Harika & Gajesh’s Wedding Weekend!

June 26 & 27, 2025

Hi family and friends! How excited are you for Harika & Gajesh’s wedding?!
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.

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Welcome Reception (Wednesday, June 25): The Dalcy (3rd floor)
302 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Harika’s Getting Ready Location: Palmer House Hotel #24-000
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Gajesh’s Getting Ready Location: Palmer House Hotel #24-000
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Breakfast (Thursday, June 26): Palmer House Hotel – Mezzanine Lobby
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Ceremony (Thursday, June 26): Palmer House Hotel – Empire Ballroom
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Luncheon (Thursday, June 26): Palmer House Hotel – Honore Ballroom
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Reception (Friday, June 27): Palmer House Hotel – Red Lacquer + Grand/State Ballroom
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25

11:00am	Harika, family, & Sonya arrive to set up at The Dalcy
1:00pm	Rehearsal at Palmer House – Empire room
1:45pm	Rehearsal ends  Everyone gets ready for welcome party
3:00pm	Check in available at Palmer House
4:45pm	Everyone begins ordering ride shares to The Dalcy
5:30pm	Welcome party begins at The Dalcy Immediate family pictures begin
6:15pm	Harika’s cousin (Prashanth) gives welcome speech
7:00pm	Gajesh’s cousins (Anush & Sachin) give a speech
9:30pm	Welcome party ends Everyone orders ride shares back to Palmer House

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

3:45am	Beauty team arrive for set up Everyone receiving beauty services arrives at Harika’s suite Harika provides coffee and light bites, from Costco, for breakfast
4:00am	Beauty services begin ** schedule below **
7:00am	Hosted breakfast begins in Mezzanine Lobby ALL of Gajesh’s party is on site and hangs out in Gajesh’s suite Light bites from Costco is available for the guys
7:30am	ALL hair and makeup services completed Harika, bridesmaids & moms put on their outfits in separate rooms → Harika’s mom (Madhavi) and co-MOHs (Harshita & Vineela) help Harika get dressed Gajesh and party put on their wedding day outfits
7:45am	Photo (Alex & Benjamin) and video (Raag & Isha) team arrives at Palmer House
7:55am	Harika’s first look/portraits with her party in the bridal suite Gajesh and party take their portraits in their suite
8:05am	Harika’s dad is staged outside of the suite, ready for first look
8:15am	Harika’s first look with dad in the bridal suite Gajesh heads to first look location and gets staged
8:25am	Harika heads to first look location
8:30am	Harika and Gajesh’s have their first look + read notes to each other Couple portraits begin afterwards Hosted breakfast ends
8:45am	ALL family and wedding party is dressed and ready for the ceremony They meet Harika, Gajesh, photo/video at Honore Room for quick group photos
9:00am	Immediate family pictures begin at Honore Room
9:30am	ALL photos are complete Wedding party heads to Honore Room for pre ceremony staging Prelude music begins Guests begin arriving to Empire Room Ushers (Simmi and Shriya) are ready at the ceremony site
9:35am	Gajesh’s family (participating in the ceremony) meets in hotel lobby
9:45am	Gajesh’s family begins walking into Empire with their items
9:50am	Aarti, with Gajesh, Harika’s mom, and Harika’s aunt, begins outside of Empire Ballroom
9:55am	Gajesh and Harika’s mom heads to Honore Room to relax before lining up for the ceremony
10:07am	Everyone is lined up for the ceremony and heads over to Empire Ballroom
10:10am	Priest (Krishna Jois Pandit) comes onto the stage/under the mandaap to give an intro
10:15am	Ceremony begins in Empire Ballroom!
12:00pm	Harika & Gajesh are married!!! After the ceremony/games, family pictures begin at the altar
1:00pm	Luncheon begins in Honore Room
3:00pm	Luncheon ends
5:45pm	Wedding party and friends are ready for dinner/evening plans  Once ready, everyone meets in the hotel lobby to board the trolley Sean Zwicky is in charge of the foam cooler with snacks, drinks, and ice inside
6:00pm	Party bus arrives for wedding party and heads out for a night in the city (Federales, Cindy’s Rooftop, Joy District)
	Wedding party orders ride shares back to their homes/hotels

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

9:45am	Everyone receiving beauty services arrive at Harika & Gajesh’s suite Harika provides light bites for breakfast Beauty team arrives for setup
10:00am	Beauty services begin **schedule below**
11:00am	Lunch is delivered for both parties
11:30am	Anyone who isn’t already at Palmer House arrives to Harika and Gajesh’s suite
12:45pm	Gajesh’s party meet in the suite before going to the gym for a workout
1:00pm	Gajesh and party begin their workout
1:30pm	ALL wedding party’s beauty services are complete (family services starts afterwards) Harika and party begin to get dressed
1:45pm	Video team (Raag & Isha) arrives at Palmer House and start with Gajesh’s coverage
2:00pm	Photo team (Alex & Benjamin) arrives at Palmer House Once their workout is complete, Gajesh and party head to the suite and get ready for the day
2:05pm	Once Harika and party are dressed, solo/wedding party portraits begin in the bridal suite
2:30pm	Gajesh and party are ready and begin their solo/wedding party portraits in the bridal suite
2:35pm	ALL of Harika’s photos are complete Harika and party organize their items for the day and start heading downstairs  Harshita is in charge of grabbing Harika’s personal items and personal florals
2:45pm	Party bus arrives at Palmer House
2:50pm	ALL of Gajesh’s photos are complete Gajesh and party organize their items for the day and start heading downstairs  Sean Zwicky is in charge of the foam cooler with snacks, drinks, and ice inside
2:55pm	ALL wedding party + immediate family start boarding the party bus
3:00pm	Once everyone is on board, transportation departs for portraits
3:15pm	Transportation arrives; Harika and Gajesh deboard first  Couple portraits begin
3:45pm	Couple portraits are complete and wedding party portraits begin
4:15pm	Wedding party (non family) heads back to the party bus  Family portraits begin
4:40pm	Family portraits wrap up and everyone heads back to the party bus
4:45pm	Once everyone is on board, transportation departs for Palmer House
5:15pm	Transportation arrives at Palmer House Harika and Gajesh freshen up in TBD room before joining cocktail hour  OE helps unload party bus with personal items
5:30pm	Cocktail hour begins in Red Lacquer Room Staff ready to serve red wine, white wine, and passed hors d’oeuvres
6:15pm	Cocktail hour ends Guests are asked to head outside for the baraat
6:30pm	Baraat begins on Monroe/Wabash!
6:50pm	Baraat ends and guests are ushered into the Grand/State Ballroom Harika, Gajesh, family, and wedding party freshen up in TBD room
7:10pm	Parents and wedding party are lined up outside the side door Harika & Gajesh are staged upstairs for introductions
7:15pm	Introductions begin: 1) Harika’s parents (Kireeti & Madhavi) → takes their seats 2) Gajesh’s parents (Kumaran & Srilatha) → takes their seats 3) Harika’s party → stands in front of the head table 4) Gajesh’s party → stands in front of the head table
7:22pm	Harika and Gajesh are intro’d → once on dance floor, wedding party joins them
7:26pm	Wedding party takes their seats Harika and Gajesh cut the cake
7:29pm	Harika gets her dress bustled by her aunts (Vijaya and Rajitha)
7:34pm	After bustling, Harika and Gajesh have their first dance
7:37pm	Welcome and toast by Harika’s dad (Kireeti)
7:45pm	Toast by Gajesh’s dad (Kumaran)
7:50pm	Parent dances begin: 1) Harika and dad 2) Gajesh and mom
7:54pm	After parent dances, organized dances begin: 1) Harika’s mom and aunties 2) Harika’s dad (Kireeti) and uncles 3) Harika’s wedding party + cousins + family friends
8:05pm	After organized dances, first set of speeches begin: 1) Vineela (co-MOH) 2) Rohit (co-best man) 3) Bryan (co-best man)
8:55pm	After all entrées are served, final round of speeches begin: 1) Harshita (co-MOH) 2) Varshini (Gajesh’s sister) 3) Harika and Gajesh
9:10pm	Final set of organized dances begin: 1) Gajesh’s cousins 2) Gajesh’s wedding party
9:15pm	Dance floor officially opens!
12:00am	Party’s Over!! 🙁 All items go into Harika & Gajesh’s hotel room Informal after party/hangout in Harika & Gajesh’s suite

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CONTACT INFO

Sonya (Wedding Planner): 216-632-2304
Harika (Bride): 630-506-2812
Gajesh (Groom): 847-757-0071
Harshita (Co-Matron of Honor): 630-240-7247
Vineela (Co-Maid of Honor): 847-922-9083
Bryan (Co-Best Man): 678-862-8915
Rohit (Co-Best Man): 224-565-4050

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THURSDAY HAIR & MAKEUP SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY 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

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DON’T FORGET TO BRING…

Ladies!

1. Arrive in something comfortable to get ready in
2. Wedding day outfits (2) including appropriate bras/Spanx/undergarments
3. Accessories for wedding day(s)
4. Getting ready shoes & wedding outfit shoes
5. Neutral nail polish!
6. Clutch/purse with personal items/IDs, phone, lipstick, tissues, etc.
7. Wedding card (if applicable)
8. Vineela, Harshita, & Varshini: Printed 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

Gents!

1. Wedding day outfits (2)
2. Arrive in something comfortable to get ready/hang out in + workout clothes
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. Wedding card (if applicable)
5. Kiretti, Kumaran, Rohit, & Bryan: Printed 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

We look forward to celebrating together!!

-Ohana Events