Real Chicago Wedding: Nida & Aamer, Zhou B Art Center

Real Weddings

Feb 18

We have a real soft spot for weddings steeped in culture and tradition, and particularly ones that are so different from our own heritages. Nida and Aamer's families are from Pakistan, and so they chose to include many traditional elements in their wedding day, while also blending in some of their own personalities. It made for a very unique wedding experience for their guests!

After getting ready at the Fairmont Hotel, Nida and Aamer had their first look at the beautiful, lush Lakeshore East Park, just behind the hotel. It was the perfect backdrop and the weather could not have been more delightful!

In Pakistani tradition, it is customary for the groom to travel to the wedding accompanied by his family members, in a processional called a Baraat. Following their first look, the couple parted ways so that Aamer could have a traditional Baraat with his family and friends. When they arrived at Zhou B Art Center, Aamer and his party were escorted up to the entrance by a dhol drummer and flautist, where they were greeted by Nida's parents and escorted inside. This was one of the most magical parts of the day; to see the two families come together with such joy and anticipation was so memorable.

Nida and Aamer were very clear in their design direction from the very beginning; they wanted it to be contemporary and modern with elements of warmth and approachability. The team at Kehoe Designs executed this design so flawlessly. The gorgeous drapery was the perfect backdrop for their ceremony, and the lighting overhead and down the aisle made the space feel so magical.

Following the ceremony, guests were greeted with refreshing mocktails and delicious hors d'oeuvres from LM Catering. While they sipped on their drinks, guests perused the massive seating chart, that was hand-drawn by Reenie Rose, on a beautifully ornate mirror.

It was so much fun working with Nida, Aamer and Kehoe Designs to design their dinner and dancing space. Zhou B Art Center is such a blank slate with plenty of concrete, pillars, raw ceilings and so much natural light! Aamer spent much of his childhood in Hong Kong, so one of the things he knew he wanted to incorporate was an assortment of Chinese lanterns. We opted to suspend them from the ceiling, which really made the space feel so full and brought your eyes up the moment you stepped into the room! Their unique table numbers, designed by Magnificent Milestones, were such a fun illustration of the cities where they were born, Chicago and Lahore, in Pakistan.

Guests were really ready to party once dinner was over! We kicked dancing off with a beautiful medley of songs performed by Nida's siblings and nephews, and a few heartfelt toasts given by some of their dearest friends. DJ Damaniac from DesiBel Entertainment and his talented musicians kept Nida, Aamer and their guests dancing for hours. We ended this incredible day with a sparkler exit, which was so much fun!