While it's a common tradition, you are not obligated to get mehndi done if you don't want to. It is usually the girls that get it done, but as we are having a multicultural wedding, we are open to everyone having a go if they want to!

Mehndi is an ancient body art form that has been practiced in India, Pakistan, and the Middle East for centuries. It is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the bride. The intricate designs that are applied to the bride’s hands and feet represent fertility, joy, and love. It was used by women to decorate their bodies for special occasions such as weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies. The use of Mehndi was also believed to have medicinal properties and was used to treat fevers, headaches, and other ailments.

Leave the henna paste on for at least an hour, or ideally overnight. The longer it is left on, the darker the colour comes out.

Keep the area away from water for at least 6 to 12 hours after removing the paste, but ideally 24 hours. We will also be providing lemon-sugar solutions which can help the henna stay moist and in place before removal

The type of skin you have and how long you leave the henna on your skin can affect how long henna lasts. Roughly 7-10 days, but it can be longer if you keep keep it on for longer!

The Saanji has been a part of Indian weddings for centuries. It was initially performed by the women of the bride’s family to welcome the groom’s family. Over time, it has evolved into an evening of music and dance performances. The Saanji ceremony is important because it brings the family and friends together in celebration. It is a way to celebrate the upcoming wedding and to showcase the cultural heritage of the families.

No, you don't have to dance at a saanji; while dancing is a central part of the ceremony, it's considered perfectly acceptable to simply enjoy the music and festivities from the sidelines if you're not comfortable dancing - however we cannot promise we won't try and get you all involved at some point!

Garba is a folk dance from the state of Gujarat, India. It is a joyful dance performed in a circle, characterized by sweeping side-to-side movements. Often accompanied by singing and hand clapping around a lamp, statue, or picture of the goddess Durga. Garba is performed in a circle (concentric circles when there are many people). The circle represents the Hindu view of time. In Hinduism, time is cyclical. As the cycle of time revolves, from birth to life to death to rebirth, the only thing that is constant is the Goddess, an unmoving symbol in the midst of all of this unending and infinite movement. As garba is part of a religious practice, as with other Hindu rituals and worship, it is done barefoot (and on all kinds of surfaces). Going barefoot signifies respect for the earth upon which people walk. The foot is the body part that touches the earth – the sacred mother of all.

In this folk dance which is usually performed in pairs, both men and women dance with colourful and decorated wooden sticks, striking them to the beats of songs. Dancers alternatively tap the sticks while holding them in their hands, sometimes even spinning them between their fingers. Dandiya has a more structured and high-energy beat than garba. The colourful sticks used during Dandiya are believed to represent the sword of Goddess Durga. The dance form is a beautiful way of re-creating the battle of good overcoming evil.