From Teenage Love to Timeless Vows
If someone told us we’d be photographing a couple who first fell in love at 14, drifted across different continents for over a decade, and then reunited with even more certainty - we’d think it belonged in a film.
But Joanna and Aashiv are real.
And so is their full circle love story.
Experience Joanna & Aashiv’s multicultural Bengaluru wedding through WeddingNama’s cinematic, emotion-led storytelling.
Luxury, sincerity & timeless frames.
When we arrived in Bengaluru to document their celebrations, it immediately felt like we were stepping into a narrative that had been unfolding long before we ever picked up our cameras. As photographers and filmmakers, this is the kind of story we hope to be trusted with — one layered with history, destiny, culture, and profound emotion. What struck us most wasn’t the scale of the wedding, but the sincerity with which every moment unfolded. We weren’t just observing events. We were witnessing chapters. And our job was simply to do justice to a story that had already written itself beautifully.
A Love Story That Rewrote Its Own Timeline
Joanna’s multicultural life - Mexican and Malaysian heritage, raised across Japan, Canada, Dubai - blended seamlessly with Aashiv’s deeply rooted Dubai upbringing. They first met at 14, became each other’s first boyfriend and girlfriend, and then drifted across continents for nearly 12 years.
But in 2021, life pulled them together again.
Their “second first date” on 14 February 2022 felt like the beginning of a story that had been waiting patiently to resume.
For us, capturing them never felt like photographing a couple.
It felt like witnessing two parallel lives finally aligning - with certainty, clarity, and a love that knew exactly where it belonged.
How We Planned, Created & Captured Every Detail
At WeddingNama, we believe the finest weddings aren’t just photographed -
they’re understood, planned for, and photographed with intention.
For Joanna & Aashiv, we mapped out:
- How each day’s light would behave
- How their story could be woven into each frame
- How to create editorial portraits in unexpected spaces
- How to balance luxury with authenticity
- And how to ensure they never felt “directed,” only seen
We’re known for being both prisoners to emotion and leaders of visual storytelling - meaning we follow genuine moments but architect the conditions that let magic happen.
This wedding reminded us why that balance matters.
The Portrait Session That Became Iconic
One of the most unexpected highlights was an idea we proposed -
taking Joanna & Aashiv to a raw, local field for editorial-style luxury portraits.
It wasn’t easy.
The ground was uneven, insects buzzed around, wild grass brushed against their outfits, and the walk was tricky.
But they trusted us.
They trusted the vision.
Standing under an open sky with nothing but nature around them, they held each other with a whole lot of ease, elegance, and unquestioned faith.
These frames became some of the most powerful images from the wedding — proof that luxury doesn’t always need grandeur; sometimes it just needs honesty.
The Wedding in Four experiential Chapters
1 November — The First “I Do” at Eternal Garden
The Western ceremony was everything we dream of as photographers -
soft, poetic light across an endless stretch of greens.The golf course setting wasn’t just scenic; it meant something to them, which always adds depth to the frame. Aashiv is an avid golfer and hence Joanna chose this property as their wedding venue!
Joanna’s Sophie Couture gown became the visual anchor for the entire design: reflective aisle, textured florals, and a palette that photographed like a dream. Everything felt cohesive in a way that makes visual storytelling effortless. As she walked to live violin music, the aisle felt suspended in emotion — parents holding tears, friends gripping hands, and even the quietest guests softening - and we captured all of it from a place of calm observation.
Nothing staged.
Everything sincere.
Exactly the way we love to shoot.
1 November 2025 - Sangeet - Written in the Stars
The sangeet was where their story took center stage — literally and visually. “Written in the Stars” wasn’t just décor. It felt like an acknowledgment that their journey was bigger than chance. Celestial elements, twinkling installations, and a cosmic glow created a mood that allowed us to play with silhouettes, sparkles, and layered compositions. Izumi flew in from Bombay to create a Japanese-inspired menu, adding meaning to a night already rich with personal touches. One of the most emotional moments for us was when we premiered their WeddingNama film — a timeline of their journey from teens to today. To see an entire ballroom fall silent, then emotional, was powerful. Moments like these remind us of the responsibility we hold. And then… Sukhbir and DJ Madoc took over. The energy flipped from emotional to electric, and we switched into high-speed storytelling mode — dancing crowds, flying hair, laughing faces, and a night that didn’t slow down until 5 AM.
2 November 2025 - Baraat, Pheras, Celebrations - Sacred Bloom
Amita Rasa is the kind of venue that makes our cameras come alive - textured ruins, natural light falling unpredictably, and a rawness that elevates every frame. Their “Sacred Bloom” theme transformed the space into a floral sanctuary. Towering peacocks sculpted entirely from flowers and immersive blooming installations gave us layers to photograph from every angle. The baraat was vibrant chaos in the best way - color, movement, rhythm. These are the moments where we shoot instinctively, letting the energy guide us.
Joanna’s Sunset Moment - A Story Behind the Frame
The bride was heartbroken about missing golden hour before her entry. She was ready to walk down the aisle even before the groom had arrived - emotional, overwhelmed, upset.
We held space for her.
We calmed her down, stepped aside into a quiet corner, and created some of the most gorgeous editorial frames of her against the last whisper of sunset.
These photos became some of her favourites - because they captured both beauty and vulnerability.
Later, when she finally descended the ancient steps for her entry, the atmosphere shifted again:
Stillness.
Emotion.
A sense of history meeting the present.
When she reached Aashiv, every expression - relief, joy, disbelief - unfolded naturally. And that’s what we live for.
And when Sagar Bhatia performed post-ceremony, the atmosphere shifted again - warm, intimate, full of meaning. The entire day gave us an emotional range that is rare to capture all at once.
2 November — After Party: Baccarat Rouge
As filmmakers, we love contrast - and their final event delivered exactly that. Inspired by the richness of Baccarat Rouge, the venue dripped in red and gold, velvet and crystal. It was warm, moody, and luxurious - the kind of lighting every photographer secretly hopes for.
DJ Krish (TBOM) played nostalgic school-day hits, which made photographing reactions even more fun. There’s something special about capturing adults reliving their teenage memories on a wedding night.
When we premiered their same day edit, the entire room held its breath. Watching tears fall during a party this extravagant reminded us why we do what we do - because emotion always wins over scale. The night stretched into sunrise, and we kept shooting until the very last frame felt complete.
Their Words About Us
“Absolutely incredible and we are eternally grateful.
We watch our same-day edit once (more like 2–3 times) a day!
They were so lovely, easy to work with, and a joy to be around.”
For us, there is no greater measure of success.
When couples feel this way, it reminds us that our job is not just to create visuals, but to create emotional anchors they’ll return to for life.
A Celebration We’ll Never Forget
From the soft twilight vows to sunrise dance floors…
From editorial portraits in wild fields to cosmic sangeet nights…
From the tears they shed to the laughter that echoed past dawn…
Joanna & Aashiv gave us a wedding that reminded us why we do what we do.
At WeddingNama, we don’t just photograph events.
We document emotion. We plan every detail. We lead with intention. We follow with heart.
And we create visual memories that couples return to for life.
If you’re a couple who values emotion, elegance, and cinematic storytelling -
you’re exactly the kind of love story we’d be honoured to tell.
Meet the Hearts Behind the Lens
At WeddingNama, artistry begins long before the first frame.
Founded by Ankita Asthana and Akash Agarwal, our studio is built on one belief - weddings are emotional universes, and documenting them is a responsibility we hold with honour.
Ankita Asthana - Photographer, Story Listener, Emotion Seeker
With a Master’s degree in Photography and a decade of global experience, Ankita blends sensitivity with precision. Her work is defined by a rare ability to anticipate emotion — a mother’s trembling hand, a groom’s silent breath, a bride’s quiet moment of grounding.
Her philosophy is simple: photography should feel like truth, not direction.
Akash Agarwal - Filmmaker, Visual Architect, Narrative Craftsman
Akash brings the cinematic soul to WeddingNama. With storytelling instincts that bridge reality and poetry, his films are crafted with rhythm, light and emotional cadence. His Same Day Edits have become a signature experience - known for making entire ballrooms fall silent.
Together, Ankita and Akash are:
- Brand Ambassadors for leading camera & lighting brands
- Internationally Awarded (Top 10 Global Wedding Photographers three years in a row: 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Educators & Speakers on national and international platforms
- Trusted by global couples who value sincerity, luxury, and cinematic imagery
But beyond achievements, what defines their work is heart.
A deep care for people.
An obsession with detail.
And an unshakeable commitment to telling love stories that feel pure, intentional, and alive.
WeddingNama isn’t just a team you hire.
It’s a creative partnership you feel.
WeddingNama family — The Heartbeat of WeddingNama
While Ankita and Akash shape the creative vision of WeddingNama, what truly brings that vision alive is the extraordinary team behind them. Whether or not Ankita and Akash are physically present at a wedding, their philosophy, their eye for detail, and their standard of excellence flow through every single frame - because the team carries it with pride.
At WeddingNama, we have hand-picked creative storytellers, calm problem-solvers, emotional interpreters, and razor-sharp observers - artists who care as deeply about your memories as we do. They don’t just document a wedding; they immerse themselves in its energy. They plan, prepare, anticipate, and adapt with the maturity of seasoned professionals.
Our photographers and filmmakers know exactly when to step in and make things happen, and just as importantly, when to disappear into the shadows like ninjas, capturing moments that unfold naturally, unnoticed and unfiltered. They strike the perfect balance between editorial sophistication, documentary authenticity, and guided creativity - ensuring that every detail, every emotion, every fleeting second is preserved beautifully.
No matter where your wedding takes place, you can trust that the WeddingNama team will not leave a single stone unturned.
They will chase the best light, craft meaningful compositions, think ten steps ahead, and protect your story with unmatched dedication.
This is why every WeddingNama wedding - whether led by Ankita, or Akash, or our incredible team - carries the same signature blend of luxury, heart, and cinematic elegance.
