Photographer: Lauren Renee
Wedding Planner:Soiree by Souleret
Some weddings are memorable because of their beautiful details. Others we remember because of the sheer love pervading the event. Still others stick in our minds because of their scale. Neil and Shohini’s celebration at the Omni William Penn Hotel stays with me for all these reasons.
Hosted in one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic historic venues, the wedding brought together family, tradition, architecture, music, and flowers in a way that felt both grand and deeply personal. The Omni’s Art Deco interiors provided a fitting backdrop for a weekend centered on celebration, hospitality, and the gathering of generations.
For the ceremony in the Urban Room, guests were welcomed into a floral mandap designed as the focal point of the space. Rich flowers, layered textures, and abundant greenery framed the space where family and tradition took center stage. The design was intended to feel immersive rather than ornamental, creating a sense of place within the larger architecture of the hotel.
Throughout the celebration, flowers were used not only as decoration but as structure. Floral garlands played an important role in the ceremony, while arrangements throughout the venue reflected the vibrant color, movement, and symbolism that characterize Indian wedding celebrations.
One of the most memorable elements of the reception was the couple’s floral sweetheart swing. Rather than a traditional sweetheart table, Neil and Shohini chose a swing adorned with flowers, creating a focal point that felt playful, romantic, and uniquely their own. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Omni William Penn, it became one of the defining visual moments of the evening.
The reception in the Grand Ballroom embraced both scale and intimacy. Large tree-inspired centerpieces rose above guest tables, creating a canopy effect throughout the space. Suspended lanterns and candlelight added warmth and atmosphere, while floral-based candelabra arrangements brought height, texture, and elegance to the room. The combination of flowers, lighting, and architecture transformed the Urban Room into an environment that felt immersive from every angle.
As with so many of the weddings we are fortunate to design, the details that linger most are often the personal ones. Family was at the center of this celebration. Guests traveled from near and far to participate in a weekend filled with tradition and joy. Even the couple’s beloved dogs, Stevie and Otis—named for Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding—played a role in the story of the day.
Indian weddings are often extraordinary not simply because of their beauty, but because of their generosity. They create space for family, culture, memory, and celebration to coexist. Neil and Shohini’s wedding was a wonderful example of that spirit.
The result was a weekend that felt simultaneously elegant, vibrant, and deeply rooted in the people gathered to celebrate it—a fitting celebration in one of Pittsburgh’s most historic and beloved venues.
Venue: Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Floral Design by Mary Beth McConahey
Photography by Lauren Renee
Event Styling by Soiree by Souleret
Design Highlights
- Floral ceremony mandap
- Bridal and family garlands
- Floral sweetheart swing
- Tree-inspired reception centerpieces
- Suspended lantern installations
- Floral-based candelabra centerpieces
- Large-scale Indian wedding floral design
