A Four Day Wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village Celebrating South Asian Heritage and a Western Upbringing
Roopa Radhakrishnan and Shaan Sheth’s love story begins in Southern California, where they were both born and raised – Roopa, an LA girl and Shaan, a beach-loving OC boy.
“We met seven years ago when our best friends tied the knot,” Roopa shares. “At the time, I lived in SF and Shaan was living in NYC. We definitely had a spark, yet were focused on chasing our dreams and ambitions. As fate would have it, we met again 3 years later and began our forever love story. Our first date lasted 8 hours in Santa Monica and neither of us wanted it to end. We realized on that date that we both have a love for wine, food, movies, and endless chatter. Shaan even did his Nicholas Cage impression, and I loved it! There was a spark that was undeniable between us.”
Building a Life Together
Five months into dating long distance, Roopa planned a weekend trip to Los Angeles – and then the pandemic hit. What was initially supposed to be a weekend, soon turned into moving to LA and building a life together in the city the couple calls home.
“Simply put, he felt like home.”
“It felt so sudden and yet so comfortable all at once,” Roopa recalls. “It was one of those instant connections, like we’ve known each other our whole lives. Simply put, he felt like home.”
A month before the proposal, Shaan and Roopa decided to spend a summer in London. It was the best decision, living together in a different city and experiencing so much newness. During that summer, Shaan had started to ask Roopa questions about ring styles, and she remembers thinking, “This is it, he is going to propose soon!” From that trip onward, Roopa couldn’t stop smiling.
“I felt at peace and total excitement, because I realized that I had found my partner for life,” she says. “Together we have had date nights across the globe. But some of my favorite dates have been right within our home. In fact, Shaan proposed to me in our house during sunset with gorgeous views of the Hollywood Sign, a private chef, candlelight, dozens of flowers, and portraits of core memories we shared together to make the perfect intimate evening complete with love, tears of joy, slow dancing, and dreaming of what our future holds. I couldn’t have asked for anything more heartfelt.”
A Magical Four Day Wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
Roopa and Shaan hosted a magical four day wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village – a venue the bride holds dear, as she grew up just minutes down the road.
“When we visited this venue for the first time, it just clicked,” she adds. “Three days at one beautiful property, it felt like a luxury summer camp with all our favorite people. Our wedding weekend was a true culmination of South Asian heritage meets Western upbringing. Our wedding consisted of a traditional and beautifully chaotic Vedic affair, as my dream was to have a ceremony steeped in tradition, filled with the sounds of live Nadaswaram music, colorful kanchipuram silks, and the fragrant smell of jasmine flowers (shipped all the way from Chennai, India). Our wedding included elements of Jainism woven in, as Shaan is part Jain.
“My favorite part of our ceremony was when the two of us were asked to search the skies for the stars of Vishishtha and Arundhati which signifies equality in a marriage, a meaningful message to us in a present day society and a playful part of the nuptials. I recall wedding guests saying they have never seen a couple smile more than us during our ceremony, because it's true – we were having the time of our lives!”
The couple’s pre-wedding breakfast was designed to transport guests to South India, with traditional foods from the bride’s roots in Tamil Nadu. The lunch which followed their ceremony was a North Indian feast of 30-plus dishes made by an incredible caterer who was recently awarded a Michelin honor. And of course, the groom arrived in style with a high energy Baraat, complete with a DJ, a big dance party, and a classic Rolls Royce.
The wedding was followed by an evening Sangeet. It was a magical, warm summer night filled with flowing tequila, flavorful Mediterranean fare, a lawn glowing with twinkling lights, live music, and dances performed by the couple’s closest friends.
The Reception and Exchange of Vows
The next day, the bride and groom held a lavish wedding reception which included an Exchange of Vows conducted by a dear family friend and Tennis Hall of Famer, Vijay Amritraj. This was followed by a party that the couple says, “felt so authentically us,” with a 12-piece band, Feel Good Inc., that could rap Dr. Dre and dominate some of the best rock 'n' roll hits. A variety of entertainment included ballet performances, violinists, the perfect wine pairings, and a scrumptious 7-tier wedding cake.
“At one point,” says the bride, “I recall all 400 guests on the dance floor; the vibe was electric. We had an unforgettable trip to Paris a year prior, and absolutely loved the gardens and architecture, so our decor was designed to be a Parisian garden party, filled with delicious pastels, gilded candelabras, and large magnolia trees sprawling throughout the ballroom. We also got to wear some of our favorite designers throughout the weekend, including Galia Lahav and Georgio Armani. The Galia Lahav dress I selected was the first one I tried on. It fit perfectly and I just knew she was the one. Our wedding had such a pulse, and everyone who attended could feel the energy, vibe, and of course the love!”
Family and Wedding Team Support
Roopa and Shaan are especially thankful for the support from their families throughout the wedding planning process.
“My parents and I teamed up to plan many details of the events for the weekend,” says Roopa, “and it was such a joy to have that experience with them. It is hard to put into words how much those moments with my parents meant to me, which I will always keep close to my heart.”
The couple’s reception planner was the incredible team from Exquisite Events, who went above and beyond to bring their wedding vision to life. From the meticulous details to managing a seamless flow of events, Exquisite Events succeeded in bringing an unparalleled sense of style and luxury to the big day.
“Exquisite Events, along with our team of vendors, made our wedding a work of art – a true masterpiece,” Roopa states. “A fun side note: My sister Deepa got married just nine months before me with her wedding ceremony at the same venue and her wedding reception at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, also planned by the incredible Exquisite Events team. My sister is my best friend, so our household was filled with so much joyful chaos with both daughters getting married back to back!”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, Westlake Village, CA; Planner: Exquisite Events; Floral & Event Design, Linen & Rentals: Square Root Designs; Caterer: Woodlands Chatsworth, Manohar’s Delhi Palace, Chef Ammar Catering; Cake: J&L Cakes; Lighting: 4th Dimension Productions; Engagement Ring: Horizon Diamonds; Sangeet Dress: Nadine Dhody; Reception Dress: Galia Lahav; Wedding Hair & MUA: Dolled Up by Lulu; Sangeet MUA: Shar Piyaratna; Groom’s Attire: Georgio Armani; Entertainment: LA Follies; Stationery: Jen Simpson Designs; Cinematography: Avec Lumiere; Wedding Ceremony & Sangeet Photography: John & Joseph Photography; Vow Exchange & Reception Photography: Duke Images