04 / People & Partnership

My People

The people whose belief, precision, creativity, and conversation make every ambitious vision possible.

Abhilasha Lonari seated in a black top during an editorial portrait session — “I can dream up infinite worlds, but I know no universe is built alone. My vision comes to life through the steady hands, relentless passion, and quiet dedication of the people around me.”
Abhilasha Lonari

The people behind the work

People Behind the Work

ABHILASHA LONARI

FOUNDER | CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Abhilasha leads with emotion, imagination, and an instinct for turning spaces into experiences where people feel deeply seen.

How did your story with event and spatial design begin?: Holding my two-year-old child in my arms at a very young age, dreaming of creating something lasting. With my partner's belief and my family's support, that quiet moment grew into a passion for designing spaces that make people feel deeply special.
What inspires your approach to designing spaces and celebrations?: The emotion behind every detail. Whether it's a grand wedding, a serene garden, a home, or an office, I look for the soul of the space and shape it into an environment where memories naturally unfold.
What is the core philosophy that drives The Wedding Universe?: For the stars, by the stars. We believe in complete dedication to the craft - where every tiny detail, from venue logistics to handcrafted design, is taken care of by experts so our clients can simply live the moment.
How do you stay grounded while managing grand-scale projects?: By remembering where it all started and who stands beside me. I owe everything to my loving partner, my family, and our incredible team of artisans and planners who turn abstract ideas into living art every single day.
What is your definition of a truly successful design?: When a space evokes genuine warmth. It's never just about lavish decor - it's about creating an atmosphere where every guest feels cherished, comfortable, and truly seen.
What is the ultimate lesson your journey has taught you so far?: That starting young with big responsibilities wasn't a limit - it was my greatest strength. It taught me patience, grace, and how to lead every creative vision with pure heart.

VIBHOR SOMANI

CO-FOUNDER | STRATEGIC HEAD & BACKBONE

Vibhor brings the precision of fine jewelry, trusted relationships, and a calm operational foundation to every ambitious creative vision.

How does your background in fine jewelry influence your work at The Wedding Universe?: Jewelry design teaches you an obsession with perfection. When you spend years examining gems and precious jewels, you learn that brilliance comes from precision, balance, and fine detail. I bring that exact eye for rarity, clarity, and flawless execution into every event and space we curate.
You are often called the backbone of the business - what is your secret to seamless execution?: Building rock-solid relationships. A great vision needs strong ground to stand on, and my focus is ensuring our backend, high-level procurement, and operational foundation are unbreakable. Whether it's negotiating with premier five-star hotel brands or aligning world-class partners, I ensure every moving part works like fine clockwork.
What is your personal superpower when it comes to networking and partnerships?: Authentic connection. Understanding gems taught me to recognize true value, and the same applies to human relationships. Networking isn't just about making contacts - it's about listening, building deep trust, and connecting the right people to create effortless synergy.
What is your favorite part of partnering with Abhilasha on this journey?: Bringing her grandest creative dreams into living reality. She dreams up infinite, breathtaking worlds, and my role is to pave the path, secure the resources, and build the structure that allows those dreams to shine without compromise.
Which of your personal traits are you most proud of?: Quiet resilience, sharp intuition for detail, and the ability to stay grounded under pressure. Like a polished gem, I believe true strength comes from endurance, precision, and staying steadfast no matter how grand the scale gets.
What does "For the Stars, By the Stars" mean to you personally?: It means delivering absolute excellence without exception. Just as every gemstone must be masterfully cut to catch the light, every celebration we craft must be handled with utmost precision, passion, and star-quality care from start to finish.

REET LONARI

Creative Director, Founder - Maison Yume

Reet entered this story as a tiny two year old resting against the chest of a dreamer, witnessing the first foundational stones being laid. Now leading as Creative Director across Maison Yume where artistry and grace she craft celebrations that transcend time where every detail holds meaning, every moment honours love, and every experience becomes a story worth telling.

How does it feel to step into the role of Creative Director alongside Abhilasha - especially as the very child she held at two years old while dreaming of this future?: It feels like coming full circle in the most beautiful way. Growing up wrapped in her vision, courage, and love, I didn't just watch this universe take shape - I lived it. Today, standing beside her as a co-creator and bringing my own artistic voice to the table is both an honor and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
What is the story behind your design label, Maison Yume, under The Wedding Universe?: 'Yume' translates to dream, and Maison Yume was born out of a desire to create celebrations that feel entirely surreal, romantic, and deeply personal. It serves as our avant-garde design wing - where we take the grand scale of The Wedding Universe and infuse it with high-concept design, delicate textures, and ethereal spatial storytelling.
Your approach is known for putting couples at the absolute center of the design process. How do you bring their vision to life?: I start by listening to who they truly are - their quiet moments, shared memories, and unique dynamic - before I ever sketch a single concept. A wedding shouldn't look like a template; it should feel like an extension of their personal love story. I design around them, translating their energy into colors, forms, and custom spatial layouts.
Where do you source your fresh ideas and concepts for the modern bride and groom?: Inspiration comes from everywhere - fashion, fine art, architecture, and international design movements, blended with authentic local craftsmanship. I love breaking conventional decor norms to bring fresh, youthful, and contemporary design perspectives that make every celebration feel innovative yet timeless.
What is your favorite part of the creative process from concept to execution?: The moment abstract ideas turn into tangible emotion. Watching a couple walk into a room designed specifically for them - seeing their faces light up as they realize every quiet detail was crafted to tell their story - is the ultimate reward.
What does the tagline "For the Stars, By the Stars" mean to you personally?: To me, it means honoring the legacy of devotion I grew up with while pushing boundaries to reach new heights. It's about treating every couple like the center of our universe, infusing every design with heart, and continually crafting dreamscapes that leave people spellbound.

Rahul Iyer

The Sharp Strategist & Co-Host

Brings dynamic curiosity, sharp dialogue, and deep industry perspectives, keeping the conversations engaging, multifaceted, and insightful.

What do you do outside of co-hosting The Third Chair?: I’m the Founder & CEO of AIGPE®, where I work across AI-driven transformation, Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence and digital education, helping professionals and organisations build practical transformation capabilities globally.
What is the core mission behind your work?: My goal is to simplify complex transformation frameworks and make world-class, accredited skills practical and accessible to professionals and organisations across the world.
What is the concept behind The Third Chair podcast?: Abhilasha and I occupy two chairs, and The Third Chair belongs to our guest. The idea is to bring exceptional people into candid, high-impact conversations around business, leadership, personal journeys, decisions, growth and the experiences that shaped who they became.
How do you and Abhilasha divide roles as co-hosts?: We come from very different professional worlds, and that is probably one of our biggest strengths. I naturally bring structure, business logic, digital thinking and an analytical lens, while Abhilasha brings creativity, people instinct, experience, energy and an incredible understanding of how to draw stories out of people. The two perspectives complement each other very naturally.
How has your experience been co-hosting the show with Abhilasha?: It has been extremely natural and rewarding. We think very differently, but that contrast works in our favour. Abhilasha brings tremendous energy, instinct and clarity to a conversation, and I tend to look for the structure, deeper patterns and questions underneath it. That combination makes the process both enjoyable and intellectually exciting.
What can listeners expect when tuning into The Third Chair?: Candid conversations, meaningful stories and practical insights from people who have built, changed or influenced something significant. We want to ask the questions that go beyond achievements and uncover the decisions, struggles, lessons and human stories behind them.