What is a Mehndi party?
If you’ve been invited to a Mehndi party for the first time in your life, you might be wondering what it is. Well, don’t worry, we’re here to explain all the details. In Indian culture, a wedding is usually not just one celebration, it actually consists of many parties organized on different days with different people invited. A Mehndi party is one of the most important celebrations in an Indian wedding – it is a party where the bride gets mehndi or henna paint applied to her hands, feet and other parts of the body. This celebration is usually held the day before the actual wedding since it is believed that the brighter the henna paint on the bride’s body is, the happier the marriage will be. The design on the bride’s body has lots of meaning – there are special symbols that are included for luck, happiness, love and other things. Traditionally, these parties were held at home, but today a lot of brides choose an outside venue for Mehndi or Henna parties.
Who is invited to a Mehndi party?
Traditionally, only women are invited to the Mehndi ceremony. Usually the bride invites mothers, sisters, bridesmaids and friends from both the bride’s and the groom’s side. It is a big honor to be invited to a Mehndi party if you’re not a family member, so try your best to make it to the party and don’t be fashionably late. You can also expect to get a small henna design applied on your body if you want, but make sure that you don’t ask for a design that’s more intricate that the bride’s.
What to wear to a Mehndi ceremony?
If you’re not of Indian heritage and don’t own a sari or lehenga, you can still easily find something appropriate to wear if you stick to a few rules. First of all, wear something that has short sleeves because you will want to show off your henna tattoo, plus, it will be easier for the artist to work on your hands this way. Secondly, forget about muted colors and try to wear something bright, combining several colors in an outfit is encouraged. Lastly, go all out with the jewelry, as this is something that’s expected of guests at a Mehndi ceremony.
Get ready to dance at a Mehndi party
Since Mehndi application can last a while, be prepared to dance, sing and otherwise entertain and be entertained at this event. In the old days, guests would be expected to perform dances, skits and sing for others to entertain the bride and the rest of those invited, but today most brides hire additional entertainment.
Mehndi party gifts
One of the great things about a Mehndi party is that you’re not expected to give a gift to the bride. In fact, you can expect to receive a party favor from the bride, some common choices include small bottles of perfume, accessories and bangles.