Tanya helped design Shivani’s traditional Indian outfits for the sangeet, haldi, and wedding ceremony. Traditionally, Indian brides wear red for the main ceremony, but Shivani felt inspired to break the mold. She chose an ethereal pastel pink tulle net lehenga embroidered with multicolored florals for the wedding day custom-designed by Tarun Tahiliani, and paired it with delicate diamond and emerald jewelry for a softer look. In contrast, for the sangeet, she went for a dramatic red waterfall mermaid lehenga set by Gaurav Gupta, styled with diamond jewelry.
For her Western looks, Shivani turned to Tara. For the welcome party and reception, Shivani and Tara enlisted the talents of Patricia Voto from One/Of to create a vibrant bespoke look. The embroidery they hand-selected was a mix of metal sequins with twisted beadwork intertwined in a copper bronze mix with an organic lattice pattern. The styling was elevated with custom-made jewelry by Roopa Vohra that pays homage to the rich tapestry of Moroccan culture. For the reception, Tara introduced Shivani to J’Aton. “The fact that I was unfamiliar with this designer made the experience even more exhilarating, as I wanted a unique, one-of-a-kind piece for the event,” Shivani says. “My bespoke gown took upwards of 2,100 hours to hand sew. The process was seamless from start to finish, working remotely with the designers.”
Before the mandap ceremony began, the bride and groom had their first look. “I was wearing my kaleeras—the intricate metal jewelry adorning my lehenga—and as I approached him from behind, the jingling sound of them grew louder with each step,” she remembers. “When I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. He had tears in his eyes—a rare sight for Viman, who never cries.”
For Shivani, the mandap ceremony itself was equally emotional. “When I saw the courtyard fully transformed, my jaw dropped—it was an enchanted garden brought to life,” she says. “The ceremony brought out every possible emotion. It wasn’t just about Viman and me—it felt like everyone was fully present and part of it. My dad, always the calm presence in my life, whispered jokes as we walked down the aisle to keep me from crying, which made me laugh and helped me savor the moment.” The mandap was set up in a circle and allowed the couple to see every guest. “When I finally saw Viman, standing there waiting for me, everything else melted away,” she says. The moment when the veil was lifted felt incredibly real. There was this beautiful mix of emotions in the air—solemnity, joy, and even laughter.”
