Lonavala continues to be one of the most sought-after locations when it comes to destination weddings near Mumbai – and this beautiful celebration at Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala in November was a perfect example of why.
Planned and executed by Shubhtithi Weddings, this two-day wedding seamlessly blended tradition, high-energy celebrations, and thoughtfully curated guest experiences.
The Welcome: Setting the Bar Early
Before a single function had started, guests already knew this wedding was going to be different.
Personalised welcome hampers waited in every room. The main family’s arrival was marked with a traditional tutari, aarti, and tikka at the lobby — not as a formality, but as a genuine first moment of celebration. When you arrive to that kind of welcome, you’re already in it.
Mehendi: The Afternoon That Belonged to the Women
The mehendi was intentionally slow. No programme, no anchor, no agenda — just the bride surrounded by her closest people, the smell of mehndi in the air, and an afternoon that stretched into evening before anyone noticed.
The setting was intimate and warm. This function wasn’t designed to impress; it was designed to breathe. And sometimes that’s exactly the right call.
Mandap Muhurat & Mamera: The Morning That Held Everything
Royal Bastian on the morning of the 26th was a different world from the night before.
The wedding festivities began with a serene Mandap Muhurat, setting a spiritual tone for the celebrations ahead. With traditional rituals like Ganesh Sthapana, Grah Shanti, and Mamera, the morning was deeply rooted in culture.
The décor took its cues from pichwai art – deep, devotional, and grounded. A bajot-flanked stage, gaddas arranged near the mandap, and flower garlands that framed the space without overwhelming it. The production team had worked through the previous day to get here; walking into that hall, you felt it.
Every detail, from the floral mandap setup to the smooth guest flow, was carefully orchestrated by Shubhtithi Weddings, ensuring a calm yet elegant start to the celebrations.
Sangeet: The Night That Started at the Entry
The hall had been reset completely by evening. Same venue, different universe.
The production team had installed a full SFX rig – dry ice, confetti blowers, bubble machines – and DJ Sanjay’s setup anchored one end of the stage while the live percussion ensemble anchored the other. The décor was done. The lighting was done. And then Dhwani and Tarang walked in.
Instead of limiting the moment to just the couple and immediate family on stage, Shubhtithi Weddings transformed the Cake cutting ceremony into a shared celebration. Mini cupcakes were pre-plated and placed row by row before the event began. As the couple cut their cake on stage, these cupcakes were simultaneously distributed across the room.
This simple yet impactful concept ensured that every guest felt included – turning a typically intimate moment into a collective experience. Guests didn’t just watch the celebration, they became a part of it.
It’s these thoughtful details and guest-centric concepts that define how Shubhtithi Weddings approaches every celebration – going beyond decor and production to create moments people truly remember.
Haldi: The Function That Surprised Everyone
If you’ve been to enough weddings, you think you know what a Haldi looks like. Dhwani and Tarang’s Haldi disagreed.
The venue was styled in bold, pop-art yellows – nothing restrained about it. A Gola Waala had set up outside and immediately became the most popular spot at the venue. Tote bags were lined up on a long table, personalised and ready for guests to take home.
Then the couple entered – flashmob first, colour bombs second – and the room completely lost its mind. Anchor Eshaan took over from there, running games that had aunts and uncles competing as hard as the cousins.
When the Haldi application began, the paint rollers came out. Vicco Turmeric went into a bowl. Hand colour bombs were distributed. A flower shower machine was running overhead. By the time it was over, no one was clean, everyone was grinning, and the photos were extraordinary.
This is the function that gets forwarded in family WhatsApp groups for months afterward. At Shubhtithi Weddings, we think that’s a very good measure of success.
The Baraat
The baraat started at the lobby and ended at Raj Bhavan Gate, and between those two points, it was pure spectacle.
A Nashik dhol band and ghodi led the procession. The SafaWala team had dressed baraatis on-site – matching safas, the whole group moving together with an energy that builds on itself. Iitar was plated and ready at the gate; guests welcomed with fragrance before a single word was exchanged.
As the baraat arrived, it was the kind of arrival moment you feel in your chest.
The Wedding: Everything It Was Supposed to Be
The ceremony itself was the quietest part – and the most important.
The varmala was exchanged in rose petals and pyro light, the hall full and still at the same time. The bride’s entry with her mama – a second entry, separate from the procession – is a moment that earns its own silence. The pheras followed, the team close but unobtrusive, Pandit ji’s voice carrying through a space that knew to be quiet.
Mangalsutra. Sindoor. Done.
The vidai, when it came, had the full weight of a wedding that had given everyone something to hold onto.
From managing baraat logistics to ensuring perfect timing for rituals and guest movement, Shubhtithi Weddings handled every detail with precision.
Behind the Scenes: What Made This Wedding Seamless
What truly made this wedding stand out wasn’t just the events, but the flawless execution.
– Structured hospitality desks and smooth check-ins.
– Thoughtfully curated hampers and welcome experiences
– Real-time vendor coordination
– Detailed show flows for every function
– Strong on-ground team management
This level of detail is what positions Shubhtithi Weddings as one of the most reliable wedding planners in India for destination weddings.
What Makes Radisson Lonavala Work for Weddings Like This
The property earns its reputation. Multiple distinct spaces – Royal Bastian, Raj Bhavan, the Peshwa halls, Malhari – mean each function has its own geography and its own mood. The hills do the rest. There’s something about a destination that makes guests arrive already a little softer, already a little more present.
Shubhtithi Weddings has planned multiple weddings at this property, and every time, the combination of venue and vision produces something the family talks about for years.
Planning a Wedding That Feels Like You?
Dhwani and Tarang came to us with a feeling, and we built four functions around it. That’s how every wedding at Shubhtithi Weddings starts – not with a template, but with a conversation.
If you’re planning a wedding in Lonavala, Mumbai, or anywhere in between, we’d love to hear what you’re imagining.
Photography: Beats in the moment | Décor: Bhoomi Events | Planning & Execution: Shubhtithi Weddings