Natasha Doshi and Manan Shah, Radisson Blu Plaza Resort & Convention Centre, Karjat

Natasha Doshi and Manan Shah’s two-day wedding celebrations were hosted in Karjat and Mumbai. Ensuring the guests were indulged while orchestrating a series of events with unique themes was WeddingSutra Favorite – Dark Horse Events who planned the wedding.

Wedding Planning
Planning a destination wedding requires precision, creativity and determination. Especially, when you have a long guest list. For Natasha and Manan, Dark Horse Events ticked every box as they curated a series of unique themes and made their loved ones feel pampered. The two-day celebrations were hosted in Karjat and Mumbai where the team was all aces as they understood the couple’s style and reflected it in the event designs. Grandeur was incorporated into each aspect of the union – right from the guest welcome, the brunch, and the sangeet to the phera ceremony.

Wedding Functions
Guest Welcome
The guests were welcomed with a royal welcome, creating an atmosphere of grandeur. Tutari artists at the resort gate greeted each car, while 16 Nagana Dhol players lined the passage, setting a celebratory tone. As guests entered the lobby, eight Punjabi dhol players had everyone dancing before they stepped inside. Offerings, like, tilak, garlands, fresh fruit juice, kesar lassi, gajak, dry fruit laddus, and kaju katli ensured the guests felt refreshed. They were also pampered with refreshing cocktails from bartenders and a customised coconut counter while waiting for their rooms. Inside, each room had special hampers—gifts, food, and drinks—making the guests feel cherished and excited for the festivities ahead.

Welcome Lunch
Under the dappled afternoon sunshine, the simple yet elegant welcome lunch was hosted. Guests were serenaded by soothing instrumental music as they enjoyed their meal. The pottery stall and custom lac bangle-making stall gave everyone plenty of personalised souvenirs.

Haldi
The poolside haldi was a magical Arabian Souk-themed celebration. Set against a stunning sunset backdrop, the event featured ornate décor, vibrant fabrics, and market-style stalls. Russian performers welcomed guests with floral jewellery, while entertainment included a perfume Bar, personalized engravings, a Mithai Mela, and a Frozen Yogurt counter. The bartenders served souk-inspired cocktails and balloon shots! Mehendi artists offered intricate designs, and guests contributed to a ‘Magical Portrait’ for the couple. The ceremony ended with 15 color bombs, a flower shower, the DJ’s energetic beats, and a surprise gift!

Sangeet
The Sangeet was a dazzling spectacle, with the theme of ‘fire and ice’. The venue was transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring a 150-foot tunnel lit by fairy lights and adorned with snow. Guests were greeted by a majestic Ice Bar serving bespoke drinks with ice embossed with the couple’s monogram. The night opened with a fire act performance, followed by the couple’s grand entrance atop a star prop, accompanied by dancers and pyrotechnics. Projection mapping on Natasha’s skirt and Manan’s Bollywood-style entrance captivated the crowd. Unique performances from acrobats, hula hoop artists, and contortionists added a magical touch, while Bollywood composer duo Salim-Sulaiman’s live performance added energy to the atmosphere.

Brunch Cocktail Party
The day started with a personalized wedding newspaper delivered to guest rooms, featuring highlights from the previous day’s celebrations. Manan and Natasha’s brunch was a lively pre-wedding celebration-themed ‘50 Shades of White’ where guests dressed in various shades of white. The couple made a grand entrance with guests playing Darbuka drums. The event featured interactive stalls like evil eye charm-making, lipstick customization, personalised caricature mugs, tie-dye art, and gaming booths. Artists on seated cycles added a fun twist, serving beers to the guests. The anchors kept the crowd engaged with games that culminated in a lucky draw with prizes like trips to Dubai, iPhones, and more.

Wedding
The baraat procession was themed entirely in pink— from the vintage car wrapped in pink adorned with Bollywood quotes to the decorations. It was the longest baraat procession, lasting four hours, with continuous dancing led by the DJ.
The wedding was a magical experience, with a floating mandap set in the middle of a pool, adding to the ethereal atmosphere. The highlight was the varmala ceremony with a live painting capturing the beauty of the moment via an artistic masterpiece. After the wedding, a same-day edit of the two-day celebration was shown to the guests, giving everyone goosebumps as they relived the joyous moments.

Reception
The festivities came to a glamorous close with a stylish Reception evening. Resplendent with elegant floral decor, the occasion was full of joy and celebration as the newlyweds received hearty wishes and blessings from all their loved ones. The bride looked statuesque in a structured Gaurav Gupta gown in lavender while the groom exuded high fashion in a tuxedo with riveting gold detailing.

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Radisson Blu Plaza Resort & Convention Centre, Karjat (Wedding); Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Dark Horse Events
Décor: The Wedding Factory
Photography: Movie’ing Moments
Invitations & Stationery: Sonal Studio
Entertainment: Symphony Band (Welcome Lunch), Sampoorna (Brunch) Salim–Sulaiman (Sangeet), Nikitaa Waghela (Wedding Chants)
DJ: DJ Shann V Gidwani (Sangeet, Baraat), DJ TBOM aka Krish (After Party)
Emcee: Ankit Bhatla, Aarti Khetarpal
Choreography: Cheena Dasani Chandwani
Bartenders: The Wedding Bartenders

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