All Along, It Was This
Amanpreet & Harsimran
Wedding Date: May 23, 2024
Location: Vancouver
Guest Number: 400
It all started at a mutual friend’s going-away party. The kind of night where people come and go, conversations blur, and nothing feels like a beginning. But sometimes, connection doesn’t wait for better timing. It shows up anyway — quiet, immediate, and entirely unexpected.
That’s how it was for Amanpreet and Harsimran. A mutual friend. A passing moment. And suddenly, something that felt like more. But she was about to move to England for school, and the timing didn’t make sense. So she let it go. Or at least tried to.
But Harsimran didn’t.
“You’re going to come back,” he told her. “It’s not like you’re leaving forever.” And somehow, that one sentence stayed with her. He didn’t let the distance mean disappearance. And slowly, neither did she.
Even across oceans and time zones, something about the connection held. Slowly, and then all at once, they fell in love.
Harsimran became Amanpreet’s biggest cheerleader — the one who reminded her who she was, even when she forgot.
“He believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself and always pushes me to chase my goals,” she says. “His unwavering support, calm presence, and ability to make me laugh through anything are just a few of the many reasons I’m so grateful for him.”
For Harsimran, explaining it never feels quite enough. There’s too much to name. But it’s her strength that stays with him. Her drive. The way she moves through the world with purpose.
“She’s passionate, determined, and always striving to grow, personally and professionally,” he shares. “I admire how deeply she cares for the people in her life, and how she puts her heart into everything she does. She inspires me every day, and I feel so lucky to walk through life with her.”
And then, one day, he asked her to marry him.
The proposal happened in Italy, while Amanpreet was there for work. She truly didn’t see it coming and that was part of what made it so special. Somehow, Harsimran had made it all feel completely effortless. Like the moment had just unfolded on its own.
“We were sightseeing at a beautiful villa in a small town just outside of Rome called Tivoli,” she shares. “The whole day felt simple, peaceful, and effortless like something out of a dream. As we wandered through the gardens, soaking in the view, he suddenly got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.”
She was in complete shock. But somehow, nothing about it felt out of place.
“The setting, the quiet intimacy of the moment... it couldn’t have been more perfect.”
And then, just like that, it was time to start wedding planning.
The wedding was planned in just six months — a relatively short timeline, but that was intentional. From the beginning, Amanpreet and Harsimran knew they didn’t want to do everything. They just wanted to do what mattered. They didn’t want every event just for the sake of tradition. And not everyone understood that.
“One of the biggest challenges was asserting how we wanted to celebrate our day,” Amanpreet shares. “We didn’t want all the traditional events that typically come with a Punjabi wedding, we envisioned something more simple and intentional.”
It wasn’t easy. There were discussions. Moments where it would’ve been easier to just go along with what was expected. But they didn’t.
“It took time, patience, and a lot of conversations to help our families understand that our wedding didn’t have to follow every tradition to be meaningful.”
But through all of it — they held the vision. And they held each other.
“Honestly, our favorite part was planning it together,” she says. “We supported each other through every decision. Even when it got stressful, we stayed grounded.”
That was the point. Not to skip tradition. But to choose it. Intentionally.
On Amanpreet’s side, the wedding week was kept small.
A quiet choora ceremony the night before. The Anand Karaj the next morning. And then, the dholi — but done differently.
“My favorite moment was definitely the wedding day, it felt incredibly peaceful and meaningful,” she says.
“One of the best decisions we made was to do the dholi from the gurdwara.”
Traditionally, after the Anand Karaj, there’s a rush. Photos. Logistics. A return to the bride’s family home. And then, hours later, the emotional dholi send-off. But that part never sat right with her.
“I always found that part unnecessarily stressful not just for the couple, but especially for the parents,” she shares. “After the gurdwara ceremony, the parents often just go home and wait for hours until the couple finally returns for the dholi. I didn’t want that for my family.”
At one point, she didn’t want to do a dholi at all.
“I’ve been living away from home for so many years that the idea of a ceremonial ‘leaving home’ didn’t quite feel authentic to my situation.”
But doing it right after the Anand Karaj felt like the right in-between — a choice that still honored tradition without holding onto symbolism that no longer fit.
“It still honored the cultural significance of the dholi, while also allowing the day to remain calm, intentional, and true to how Harsimran and I envisioned starting our married life without unnecessary stress or symbolism that didn’t quite match our journey.”
For the Anand Karaj, Amanpreet chose a custom Marwar lehenga with a high-neck top and a raw silk dupatta. The color leaned deep plum — unusual, unexpected, and exactly what she had hoped for.
“It was definitely a risk,” she says. “I didn’t go to India to shop in person. Everything was done virtually, and given the tight timeline, I wasn’t even sent a fabric swatch. I really just had to trust the process… and somehow, it turned out even better than I could have ever imagined.”
Harsimran went traditional too. He wore JJ Valaya. Sharp tailoring. Intricate embroidery. A look that felt both regal and timeless.
“I’m honestly obsessed with how much attention to detail they put into their menswear,” Amanpreet shares. “The silhouettes, the finishing. It all gives such a royal Maharaja feel.”
They were intentional about his look from the beginning.
“So often, the groom’s look gets overlooked, but we made it a priority to ensure his style was just as thoughtfully put together. He looked absolutely perfect.”
For the reception, Amanpreet went in a completely different direction. A two-piece, crystal-covered outfit by Manish Malhotra.
“The moment I saw it, it gave major Kim K in her Balmain era vibes, and I instantly fell in love with it,” she says. “This one, too, was purchased virtually and that made me nervous. But when it arrived, the fit was absolutely immaculate — it hugged me perfectly and felt like it was made just for me. It was the perfect statement piece to celebrate the night.”
Different from the wedding day. But still entirely her.
“Wedding planning can definitely be stressful,” Amanpreet says. “But the most important thing is to be in it together. Support one another, communicate openly, and stay grounded in the vision you both have for your day. That’s what truly matters.”
Especially in Punjabi weddings, she says, it’s easy to feel the pressure, to try and please everyone, to do everything.
“With so many events and expectations, things can quickly become overwhelming, and there’s often pressure to please everyone. But remember — it’s your day. There may be pushback, especially if you’re doing things a little differently, but if you stay rooted in your decisions and keep showing up as a united front, people will come around. And in the end, your day will be all the more meaningful because it reflects who you are as a couple.”
And in the end, it looked and felt exactly the way it was supposed to.
Here’s to Amanpreet and Harsimran — who walked into a friend’s going-away party, having no idea they were about to meet the person they’d build a life with. It didn’t feel like a beginning then. But it was. And now, they’re here — living the life they chose, together as husband and wife.
GALLERY
VENDORS
Photography: iNav Photo
Videography: Amavi Films
Makeup: Blue Rose Artistry
Bride Wedding Outfit: Marwar
Groom Wedding Outfit: JJ Valaya Sunny's Bridal
Bride Reception Outfit: Manish Malhotra
Jewelry: RNR Jewellers
Decor: Charming Affairs
Cocktail Party Bartenders: Eucalyptus Cocktails
Caterers: Metro 1
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words by
tasveer