CRAFTING STORIES IN CHOCOLATE:
INTERVIEW WITH ROULA NAHAS OF CHOCOLATE & SUNSHINE
When chocolate becomes more than just a sweet treat, it turns into an experience—crafted with emotion, meaning, and impeccable design. At Chocolate and Sunshine, founder Roula Nahas redefines what it means to personalize, blending her background in psychology with a passion for storytelling and aesthetics. In this exclusive interview, Nahas shares how she turns memories into edible art, why no two designs are ever the same, and what truly sets her brand apart in the world of bespoke celebrations.
1. How do you blend a couple’s story or theme into the design of each personalized chocolate piece?
To be honest, everyone who comes to us is looking for something unique and unexpected. And for good reason—we’re a team that puts a lot of emphasis on design. Nothing here is repetitive or already seen elsewhere. Our clients don’t want what’s trending or commonly available on the market. They come to us because they know that, as a psychologist, I will work to extract meaningful details from them to create something deeply personal—something that reflects who they are and what they want. Whether it’s an engagement, a wedding, a newborn celebration, a baptism, or a first communion, our goal is always to translate their story and heritage into the chocolate or the table we create.
2. What’s the most unique or unexpected request you’ve received for a chocolate table setting at a wedding or engagement?
To be completely transparent, we don’t follow trends—we set them. When it comes to personalized chocolate, whether for engagements, weddings, or newborns, we are the trendsetters in this field. And if we’re not setting the trends, we’re at least redefining the standards. We pride ourselves on being different, unique, and leading when it comes to customization. Our strength lies in our ability to create exactly what the client envisions—even if it’s never been done before.
3. How do you curate the floral arrangements to enhance the colors, textures, and mood of your chocolate displays?
Florals are actually the final step in our process. Once we’ve finalized the color palette and all the design elements for the chocolates, we collaborate with the florist. We share everything with them—whether the setup is for a one- or two-day event like a tahniyeh, or a display meant to last for a month. The duration matters because if it’s long-term, fresh flowers aren’t sustainable; they would need replacing every few days. So, we work closely with the florist to ensure that the arrangement complements the design while remaining practical for the client. It’s a collaborative effort every step of the way.
4. Can you walk us through your creative process—from the first meeting with a couple to the final table setup?
After the first phone call, once the client confirms they want to work with us, we start by asking all the essential questions. What colors do they like? What colors do they not like? Understanding their dislikes is just as important as their preferences. What’s their style? What atmosphere do they envision?
Often, the photos they share—of the venue or their home—give us great insight into their personality and taste. This early stage is critical and takes time. We’re extremely patient during this process because we want to make sure the client shares everything they’re imagining.
Sometimes, once we translate their ideas into sketches or color palettes, the vision doesn’t match what they had in mind—so we go back and revise. It’s a time-intensive process, but once we finalize the concept, everything else flows smoothly. From that point on, it’s truly a piece of cake.