All you need is Love

Barry Rodgers spoke to three queer couples who chose to celebrate their union in ways that reflected their values and identities

When planning a queer wedding, traditions aren't assumed—instead, couples seek to break free from societal expectations. They rewrite the narrative of what it means for two people to come together and celebrate their love. These unions testify that gender and conventional gender norms don't define a relationship's success.

Mrittika Munshi & Viktoria Augustine

In 2021, Mrittika Munshi and Viktoria Augustine embarked on a new chapter by marrying in Austria. It was an intimate affair, attended only by the two of them and the officiant. This wedding wasn’t about grand celebrations but about capturing the moment's authenticity. “We wanted to preserve the essence of our relationship”, Munshi says. They carefully selected photographers who could document the event without making it appear staged.

Fast forward to 2023, the couple decided to host a bigger celebration in Kolkata, Munshi’s birthplace–one that included family and friends. After four years of contemplation, the duo finally decided to host a social event. “It was more beautiful than we could have imagined,” Augustine says. The venue, Rajbari Bawali, was central to the celebration. Interestingly, they had discovered it almost by accident during a New Year’s getaway in 2021 and were so enchanted by it that they chose it for their Indian wedding.

The Kolkata celebration was rooted in tradition but without religious overtones. Instead, the couple incorporated the four elements—water, earth, fire, and wind—into the ceremonies. The first day involved a water ceremony on the Ganges, complete with music and a serene boat ride. The second day featured an earth ceremony under a tree, akin to a white wedding celebration. That evening, five women priests performed a Vedic-style fire ceremony. The final day, themed around wind, coincided with New Year’s Day, symbolising a whimsical start of their journey together.