I believe a wedding weekend should unfold like a great story, with each event naturally building anticipation for the next. One favourite itinerary of mine began with a relaxed rehearsal dinner, followed the next afternoon by a Chicago Cubs game. That evening, guests enjoyed beer, pizza, and a salsa lesson. The salsa class wasn’t random; the wedding reception featured a live Latin band, so guests arrived the following evening already feeling comfortable with the music and eager to join the dance floor…”
Shaun Rajah, Events by Shaun Rajah, Chicago
Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Shaun Rajah moved to the United States twenty-five years ago. He is the founder and creative director of Michigan-based Events by Shaun Rajah, a luxury wedding planner based in Chicago. Specialising in highly personalised celebrations across the United States and internationally, Shaun’s work blends thoughtful hospitality, refined design, and meticulous logistics to create weddings that feel elegant, deeply personal, and effortless for every guest…
C&B: “Shaun, what originally inspired you to enter the world of planning luxury weddings?”
SR: “I didn’t set out thinking I would own a wedding planning company… my career began in luxury hotels, where I spent years in hospitality, including leadership roles at The Drake Hotel Chicago and The Langham, Chicago. Hospitality taught me that luxury isn’t about extravagance; it’s about how people feel. The turning point came when my mother became ill in Malaysia. I wanted the flexibility to travel home whenever I needed without sacrificing the career I loved. Starting my own company gave me that freedom. Looking back, it feels as though everything prepared me for this. The operational discipline from hotels, my love of design, and my passion for creating meaningful experiences naturally came together. What began as a practical decision quickly became my life’s work…”
Recently, my work has been featured in Elle India, Modern Luxury Chicago, Smashing the Glass, and Wezoree It’s always an honour to see our weddings recognised, particularly because each publication celebrates a different aspect of the work, from multicultural weddings and editorial design to storytelling and hospitality…”
Shaun Rajah, Events by Shaun Rajah, Chicago
C&B: “It’s incredible how your career in planning came together, as though inevitable. How does your heritage influence your approach to hospitality and event production?”
SR: “Growing up in Malaysia shaped the way I see hospitality. Malaysia is incredibly multicultural, and I was raised in an Indian Malaysian Catholic family where welcoming guests wasn’t simply expected, it was standard of everyday life. Hospitality was never about perfection; it was about making people feel genuinely cared for. That philosophy still guides every wedding I produce. I pay close attention to the small details, remembering names, anticipating needs, making guests feel seen, and ensuring everyone feels comfortable from the moment they arrive. Beautiful flowers and elegant décor create a memorable event, but genuine hospitality is what people remember years later…”
C&B: “Have you also planned weddings outside your home city of Chicago?”
SR: “I’ve been fortunate to plan celebrations as far away as Sydney, Australia, and Scotland, alongside weddings throughout the United States. Sydney was especially memorable because, despite the distance and time difference, the couple trusted the process completely. Planning from opposite sides of the world required organisation, flexibility, and a great deal of communication, but it proved that relationships matter more than geography. Every destination brings its own rhythm. Scotland carries a sense of history, while Australia has a wonderfully relaxed pace…”
Inside every book was an old-fashioned library checkout card, a personal note from the couple, and a bookmark inviting guests to visit a live illustrator. Before leaving, each guest collected a custom illustration tucked inside the very book they had chosen…”
Shaun Rajah, Events by Shaun Rajah, Chicago
C&B: “Out of all the projects you’ve worked on in various destinations, which has been your favourite creative concept?”
SR: “Every wedding is different because every couple is different, so it’s difficult to choose just one. One of my recent favorites took place at the Library on LaSalle in Chicago. Since the venue itself celebrated literature, we wanted the guest experience to feel immersive rather than simply decorative. Each escort card became a book with the guest’s name printed on the sleeve. We even hired a librarian who guided guests in selecting a book that suited their interests…”
C&B: “What an incredible level of detail! Taking into consideration the old and the new, how do you balance timeless Chicago elegance with modern design trends?”
SR: “I do pay attention to trends, however I don’t follow them. I think trends are wonderful sources of inspiration, but I never want a wedding to feel dated five years later. My goal is to create celebrations that feel timeless because they’re built around the couple rather than what’s currently popular on social media. I rarely repeat the same design twice. Every wedding begins with a blank page, allowing us to create something unique instead of recreating someone else’s vision…”
My dream project would be to produce a multi-day destination celebration in Paris, Florence, New York City, or Bali. Not because they’re iconic destinations, but because each offers a strong sense of place. I enjoy designing celebrations that reflect the local culture rather than transporting the same wedding from one destination to another. Whether it’s an intimate birthday celebration overlooking the Seine or a wedding in the Tuscan countryside, my dream is always the same: create an experience that couldn’t happen anywhere else…”
Shaun Rajah, Events by Shaun Rajah, Chicago
C&B: “What culinary or cultural experiences from your unique background do you enjoy introducing to your couples?”
SR: “One of my favourite parts of planning is helping couples experience Chicago through food and culture instead of simply checking off tourist attractions. I often introduce international guests to neighborhood experiences that locals genuinely enjoy, whether that’s an afternoon at Wrigley Field, classic Chicago pizza after a welcome party, architectural river cruises, or late-night jazz. For multicultural weddings, I also enjoy blending traditions in ways that feel natural. Whether it’s incorporating Jewish customs into an Indian celebration or introducing guests to asian flavours during a welcome event, I love creating opportunities for people to learn about one another through food, music, and shared experiences. Food has an incredible way of bringing people together, regardless of where they come from…”
C&B: “Which wedding that you’ve planned would you say has left you feeling the most creatively fulfilled?”
SR: “Without question, the Library on LaSalle wedding, mentioned before. The mother of the bride trusted me completely. She gave me the creative freedom to push ideas further than I normally could, and that level of trust is incredibly empowering. The venue itself became the inspiration for every detail, from the escort books and illustrations to the overall guest journey. It reminded me that creativity flourishes when clients embrace the unexpected. That wedding challenged me, inspired me, and ultimately became one of the projects I’m most proud of…”
CONTACT: http://www.shaunrajah.com
