The mehndi party, a ceremony done prior to the wedding, is one of the ceremonies of the three-day Indian wedding tradition. Henna patterns are then painted on the bride’s hands and feet as a symbol of a happy, fruitful marriage.
To create henna, an artist applies paste in delicate designs on the skin. The top dermal layer is left with the artwork stained after it dries and flakes off.
The stain gets darker the longer the paste is left on. Some people even think that the bride’s bridal henna design, with its rich color, predicts the depth of the groom’s love for the bride. The bride is traditionally decorated with the most elaborate henna designs to distinguish her from everyone else.
Their beloved’s name, lace patterns, motifs inspired by nature, pictures of animals, and Hindu gods are all possible inclusions. We’ve compiled 16 gorgeous wedding henna designs below for your viewing pleasure.
16 Bridal Henna Designs
Elbow Length
The stunning bridal henna pattern on Sarada begins at her cuticles and extends up her arm to her elbow. It gives the appearance of a stylish lace glove. For the Tennessee at-home wedding, her bridesmaids selected simple patterns starting from one finger and wrapping around the wrist.
Lavish Lace
This exquisite work of lace-like art is so lifelike as to virtually blend in with the sari decorations of the bride. But Saba’s invitation suite also featured henna-inspired embellishments, so it wasn’t just her hands that displayed lovely henna that looked like lacework.
Personalized Design
The henna artwork for this bride’s wedding is very gorgeous. It depicts a whole narrative appropriate for the celebrations. The love story depicts her and her groom coming together when the palms are adjacent. And as the story goes, they lived happily ever after.
Well Outfitted
Maanasa’s mehndi artwork, which featured delicate lacework, was a wonderful match for the patterns on the buttercup-hued sari she wore for her Hindu wedding. However, it also looked very stunning when paired with the lace accents on the bridal gown she wore for her lakeside wedding in New York.
Mirror Image
Tania upped the ante with personalized photos on the palms of her hands, while some brides include illustrations of themselves and their spouse. She applied her and her husband’s names to her wrists in a bracelet-like design in addition to customary henna themes for her week-long Knanaya wedding.
Complementary Details
Despite each bride has her own distinctive designs, the two motifs harmoniously blend together. Both brides had each other’s names hidden in their henna. Are the inscriptions visible?
A Regal Flourish
The henna on the bride Seema is a reflection of the fine gold embroidery on her lavish brocade. Tiny lotus blossoms are incorporated into the delicate patterns on her fingers to mirror the Sahasrara, which symbolizes unity, on her palms. The gorgeous trim gives the finished design a regal touch.
Pop Culture Iconography
For her little outdoor wedding in Vancouver, Harneet’s hands were completely covered with a conventional, swirling henna design. But what truly struck our eye was the symbolism on each palm. A lightsaber hints at the groom’s love of Star Wars.
A Matching Set
The beautiful floral embroidery on the bridal lengha Nayha wore for her garden-themed wedding in Memphis matched her delicate mehndi design. Ah, now that’s love!
Open Palms
Kaabia wore a custom-made beaded lengha in the unlucky color of ivory for Indian weddings while sporting incredibly intricate mehndi art. She continued the concept of going against the grain by planning a whimsical, one-of-a-kind beach wedding in Vietnam. But she didn’t deviate from convention in how her henna was applied to her palms. According to legend, the positioning represents the wearer’s readiness to accept favors.
Floral Artistry
Flowers play a crucial role in both weddings and bridal henna art. They stand for both beauty and fresh starts. Toral, the bride, chose a full trifecta of vines and leaves for her contemporary Santa Barbara wedding.
Latticework
The backs of Toral’s hands carried the concept of a lush garden all the way up to her forearms and wrists. Beautiful henna latticework detailing added a fresh touch not present on the palms while emphasizing the flower design.
Double Down
In this elegantly twisting wedding henna pattern, cultures converge. The Chinese symbol for double happiness can also be seen among the conventional floral and paisley patterns. An appropriate finishing touch for California bride Erica’s multiracial wedding.
Well Heeled
Monis, who is known for her attention to detail, also decked out her feet in matching henna. Each foot had a mandala in the pattern, and the toes were covered in lace. We adore how the V-shaped pattern matches the Manolo Blahnik heels’ pointy toes.
Big Blooms
Although flowers are a mainstay of wedding henna designs, this standalone bloom says so much. The petals mimic the beaded blooms on the lace sleeves that fall to the bride’s wrists and draw attention to the natural curvature of her index finger. For the romantic fall wedding in Minneapolis, the groom wore a matching vine mehndi on his pinky finger.
Start on the Right Foot
For her floral-filled Atlanta wedding, Rohini’s ankles are still covered in flowering vines. On the tops of her feet, the delicate trailing vines create a mandala that resembles jewels. We adore how the scalloped hem of the sari is echoed in the wedding henna pattern and jewel-encrusted shoe decorations.
Let these amazing designs help you look perfect on the big day of your life!
