Love Across Continents

Sometimes love unfolds in the most unexpected ways. For Taral, an architect and founder of Do It Up, and Pranav, a strategy consultant with BCG, their journey began with a swipe on a dating app.

But timing wasn’t on their side. Soon after matching, Pranav left for his MBA in France and later worked in Germany. Two years later, with oceans still between them, they reconnected — this time through daily Facetime calls that stretched for hours. By the time they finally met in person four months into their long-distance romance, their hearts already knew.

Crafting Their Own Wedding Story

Once Pranav moved back to India in late 2024, and Taral had wrapped up another whirlwind wedding season, the couple turned their attention to designing their own celebration.

From the start, Taral envisioned an intimate hill-station wedding with just 100 loved ones under open skies. With Taral being Maharashtrian and Pranav a Shetty, it was important for them to weave together both cultures in meaningful ways — from a Maharashtrian mehendi at home to a pre-wedding shoot in traditional outfits paying homage to Pranav’s roots.

Mussoorie Magic

The couple found their dream venue in ITC Savoy, Mussoorie — a restored English-era property with sprawling lawns, heritage charm, and endless views of the hills.

Determined to keep things serene, they scheduled one event per day, allowing space for emotion, connection, and joy.

• Mehendi & Haldi: Rooted in Taral’s Maharashtrian traditions, the mehendi was a heartfelt home celebration. For the haldi, pastel blues, hanging florals, and soft sunlight created a dreamy backdrop, with Taral wearing her mother’s pink saree and nath — “an ode to my roots and my mom’s dream for me,” she says.

• Cocktail-Sangeet: Over 2,000 candles, exotic blooms, lush florals, and mirror tables transformed the lawns into a glamorous, forest-like night of music, laughter, and dancing.

• The Wedding: A pastel vintage wonderland. Against Mussoorie’s panoramic views, a soft dome mandap, cascading staircase florals, and a varmala stage set the scene. Personal touches — from old photographs to heartfelt speeches — made the day deeply personal.

A Celebration Beyond Two

What truly stood out was the effortless merging of families.

“Watching everyone laugh, dance, and feel so at home with each other — it wasn’t just our marriage, it was the start of something bigger,” Pranav reflects.

The wedding concluded with a symbolic decision that perfectly captured their journey — both chose to take on each other’s last names, becoming the Jadhav Shettys, a celebration of their union and shared future.

“This wedding was everything I dreamed of — rooted in love, calm, culture, and a deep sense of coming home,” Taral says.