Indian Mehendi Décor | Hot Pink, Orange and Lime Green..!!

The Mehendi ceremony is one of the pre-wedding functions held in most Indian households as a part of the wedding festivities. Initially this ceremony was performed at home with close women relatives of the bride and men were not allowed to be a part of the celebration. This trend has changed over the years.

The Mehendi décor and themes are getting bigger and better with time. A popular color scheme for this event is fuschia, orange and lime green colour. The colours are bright and just apt for a nice outdoor party. Small tents using hot pink and lime green sheers can be set up with diwan seating. Orange marigold flowers can be used to add an orange hint to the décor. You could hang marigold streamers along the tent rods or bands around poles. Another way to use flowers could be hanging balls of marigold flowers. Also colourful embroidered cushions can be used to spice up the look and make the seating more comfortable. Urli bowls with rose petals and floating candles will make good center pieces.

Other elements like floral rangoli using rose and marigold petals along with tea light candles, ceramic pots, pinwheel fans, Rajasthani dolls in shades of hot pink and orange can be added to the décor. You could also add crystals and wind chimes to an outdoor venue. Bandhani or lehariya fabrics can be used as overlays and tiebacks instead of just bold coloured fabrics. In case it is an evening function, you can add Indian cloth lanterns or tinted glass lamps for lighting up the place along with diyas.

Depending on your theme your décor may change. Today, the Mehendi ceremony is associated with unique themes, incredible décor, delectable food and loads of entertainment.Stay tuned to know more interesting ideas and for tips on how to enhance your mehendi ceremony décor.

Get dressed for your Mehendi Ceremony..!

 

The mehendi ceremony marks the beginning of the wedding functions. This is the time when the hands and feet of the bride are decorated with beautiful henna designs. It is one of the most rejoiced pre-wedding celebrations as it involves dancing, music and a lot of entertainment.

Dressing up correctly for this special occasion is very important for the bride as she would be the centre of attraction throughout the function. Begin by keeping your theme in mind when thinking about your outfit. Usually mehendi functions are very lively with bright décor hence your outfit must be such that it stands out but is yet subtle and brings out the best in you. The most preferred colours are orange, yellow, hot pink and green. Red is usually avoided as most traditional wedding lehengas are red or deep maroon. 

A simple and elegant ghagra with light gotta, mirror or dapka embroidery is recommended. Another option would be pairing a rather plain ghagra choli with a heavily embroidered dupatta. One thing which is very important while choosing the outfit is that, it must be comfortable as you will have to sit in one position at a stretch for a minimum of three to four hours. Also a ghagra choli, especially a mid length one, is a better option as compared to salwar kameez as it would be easier to apply henna on the feet.

Most brides adorn fresh flowers instead of jewellery for the ceremony.  Floral rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and floral hairdos make the bride-to-be look fresh and vibrant

I hope these tips will come in handy and help you to pick the correct outfit for your mehendi function. Stay tuned for more trends & tips on Shaadi Mubarak ! :D

Fun Mehendi Gift Ideas :-D

Indian weddings are known for their opulence and celebrations and it’s always a pleasure to be a part of one as guests! According to rituals, gifting forms a very important part of Indian marriages . Back in time the bride’s family had to give a gift to every relative from the groom’s side and a few close family friends. The trend has changed over the years as wedding are getting bigger and more lavish. Now a day’s couples are including guests too in the gifting list. Especially it is very common at pre-wedding functions like at the mehendi ceremony to give out gifts alongside the function to make it more lively and fun!

The gifts vary from something as small as a bunch of bangles to something like a box or a pouch full of little goodies. The gifts can be placed in decorated baskets or trays where guests can pick them up from or can be handed out personally. If you have more than two to three gifts you can even set up a small bazaar if your space permits to make it more interactive. 

The most common mehendi giveaways are bangles and bindis. Though it is quite common, you can make it different by keeping a live bangle maker instead of ready bangle sets. The bangle vendor can make live lac bangles to match your guests outfits. This one is a big hit especially when you have many out of town guests. Similarly, instead of gifting similar bindis to every guest, you can set up a stall with a bindi vendor displaying different types of bindis –from the very simple ones to slightly heavy ones, and guests can have the option of choosing.

Pre-packed gifts could include small Indian pouches or jewellery boxes with lac earrings or fancy Indian rings, anklets and bracelets. You can choose to add all of the above mentioned things or may be a few depending on your budget.

Another good giveaway would be colourful bandhini or lehiriya dupattas. These can be easily paired with a plain white or black kurti. One more thing which guests will love would be doing a little floral jewellery for the guests. The bride usually wears floral jewellery for the mehendi function, so doing something for the guest on similar lines will surely leave them speechless. Like a floral bracelet or a ring!

A little more about Indian Mehendi Designs !!!

 

The custom of applying ‘Mehendi’ to a bride, or as they call it in certain cultures – ‘Henna’, has been an important ceremony in most Indian and Arabian marriages, dating back to as far as tradition can hold.  But where most traditions seem like a duty, a bride’s mehndi ceremony is rather taken-up as another opportunity for merriment. And since the charm of a traditionally clad Indian bride lies in the intricate detailing that adorns her hands and feet, the Mehendi design plays an important part in the ceremony. There is an array of mehendi’s designs to choose from –

The Indian design :

  Known for it’s fine lines and elaborate detailing, the traditional Indian Mehendi Design looks no less than a beautiful story starting at the arm and running down to the tip of the fingers. At times, getting more innovative and customary, this design imbibes into it’s patterns the drawings of a bride and groom, and even the various outlines of the sacred peacock bird and it’s gorgeous feathers. This goes ahead to add to the traditional and orthodox feel of the Indian Wedding, bringing to it a certain sense of authenticity.

 

The Arabian design :

 Being more spacious and bold in it’s patterns than the Indian Mehendi Design, The Arabian Mehendi style is no less beautiful. With brilliant and intrepid floral patterns imbibed within fine line, this particular design style ends up becoming a treat to the eye with it’s visually dynamic yet sophisticated traces.

 

The African Design :  
Though not very popular and rarely seen on Indian or Arabian brides, the African Mehendi Design if done rightly, keeping in mind it’s fixed patterns, can turn out to be a one in a million idea. Keeping true to it’s nature of the wildlife rusticity of the African culture, the design patterns consists of bold circles with intricate lines, at times even bringing along with it, elements of sacred animals and symbols. This one design is definitely for the bride who is looking to add that extra edge to her mehendi party.

But in whatever style you wish to apply your mehendi, one thing which always is a cause of concern for most brides is the colour of the henna. While some like it’s orange tinge, others prefer the deep maroon hue. However, there is always a hitch not to get it too orange, almost making it look smudgy; or too dark, which might make it appear daunting. While some think the right colour is in the correct mixture of the ingredients, others get a tad bit romantic sticking to the old handmaiden’s tale that ‘the deeper the colour of your mehendi the greater the love in the wedding’.  While some ideas may seem as folklore, there are others that have been passed down generations of brides in the family, which when put to practice happen to be effective. These are those old secrets which help keep her mehendi last longer and look more beautiful, in course, brightening her bridal charm!

An application of a lime juice and sugar mixture over your dried-up mehendi helps retain the arid bits in place. This then helps seep in the red tinge to the skin for a longer period of time, leaving the mehendi pattern to have a bright and vivid look.

Another rare ‘grandmother’s secret’ to get your mehendi having the desired effect, is through the use of cloves. Scientifically, a dark mehndi colour is usually credited to the heat from the blood, and cloves have that natural essence known for the warmth it generates. Thus, to get a brilliant colour to your mehndi, take around seven to eight cloves and heat them over a saucepan. Gently turn your hands over the pan getting as much of the heat coming from the cloves on your dried-up mehndi. Further massaging any Vapour Rub over the washed-off mehndi also helps generate the warmth.
Last but not the least, avoiding much contact with soap and water always helps.

 

Hindu Wedding ..!!

Hindu marriages connote customs, rituals and elaborate celebrations. A conventional Hindu wedding ceremony mostly lasts for four to five days. The function is divided into three parts pre wedding ceremony, main day ceremony and post wedding ceremony.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Barni Bandhwana: This ritual is done fifteen days before the actual wedding, on an auspicious day. The pandit performs a puja to Lord Ganesh during which a thread is tied to the hands of the groom and his parents. This puja is performed to request Lord Ganesh that the ceremony culminates without obstacles. After that day, the family performs puja to Lord Ganesh regularly until after the wedding is over.

Byaha Haath or the haldi ceremony : This ceremony signifies the purifying of the mind, body and soul of bride and groom. This daytime ceremony prepares both of them for the nuptials. 'Uptan' is a mixed paste of sandalwood, turmeric and rose water which is applied by unmarried seven female members of the families and to the faces, hands and feet of the bride and groom. After this ceremony the bride and the groom are not allowed to step outside the house before the actual wedding.

Mayara : This is a vital ceremony, common to both the bride and the groom’s families. This ceremony is performed by the maternal uncle of the groom/bride, who, along with his wife and family, is received by the bride/groom’s mother with the traditional welcome. The clothes given by uncle are then worn by the family during the wedding.

Sangeet Sandhya : This is an evening of musical entertainment. The groom’s family puts on a show for the groom and bride. It is through this event the bride is introduced with the family members of the groom.

Tilak Ceremony : It is an auspicious mark on forehead using Kumkum, a red turmeric powder. This symbolizes auspiciousness. The male members of the bride’s family like her father, brother, uncles tilak the groom’s forehead. This is followed by giving some gifts to the groom and the groom's family members requesting them to take care of the bride later.

Mehendi: Applying Mehendi is a symbol of good luck. Normally it is the custom for the bride whose hand and legs are beautifully decorated with mehendi paste. It is believed that more dark the colour of mehendi comes on the hand of bride, luckier she is. This ceremony is held on the eve of the main wedding.

Baraat: Here on the Wedding day, groom starts for the bride’s house on a decorated horse or a car. This is a royal ceremony where the groom is dressed in sherwani and churidar. On his head is the turban with floral veil covering his face. Before he starts Tilak is applied on his forehead and his sisters feed the horse with sweetened grains. Welcome songs are sung on his arrival at the bride’s place. Then the groom knocks the door with his sword and enters.

Wedding Rituals
 
Var Mala: Here the groom is taken to a scaffold where he is barraged by the bride with flowers. The Groom’s family member saves him with a shield. The bride does this while circling the groom four times. Soon after this, the groom and bride exchange garlands or "var mala" signifying their acceptance of each other as husband and wife. Then groom’s mother-in-law puts kajal and does Arti to ward off evil spirits.

Havan: The custom denotes the original main wedding ceremony. The priest ties the end of the groom's dhoti or the kurta; with that of the bride's saree, the knot connotes the sacred wedlock. The groom and the bride then take seven circles called "phere", taking seven vows to be fulfilled in the married life, after which they are considered to be 'married' to each other.

Phere: The Bride and and the groom takes seven circles of the havan taking seven vows, which are: 

» “With God as our guide, let us take the first step to live with honour and respect. Let us walk together so we get food.” 

» “Let us be happy and enjoy life. Let us walk together so we grow together in strength.” 

» “Let us share joys and pains together. Let us walk together so we get wealth.” 

» “Let us not forget parents and elders. Let us walk together so we get happiness by sharing our joys and sorrows.” 

» “Let us observe all acts of charity. Let us walk together so we have family.” 

» “Let us live a long and peaceful life. Let us walk together so we have joy.” 

» “Let us be friends with love and sacrifice. Let us walk together so we have friendship.”
After the seventh step, the bride and the groom are pronounced husband and wife.

Kanya Daan: This ritual is basically performed by the bride’s father in presence of a large gathering. The father delivers his daughter to the bridegroom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the god of love, for pure love and blessings.

Vidaai: It is the most emotional ritual in the whole wedding as the bride leaves her parent’s house and goes to her husband’s house. The family and friends gives her a tearful farewell. All the elders shower blessing on the newly wedded couple.

Post-Wedding Rituals
 
Griha Pravesh: the bride’s mother-in-law welcomes her on arrival at her new home in a traditional Aarti. She puts her right foot onto a tray of vermilion powder mixed in water or milk, representing the arrival of good fortune and purity then she kicks over a vessel filled with rice and coins to symbolize the arrival of fertility and wealth in her marital home.

Dwar-Rokai: This is a very interesting ritual where the bride is stopped at the door by her sister-in-laws. An earthen vessel is kept where the sister/aunt uses a mixture of salt and water to get rid off evil spirits from the groom. After this, the pot is thrown on the ground and destroyed. Then the couple enter the house.

Mooh Dikhai: The family now starts a series of games and post-wedding rituals, amidst much laughter to make the new member feel comfortable. One such ritual is the Mooh dikhai where the bride gets to know the family members.
 Shaadi Mubarak !!! :D

A wedding in Jaipur...by back2culture !!

Wedding at Jaipur !! :)

guests seating area all covered with flowers

fresh flower decoration and rose petals in d pond with a fountain

orange genda curtain looks very fresh

mehendi ki shaam

sindoor/roli boxes made of crystal and stones for welcoming the guests

mehendi rasam

Floral bangle

colorful glass bangles for all the relatives at the mehendi ceremony

ariel view of the seating area

white flowers and pink rose petals

for a beautiful sangeet evening and jhula for the couple

dining tables for red roses centerpieces

for the morning breakfast gaddi style dining tables in the garden area

at the welcome area with genda flower orange and yellow

pink rose petals floating in the pond

multi colored chunni's for all your girlfriends ;-)

at the welcome corner

guest area for small wedding ceremonies and games

welcoming the baraat

table centerpieces

doli

table centerpiece

reception stage

fire stunts by professionals

round table seating arrangement with colorful chair covers and table centerpieces

sofa for the couple and their guests

local cultural music groups performing live

flower stands to add on the zing

local rajasthani dancers performing

old classic car for the final bidaai

 

 

Wedding ideas by Back 2 Culture !! awsome :D

                                                        A wedding in Udaipur !! :)

colorful laheriya chiffon bands for chairs

table centerpieces

white metal aarti thali

rose petals & floating candle's adds on to the ambience  

maslan and gaddi sitting arrangements looks very royal

  

pink green and royal blur themed drapes

similar color tents

hookah in each tent gives it a arabian effect

fresh floral rangoli

the venue at udaipur

ariel view :)