A Romantic, Modern Indian Wedding at the Westin Lombard in Lombard, Illinois

Megha Shah (29 and a pharmacist) and Hari Narayanan’s (29 and a financial consultant) wedding was a festive, traditional Indian affair with a romantic garden-inspired twist. Working with Zeena Roy from Oliveaire, the couple transformed the elegant ballroom at the Westin Lombard into an ethereal oasis of vibrant color, lush blooms and romantic candlelight. The day kicked off with a traditional ceremony, which combined traditions from Megha and Hari’s Gujarati and Malayalami backgrounds. Arrangements of ivory and pale pink hydrangeas, roses and cascading amaranth dotted the ballroom, lending a romantic air to the space, while a statement-making mandap dripping in white and bright pink orchid garlands and airy white fabric had an undeniably whimsical feel. For the evening’s festivities, the couple went all-out glam, looking to gold satin linens, magenta uplighting, gilded accents, crystal garlands and lots of candlelight to bring their vision to life. The evening was full of fun and surprises, even for the newlyweds, whose wedding party and family surprised them with a special dance. A slow-mo photo, where guests could strike a pose and create silly 40-second clips with Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” playing as the background, was a huge hit with Megha and Hari’s friends and family members, as was the DJ. DJs Damaniac, Anand, and Prashant churned out upbeat top 40, Indian and '90s hits that kept guests on the dance floor all night. And to set the tone for the evening, the couple opted for food stations during cocktail hour and a buffet stocked with traditional cuisine, which created a relaxed environment that encouraged guests to mix and mingle. A tip for the taking from Megha: “Enjoy it! It is very important for each of you to take breaks and sanity checks from the planning process. It can be super-stressful, and the last thing you want to do is add additional tension. Ensure that you make time for date nights and relaxation.”