A Dream Etched in the Hills: Our Wedding Story
I have been around couples and weddings for over half a decade now designing weddings and all sorts of celebrations before & after. Needless to say, this only made me wonder when my turn would come, how I would want to celebrate the most important day of my life. Few things I was sure of – the celebration would be a recognition of the lives we had lived individually, the journey we had that got us together to this point and it had to represent the future we were going to be build together – a celebration that blends both of these aspects with our closest and dearest tucked away in the most intimate and surreal wedding in the hills.
Taral & Pranav, May 2025
Long before Pranav and I officially began dating, we found ourselves—oddly enough—discussing weddings. As a wedding designer, I often lived in the world of vision boards and floral installations, and Pranav would indulge in these musings with surprising interest yet constant support of this dream I had. Even then, I had pictured an intimate, hill-station summer wedding, just the two of us surrounded by the closest 100 people in our lives, under the open skies.
Coming from two very different cultural backgrounds (Me from a Maharashtrian household and Pranav, a Shetty) – while honouring the same we also wanted to through the wedding express how we envisioned our future to be as two halves coming together who found our common ground with a life in Bombay. Hence we incorporated all traditions to the extend possible that aligned with how we are as people. Pre wedding festivities included a traditional mehendi for me at home with maharashtrian rituals, a pre wedding shoot to mark the onset of the wedding at the wedding venue where we adorned traditional outfits to pay homage to Pranav’s roots and finally for the wedding – we also sat with our relatives and pandit to identify commonalities between a maharashtrian and Shetty community wedding. The part that we did change for ourselves – we both took our family names as last names and are now Jadhav Shetty’s – the most special part of the wedding and a testament to our belief in marriage – a union of two halves.
Location
When the time came to turn that vision into reality, the first and most important decision was the venue. North India had always captivated me with its stunning landscapes and perfect weather, and soon it came down to Shimla and Mussoorie. It didn’t take long for us to fall in love with ITC Savoy, Mussoorie—a restored English heritage property nestled in the heart of the hills, full of old-world charm, a rich history spanning decades and the kind of lush green lawns that feel like they were made for dreamy beginnings. It also ticked the most crucial box—it could host all our loved ones without sacrificing intimacy.
Having designed weddings for so many beautiful couples over the years, I had also learned a thing or two about what I wanted—and more importantly, what I didn’t. I knew I didn’t want a hectic, whirlwind of a wedding. So, the idea of one relaxed event per day felt just right. We started with the sangeet-cocktail on day one and followed it with our wedding ceremony at sunset the next day. The mehendi and haldi were kept even more intimate—just 15-20 of our closest people—hosted at home and at the stunning glasshouse at ITC respectively.
Decor & Design
Each event was designed with intention—not just around the aesthetic of the venue but also the emotion of the moment. At the same time this also carried the weight of being a wedding designer and having curated so many themed events – when it came to my own, I rooted myself to aesthetics that felt more me (and naturally more Do It Up) than trying to do something never seen before. I wanted the décor to represent “Do It Up” at its best and hence I brought in our signatures in each of the decors, I spent more time detailing each one with my team and wanted the florals to stand out. We centred the designing around the concept of ‘blooming gardens’ for each event in different colour palettes and textures. At Do It Up, we always focus on building on the context of the space – add to it further and hence everything about the destination events followed a language you can see fits perfectly to the essence it brings. The process we followed was just like any other – beginning with a concept for each proceeding to multiple recces with the design teams, production and floral teams for space planning, element detailing and finally sampling before the events.
At home in Mumbai, my mehendi was an ode to my Maharashtrian roots and my mom’s heartfelt wish to see me as a traditional bride. I wore her radiant pink saree with a nath, surrounded by vibrant pinks and oranges that made me feel completely at home—anchored, cherished, and so loved. My guests also followed the same dress code and were served authentic Maharashtrian dishes my mom made herself that I grew up having too. The idea that after this I would have a new home had bitter sweet feelings rush over me but also a beautiful start to my next chapter.
After a day’s break and arriving at Mussoorie – On the morning of the 14th, we kicked off the wedding at the glasshouse—a space that had first drawn me to ITC Savoy. I chose soft blush pinks and butter yellows for the haldi, steering away from the conventional genda phool, and wore a light blue saree as my little modern twist. Delicate florals hung from the ceiling while a garden bloomed around us—our first ceremony, intimate and magical.
That evening, the first event for all our guests was the sangeet – the outdoor lawn was ransformed into a rich, red forest-like celebration. With over 2000 candles, cascading florals, mirror tables, and exotic blooms, the energy was electric. It was our glam Bollywood dancing night—full of laughter, wild moves, and pure joy.
After an easy and relaxed morning the next day – came the big day. Our wedding. A pastel wonderland set against Mussoorie’s ethereal backdrop. It was a “Do It Up” classic but reimagined through a vintage lens: a delicate dome mandap, a floral-adorned staircase, an unforgettable varmala stage with panoramic views. We added personal touches—old photos of our individual journeys, little vignettes of memories that led us here. We closed the night with heartfelt speeches and toasts from our favorite people, tying it all together in a way that still feels surreal.
None of it would have been possible without my incredible team at Do It Up, who handled their founder also being a bride this time with so much grace and heart to deliver our best yet for decor & design. The magic was beautifully captured by ThePhotoLab, planned to perfection by Nitisha and Neelam from The VowWeavers, my perfect looks by Shradha Luthra’s team and executed by ThePlanBox Events.
This wedding was a dream—a celebration of love, calm, history, family, and every detail I ever hoped for. It lives in the hills, in our hearts, and now, forever in memory.
