Gretchen & Raj’s Wedding Weekend!
June 20, 2026

Hi family and friends! How excited are you for Gretchen & Raj’s big weekend?!
We want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible so please take a look through this page to learn all you need to know going into the wedding day.

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IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Gretchen’s Prep Location: The Drake – Princess Diana Suite #550
140 E Walton Place, Chicago, IL 60611

Raj’s Prep Location: The Drake – Michigan Suite #829
140 E Walton Place, Chicago, IL 60611

June 19: Grah Shant + Luncheon: The Drake – Camellia Room + Club International
140 E Walton Place, Chicago, IL 60611

June 19: Sangeet: The Drake – Grand Ballroom
140 E Walton Place, Chicago, IL 60611

June 20: Ceremony & Reception: The Drake – Gold Coast Ballroom
140 E Walton Place, Chicago, IL 60611

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

	Parkside Room is available throughout the weekend for snacks and drinks
10:30am	Grah Shanti begins in Camellia Room (first half) + Club International (second half)
11:30am	Photographer (Gretchen) arrives at The Drake to begin coverage
12:30pm	Grah Shanti ends and guests are asked to go to Camellia Room for lunch
2:00pm	Lunch ends Family and wedding party participating in the rehearsal freshens up in their rooms Kiran (Raj’s aunt) helps remove ALL items from Club International
2:45pm	Everyone needed for the rehearsal heads over to Gold Coast Ballroom for ceremony rehearsal
3:00pm	Rehearsal begins in Gold Coast Ballroom
3:45pm	Once rehearsal ends, everyone goes back to their rooms to get ready for the evening
3:50pm	Gretchen’s and mom’s (Mary) beauty service begins
5:15pm	Gretchen’s beauty service is complete Gretchen heads over to Raj’s mom suite to get draped
5:50pm	Gretchen is draped and heads back to her suite  Raj’s mom (Swati) and sister (Richa) gets draped
6:00pm	Gretchen and Raj’s friends meet in the bridal suite to hangout before the sangeet
6:40pm	Gretchen and Raj’s immediate family heads downstairs to meet in the hotel lobby Photographers (Gretchen & Meg) arrives at The Drake (bridal suite)
6:50pm	Immediate family portraits begin Once portraits are complete, family heads over to Grand Ballroom to join the sangeet Gretchen and Raj stay back for couple portraits
7:00pm	Sangeet begins in Grand Ballroom Food stations are open for guests Videographer (Olivia) arrive at The Drake
8:00pm	Dances for evening begins: – choreographed dances – garba – dandiya sticks
11:00pm	Sangeet ends

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

6:00am	Raj’s family’s beauty team arrives for set up in Raj’s mom’s suite → Raj’s mom, Raj’s sister, Raj’s aunt, and Raj’s cousin
7:00am	Those first in the beauty schedule arrive at the bridal suite for services  Beauty team arrives for set up  Gretchen sets aside all accessories and invitation suite for photographer
7:15am	Hair and makeup services begin **schedule below**
7:30am	Breakfast delivered, from The Drake, is delivered to Gretchen’s suite
9:00am	Raj’s party arrive to Michigan Suite to hang out with Raj Breakfast is delivered, from The Drake, is delivered to Raj’s suite
10:00am	Breakfast buffet (via India House) is available for guests in Camellia Room One of Raj’s family members brings food from the buffet to Raj’s mom and sister
10:30am	Pundit arrives at The Drake and begins set up for the ceremony Lunch, from Jimmy John’s, is delivered to Gretchen’s suite
10:45am	Raj’s mom and sister’s beauty service is complete; any last minute touch ups are applied  Raj’s mom and sister gets dressed for the day
11:00am	Photo team arrives at The Drake (Gretchen, Jadye, & Meg) Once complete with Raj’s family, draper goes to Gretchen’s suite  Once beauty services are complete, Gretchen’s mom (Mary) gets dressed for the ceremony Raj’s party gets 90% dressed for the morning ceremony (final finishes are for photos)
11:15am	ALL hair and makeup services are complete Gretchen and party take photos in their match getting ready outfits
11:20am	Gretchen gets dressed for the ceremony in the bridal suite Gretchen’s party gets dressed in their own rooms or separate space within the bridal suite  Draper and Raj’s aunt help Gretchen get dressed  → Gretchen’s mom and MOHs are featured in detail shots while getting dressed
11:30am	Raj’s dad (Bhadresh) and uncle are dressed for the day and arrives at Raj’s suite for pictures
11:35am	Raj and party begin their “getting ready” pictures → Raj’s dad (Bhadresh), best man (Ujas), and uncle/masa help with with details
11:45am	Gretchen’s dad (Brian) is dressed for the day and heads over to Gretchen’s suite  He waits in hallway until given “ok”
11:50am	Gretchen’s first look with party in the bridal suite
11:55am	Gretchen’s party move their personal items to their rooms/clean up space  Raj’s sister (Richa) heads to Raj’s suite for pictures  Gretchen’s casual first look, in first outfit, with dad (Brian) in the bridal suite
12:00pm	Gretchen’s bridal portraits and solo family portraits begin in the bridal suite Raj’s getting ready photos are complete Raj’s party move their personal items to their rooms/clean up space  Raj gets solo portraits with family in his suite
12:10pm	Once portraits are complete, Raj heads downstairs for his car  Raj’s family and wedding party head downstairs and wait for the baraat to begin
12:15pm	Gretchen’s portraits photos are complete and stays upstairs until ceremony begins Gretchen’s MOHs stay with her in the suite while baraat happens/take turns to be outside Raj and Joe get into the car and temporarily park on N Lake Shore Drive All family and wedding party are downstairs and head outside for the baraat  Guests + Pundit are instructed to meet outside Rosebud for the baraat Videographer (Olivia) arrives at The Drake and preps for the baraat
12:30pm	Baraat begins (starting outside of Rosebud)!
1:00pm	Baraat officially ends and all guests are invited inside for the ceremony Family and wedding party go to Drake Room for staging/to freshen up
1:20pm	Ohana Events checks that Gretchen’s aunt (Pam) has the wedding rings Gretchen does final touches up before heading downstairs
1:25pm	Wedding party and family line up in French Room for the ceremony
1:30pm	Ceremony (South Asian + Western) begins!
3:00pm	Ceremonies end; Gretchen & Raj are married!!! Immediately following end of ceremony, family pictures begin in front of the mandaap  Wedding party (except family) can head to their own rooms to change and/or freshen up
3:20pm	Extended family pictures are complete & everyone clears out of Gold Coast Room  After family portraits, family goes inside to change and/or freshen up  Gretchen and Raj head outside for couple portraits
3:25pm	Couple portraits begin outside/around Drake Hotel
3:30pm	Raj’s mom and sister’s beauty touch ups begin in their suite
3:40pm	Couple portraits wrap up  Gretchen and Raj head to the bridal suite to change and freshen up  → Gretchen gets ready in her suite (Princess Diana) → Raj’s family (Kiran and Ara Parikh) help Gretchen with her lehenga  → Raj gets ready in his suite (Michigan Suite)
4:10pm	Raj is showered and begins to get dressed for the evening  Raj’s dad, best man, and uncle arrive to his suite to help “get ready” → Raj’s dad (Bhadresh), best man (Ujas), and uncle/masa help with details
4:20pm	Gretchen’s touch up services are complete  Once beauty services are complete, Gretchen gets into second outfit
4:30pm	Gretchen is dressed and ready for portraits  Gretchen’s dad heads over to the bridal suite and waits in the hallway until given “ok” Raj’s photos are complete and he heads out for first look / couple portraits  Raj’s party and family relax for ~45 minutes
4:40pm	Once Gretchen is dressed, Gretchen’s dad comes in for the first look (in second outfit) Raj is staged and ready for first look
4:45pm	Gretchen heads outside to meet at first look location Gretchen’s party and family can relax for ~30 minutes
4:50pm	Gretchen and Raj have a first look outside + begin portraits
5:10pm	ALL wedding party and parents are ready and (if applicable) in their second outfits
5:20pm	Gretchen and Raj head back to Drake Hotel to meet for wedding party photos  ALL wedding party heads downstairs/outside to begin
5:30pm	Parents head downstairs/outside to meet for family photos
5:40pm	Wedding party pictures are complete  Non family wedding party members heads inside before cocktail hour begins Immediate family pictures begin
5:45pm	Gretchen’s extended family all head downstairs/outside to meet for photos
6:00pm	Cocktail hour begins in French Room
6:05pm	Gretchen, Raj, and families head inside to join cocktail hour
7:00pm	Cocktail hour ends and guests are invited into the Gold Coast Ballroom
7:25pm	Gretchen & Raj are introduced and cut the cake
7:30pm	Welcome and toast by Gretchen’s parents (Mary + Brian)
7:40pm	Blessing by Gretchen’s aunt (Pam Kelly)
8:25pm	Once salads are down, toast by Raj’s parents (Swati + Bhadresh)
9:15pm	Once entrées are served to half of the room, speeches begin: 1) Ujas 2) Anne & Maggie
9:30pm	Special dances begin: 1) Raj & mom 2) Gretchen & dad 3) Gretchen & Raj Dance floor opens!
12:00am	Party’s over!! BUT after party begins in Club International All decor items go into Superior Room Cards and any other sensitive items go into Anne or Maggie’s hotel room
2:00am	After party ends

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

7:30am	Breakfast is available in Parkside Room
11:00am	Breakfast ends
12:00pm	Check out at The Drake

CONTACT INFO

Sonya (wedding planner): 216-632-2304
Gretchen (bride): 616-502-6225
Raj (groom): 954-790-3311
Anne (co-maidOH): 616-502-4462
Maggie (co-matronOH): 616-502-4328
Ujas (BM): 954-649-3398

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HAIR / MAKEUP SCHEDULE

Beauty Pointers!

– Hair is best styled with clean (washed day/night before; shampoo 2x and apply condition to your ends only), product-free or limited product in hair.
– IF applying serum/oils, avoid applying to the scalp area
– Hair should be completely dry (BLOW DRY, not air dry, and avoid sleeping with damp hair), unless your plan on a blowout. Anyone with damp hair runs risk of being behind. unless your service includes a blowout
– Part your hair where you think you’d most likely want to style it for the wedding day
– Leave hair down to avoid creases or flatness from a hair band
– Do not apply SPF moisturizers to your skin. You may still moisturize with a non SPF product. SPF causes makeup to fall off quicker.
– Wear a button up shirt or a robe so you don’t mess up your makeup or hair when changing into your dress.
– Brush your teeth and put in your contacts prior to beginning your beauty.
– It is helpful if each bridal party member has an inspirational image prepared to guide them.
– Lipstick will not last all day & night. Pack a touch up lipstick or gloss for reapplication.
– Pluck/maintain eyebrows before the wedding day
– Don’t forget to shave any areas that you want to be smooth/clean

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DON’T FORGET TO BRING…

Ladies

1. Gretchen will be providing getting ready outfits so please arrive and already dressed for morning
2. Wedding day outfit (already steamed!) + appropriate bras/Spanx/undergarments
3. Shoes for while getting ready and wedding outfit
4. Accessories for wedding day outfits
5. Clutch/purse with personal items/IDs, phone, lipstick, tissues, etc.
6. Mary, Swati, Anne, & Maggie: Speech is ideally not read off of your phone! Feel free to email your speech to Sonya@ohanaevents.com if you want a printed copy

Gents

1. Wedding day outfit (already pressed!)
2. Arrive in something comfortable to get ready in
3. Cell phones, wallets and anything else you may keep in your suit coat pocket (do not put these items in your pants pockets – it will ruin pictures!)
4. Brian, Bhadresh, & Ujas: Speech for dinner (ideally not read off of your phone). Feel free to email your speech to Sonya@ohanaevents.com if you want a printed copy!

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We look forward to meeting all of you!
Let’s celebrate!!! 🙂