Shaili Shah and Abhishek Pradhani, Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, The Savoy, Mussoorie

Shaili Shah and Abhishek Pradhani’s wedding brought together their Gujarati and Odia roots in an intimate three-day celebration for 92 guests. WeddingSutra Favourite – Shaandaar Events planned the celebrations around the couple’s personalities, cultural backgrounds, and preference for considered luxury. From artisan-led experiences to reused décor and meaningful details, every element was planned to feel personal without being excessive.

Wedding Planning
For Shaili and Abhishek, the November wedding was about bringing two families and cultures together in a way that felt natural. With Abhishek’s family roots in Odisha and Shaili’s in Gujarat, Shaandaar Events brought both traditions into the ceremonies, wardrobe, décor and finer details of the celebrations. “The couple wanted both cultures to have a presence without making the wedding feel divided into two themes,” says Karan Bains of Shaandaar Events. “We focused on finding thoughtful ways to bring everything together while keeping the overall experience contemporary.” This showed in details such as the Gujarati antarpat and Shaili’s Odia bridal traditions, including silver anklets and toe rings, red glass bangles gifted by her mother-in-law, alta, an Odia mukuta, and ghomta.

Sustainability was equally important to the couple, and Shaandaar Events incorporated it into the planning without making it feel like a separate theme. Décor structures and furniture were reused across functions, while the invitations featured recycled hemp paper, soy ink and seed-paper inserts. Guest hampers made from bamboo and rattan included reusable gifts such as copper bottles, coconut-husk candles and wooden games, while food planning focused on reducing wastage. After the wedding, the flowers were repurposed into incense products, and the couple also offset emissions associated with travel, utilities, food wastage, labour and sourcing through certified carbon-capture credits. “The aim was to make the wedding feel luxurious without creating unnecessary excess,” Karan shares. “A lot of the work was in the details, from reusing elements to coordinating movement and making sure the couple’s priorities remained at the centre.” One such detail was the couple’s decision to write a postcard to their future married selves after the ceremony, which they mailed the following morning.

Wedding Functions
Mehendi
The celebrations began with the mehendi in a charming greenhouse setting. A wooden swing became a focal point, while florals softened the space without taking away from its natural character. The décor retained the setting’s understated charm, creating an intimate backdrop for the first gathering.

Haldi
The haldi was designed as an interactive afternoon with artisan-led experiences, cocktails and games. Guests could try pottery, block printing on linen pillows, calligraphy on pashmina shawls and copper naqqashi on paan daan vessels. Transparent hanging banners featured ‘Welcome’ in English, ‘Haldi’ in Hindi, ‘Pithi’ in Gujarati and ‘Mangana’ in Odia. The afternoon had a relaxed, playful energy, with guests moving between the activities, cocktails and games. Tug-of-war and a pani puri-inspired version of flip cup added to the informal mood. “We wanted guests to participate rather than simply watch,” says Karan. “The artisan stations gave the haldi a more experiential quality while keeping it relaxed.”

Sangeet
The sangeet brought a more energetic note to the wedding, with garba-inspired festivities, music and performances bringing both families together. The evening had a celebratory atmosphere, with the performances adding to the sense of occasion. A particularly memorable moment came when Shaili surprised Abhishek’s family with a speech entirely in Odia. Having spent months privately learning the language with Abhishek, the gesture became a personal tribute to his family and culture.

Wedding
The wedding ceremony was framed by the natural landscape, with an elegant mandap featuring ivory flowers and soft greenery. The décor was kept refined and restrained, allowing the setting and the ceremony to remain the focus. The couple had decided against a private first look and wanted to see each other for the first time during the ceremony. Shaandaar Events carefully coordinated their movements throughout the day to ensure they did not cross paths. “Making sure they didn’t see each other before the ceremony was a logistical exercise in itself,” Karan says. “Everyone involved knew how important that moment was to them.” When the antarpat was finally lifted, the couple saw each other for the first time surrounded by their families.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, The Savoy, Mussoorie
Wedding Planner: Shaandar Events
Décor: Revamp Weddings & Events
Photography: Light Chamber
Videography: CineDo Weddings
Makeup: Neha Jain
Bride’s Outfits: Rajdeep Ranawat (Sangeet), Tilla by Aratrik Dev Varman (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Steel Lifestyle (Haldi)

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