vineela and Harihara chose to follow the traditional Telugu Raju wedding rituals in full — the Pellikuturu, the Goritanku, the Mangal-snanam, and the Saptapadi. The Goritanku — freshly prepared mehendi applied in a circular format — was done not by a modern mehendi artist but by the bride's grandmother. The mandap was dressed in fresh flowers, haldi sticks, mango leaves, and banana leaves. No shortcuts, no substitutions. Every detail was intentional.

The Mangal-snanam

Vineela arrived at her haldi ceremony armed with a water hose. Anyone who came near her with turmeric left significantly wetter than they had arrived — including us. At one point we were retreating from guests holding water cans, jugs, and anything else that could be filled and aimed. Every candid photograph from this ceremony is also, essentially, a candid photograph of chaos. We loved every second of it.

The Portraits — Fields, Sunsets and a Sneak Peek

Tradition asked that the couple not step out after the Pellikuturu. Vineela and Harihara negotiated with their elders — politely, persistently — and won. Their muhurtam was at midnight, which left the afternoon free. We took them to the fields. Blue skies, golden light, the Godavari in the distance, and a couple completely in love. Vineela was, by her own admission, terrified of insects. She walked into those fields anyway. Every emotion was right there on the surface.

From day one, Vineela had one non-negotiable: a sunrise or sunset photograph. Standing at that location, we understood completely. We got it.

And on the morning of the wedding, before either of them appeared in front of the wedding party, Vineela and Harihara found a way to steal a glimpse of each other. We stationed ourselves around them like a very small, very invested security detail — and made it happen. Twice.

It was an honour to document this wedding — through candid photographs and cinematic wedding films that held every moment, every ritual, and every burst of joy exactly as it happened.