Where Design, Play, and Love Collided
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
The first time we met Shivonne and Tapan, we spent close to four hours together. And not once did it feel like a first meeting. We spoke about their wedding, of course, but we also spoke about life, games, Greek mythology, and everything in between. It felt less like a client meeting and more like long-lost friends catching up after years apart. I remember leaving that meeting thinking, I really want to be friends with them. And thankfully, today, we get to call them exactly that.
Honestly, even if you scour the earth, you’d be hard-pressed to find people kinder, gentler, or nicer than Shivonne and Tapan.
Both of them come from the gaming industry. Shivonne designs the worlds, Tapan builds them. They bonded over a dark joke Tapan cracked at a pizza party in office, and that’s where the spark first showed up. Seven years later, they were sitting with us at Paper & Pie in Bangalore, telling us the story of their proposal. And let me tell you, no one but Shivonne could do justice to narrating just how epic it was.
Shivonne’s design sensibility became the foundation of how we built their wedding. We love it when brides know what they want and are excited to build alongside us. Their wedding unfolded over two days. Day one was a Christian ceremony honouring Shivonne’s roots, and day two was a Bihari Hindu wedding, paying homage to Tapan’s.
The festivities began at their apartment with the haldi and mehendi. We wanted this part to feel nostalgic, almost childlike in the best way. Pinwheels became our backdrop and centrepieces, paired with sunflowers as the focal point for the haldi setup. We also made flower cones from pages of their favourite Manga “One Piece”. It felt warm, familiar, and joyful.
For the Christian wedding, Shivonne was clear about her vision. She wanted the space to feel like the Garden of Eden. Lush, colourful, and elegant. We built a curved aisle, lined with handwritten messages from their loved ones, so Shivonne would quite literally be surrounded by love as she walked down it. Flowers appeared in many forms, ceramic, crafted, and fresh, coming together to create the vibrant rainbow of colour she had envisioned.
Their wedding favours were deeply personal. Tea and coffee they loved, paired with a custom illustration made by the bride herself. Every chair held three thoughtfully designed elements: an envelope of confetti with the wedding party’s names, an order of events, and a custom fan to keep guests comfortable on a warm April evening. We also designed custom activity books for the kids attending the wedding along with hand painting their entry boards. Watching them exchange vows was truly a joy.
That evening transitioned into an ’80s neon cocktail party. The bar menu was inspired by Harry Potter houses, complete with playful dance floor rules. Slinkys and CDs hung above the bar, and the couple made their entrance with friends holding sparklers, creating an aisle of light. They danced, unapologetically and endlessly.
One of the most loved elements of the night was something we called the Wall of Shapan. A collage of their favourite memories shows they love watching together, and even the recipe for their favourite dessert. It gave guests a window into who they really are, beyond the ceremonies.
The next day leaned into tradition, beginning with the baarat, with Tapan arriving in style in a vintage car. The samdhi milan followed, after which the celebration moved to the varmala area, where they were serenaded by a live singer.
The brief for this day was a complete contrast to the previous one. Deeper tones, richer moods. The palette shifted to wine and purple with hints of red. The mandap was built over a pool, with floating diyas that guests placed into the water to bless the couple. Each chair held ghungroo sticks and custom flower cones, adding layers of sound, movement, and ritual to the space.
Shivonne and Tapan’s wedding was many things. Thoughtful. Playful. Emotional. Rooted. But above all, it was them. And that’s what made building it so special.
When we think back to Shivonne and Tapan’s wedding, what stays with us isn’t just the scale or the details. It’s the feeling of being part of something deeply personal. A celebration built with intention, humour, softness, and so much love. Designing their wedding felt less like work and more like being let into their world, their stories, their people. And honestly, that kind of trust is the biggest gift we can be given.
This wedding came together through the care, craft, and collaboration of a wonderful team who treated every detail with intention. We’re deeply grateful to each partner who helped bring Shivonne and Tapan’s celebration to life, thoughtfully and beautifully. Wedding Planning & Design: Phool & Pheras Venue: Bougainvilla Celebrate Luxury Client Photography & Videography: Pixelena Studio Photography & Cinematography (Phool & Pheras): Sayanth Sreenivasan Photography, Pixie Dust Pictures DJ & Emcee: Tunes by Satva Live Singer: The Flying Singer Mehendi Artist: Mehendi Neetha Wedding Accessories: Lins Wedding Artistry Technical Setup: D&J ProSound Solutions
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