Khush Singh and her team provide personalized services to brides who want the best in manicure, waxing, bridal mehendi, henna, tattoo, hair, make-up & beauty services. Her professional make-up services include fashion, editorial, runway, special effects, theatre, TV, film, body painting, camouflage, make-up lessons, teen make-over parties, special events, advertising, music videos, corporate functions, and custom art designs.
Khush is known for completing her exquisite eyes on all her brides and that touch of making modern creations out of classic beauty can always be relied upon creating the trend others will follow with an emphasis on quality.
She only uses professional, hypoallergenic, long lasting make-up products including MAC, Cinema Secrets, Ben-Nye, Kryolan, and her own brand as every brand out there carries something wonderful.
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Henna, also known as Heena, is a form of body art that has existed since ancient times. Mehndi (or Henna) is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration, in countries like Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, and Somaliland. It is typically employed for special occasions, particularly weddings. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest.
The patterns of mehndi are typically quite intricate and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. However, Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos".
What is Henna?
Henna is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, 2–6 m high.
Henna, produces a red-orange dye molecule called lawsone. This molecule has an affinity for bonding with protein, and thus has been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds permanently to lawsone, the colorant of henna.
Mehndi (Henna) Art
Henna has been used to adorn young women’s bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean. Henna was regarded as having “Barakah”, blessings, and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Brides typically had the most henna, and the most complex patterns, to support their greatest joy, and wishes for luck. Some bridal traditions were very complex, such as those in Yemen, where the Jewish bridal henna process took four or five days to complete, with multiple applications and resist work.
Henna paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, but sometimes a small metal-tipped jacquard bottle used for silk painting (a jac bottle) is used. The cone has a fine opening at the thin end which lets a thin flow of paste to facilitate intricate designing.
Why is Henna as Body Art Popular?
Henna painting has become very popular as a form of temporary tattoo and is liked by a lot. The best aspect of henna is that it is totally natural, made from a plant plant whose leaves are first dried and then crushed to make a fine powder. While applying, the powder is mixed with water. This makes henna totally safe to use. Along with that, its application is totally painless and the effect is temporary. You can use henna to get tattoos, without worrying about pain or infection. In case you are not satisfied with a particular tattoo, just wait for a few days. Its color will soon wash off and you can easily go for another design.
Popular Mehndi Patterns
Though there are no set patterns or designs for Henna, there are some popular designs that have been followed since ages. One of the most popular designs is a paisley that is often filled with a checkerboard pattern. Another popular pattern is a lovely peacock, with the sharp and curved beak and the corona on the head. Floral patterns are quite popular as well.
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Mehndi is an inseparable and essential part of every Indian wedding, so much so that the entire concept of an Indian wedding is often referred to as “haathh peele karna” which literally translates to applying mehndi (henna) on the hands of a girl. The phrase is often used to indicate that marriage has been fixed or has already taken place.
Well, almost every Indian community, be it Parsis, Muslims, Gujaratis, Marwaris, Punjabis, Sikhs, Marathis etc. uses henna to decorate the hands of a bride. In fact, in many of the regions henna is applied on to the hands of the grooms.
Designs, figures of gods, vines and several types of designs are made using mehndi. The ceremony is held just a few days (often a couple of days or so) before the wedding. It is said that the darker the colour of the mehndi, the more love and affection will a bride receive at her new house.
Mehndi is usually applied on the hands and legs of the bride. It has become quite common these days to have mehndi designs extending from palm to just below the shoulders and on the legs up to the knees starting from the feet.
Almost every woman from both family gets mehndi on her hand. It usually is an all ladies affair with lots of traditional as well as modern songs being sung at the time of mehndi. In several regions of India, mehndi is still given by the groom’s family, especially in parts of Punjab.
While traditionally it was applied by a relative or a friend of the bride, these days professional henna tattoo artists should be hired.
Make sure you book the mehndi artist well in advance so that you don’t have to run around or settle for a lesser skilled artist at the last moment.
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Today's article features Arabic bridal makeup and hair styles that will hopefully inspire you in selecting your wedding look. Arabic makeup might not also be suitable for everyone - it involves bright and contrasting colors for the eyes, dark and high eyebrows and an overall dramatic look. But it is also considered eye-catching, and sexy. Such looks may not be suitable for a mixed wedding, but you can consider it for your all-women bridal party.
If you favor such an Arabic bridal look, then read on!
Arabic Bridal Makeup: The Eyes
The eye makeup is key to the Arab bridal make-up look. Eyeshadows that are in bright and contrasting colors are often used to complement the bride’s outfit. The use of shades to blend colors is also important. Use gel eye-liners as they are easier to apply and are waterproof. Gel eye-liners are great for lining the inner rim of the eye and they stay put for hours, unlike pencils.
Dramatic Arabic Eye Makeup
Arabic makeup is known for its dramatic look. The Arabic makeup look involves dramatic eyes. This is usually done by using several complementary eye shadows, and blending them over layers. This results in a vibrant look.
Eyeliner is then used to provide a dramatic contrast to the eyeshadow colors. Lastly, the eyebrows are highlighted or thicken with a brow pencil.
The look can take some skill to create; of course, one needs a steady hand and a sense of color to be able to blend complementary colors that looks stunning.
Here are some Arabic Eye Makeup Tips to help you get started on creating your very own dramatic Arabian look! Arabic Eye Makeup Tips
1) Start with the eyelids first. Typically, you should first pick a base eyeshadow color. For dramatic Arabian Eye Makeup look, pick a shade that is slightly glistening, or luminous. Apply the base eyeshadow color on the upper lash line going to the top part of your eyelids.
2) Next, you should shape your eyes with the use of a dark eye pencil and do strokes on the base. Extend the line towards the outer part of your eyes and make a wing shape. The inner eyelids should be applied with a light sparkling color going to the mid part of the brow area.
3) A darker eye shadow is then applied to the remaining eyelid part going to the brows. Add color as desired extending towards the wing you have previously created. Blend the colors in the top eyelid. Highlight your upper brow part. Use a cream colored or white eye shadow to emphasize the eyes.
4) Apply another layer of dark eye pencil on the top eyelid. With a black liquid eye liner, make a thin line extending to the wing shape and let it dry.
5) To finish this look, apply two to three coats of black mascara for that total Arabic look.
Arabic Eye Makeup Pictures
Blue Dramatic Arabic Eye Makeup
Purple Color Arabic Eye Makeup
There are three purple shades of varying darkness blended to create this look.
Luminous Shades - Arabic Eye Makeup
She is wearing false eyelashes
Gold and Pink Arabic Eye Makeup
Muted Arabic Eye Makeup
There are only Two Shades Used in this Simple But Fresh Look
Arabic Eye Makeup
Four Eyeshadow Shades Used
Arabic Bridal Makeup: The Lips
Lips are also dramatically shaped using complementary colors - shades of reds, browns, oranges and pinks are used depending on your skin tone and eye make-up.
Check out some Arabic bridal make-up videos and tutorials below to get a sense of how a bride with Arabic Bridal make-up looks like. One has to lengthen the sari blouse and add long sleeves in order to make it Islamically permissible.
This is not an impossible task - in fact, some imagine that making the sari Islamically permissible detracts from its exotic beauty. But this is not really the case. In fact, the Islamic Indian Muslim Bridal Sari look is rather becoming. Check out the selections we have for you today!
Hope you are amply inspired by these beautiful Indian Muslim Bridal Sari Designs.
Indian Muslim Bridal Sari Designs
Demure White Embroidered Indian Muslim Bridal Sari
Innovative High Neck Sari Blouse Design Lengthen the Sleeves and Voila! Indian Muslim Bridal Sari
Simple Long Sleeved Sari Blouse Indian Muslim Bridal Sari
Puffed Long Sleeved Sari Blouse Indian Muslim Bridal Sari
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A Saree is a six-yard wonder garment that originated centuries ago in the Indian sub-continent. Saree, the beautiful drape is the national attire for women in India. It comes in variety of fabric, colors and designs. Each region or state has its own style and design that makes it different from the other. The embroideries too differ from region to region. There is a wide variety of sarees worn across India. The difference is in terms of fabric, style of wearing and the pattern of the saree. Like Kolkata cotton sarees is different from the Gadwal cotton saree of Pune, similarly Garhwal silk saree is different from South silk saree. The beauty, grace and elegance of a woman wrapped in saree is unmatched to any other woman dress in any dress.
Sarees from different regions of India
The core of any good saree wardrobe is to have at least one traditional saree from every region from India. In addition, there should be some plain, single coloured sarees, to show off accessories – be it elegant jewellery or a shawl to perfection.
A range of gorgeous sarees come from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Western Madhya Pradesh. The dominant characteristic of the saree of these regions is obtained by dyeing rather than weaving techniques. In fact, the three major forms of Indian resist-dyeing – block printing, tie & dye and ikat have evolved here.
Playing with colour, fabric, weave and embellishments can create an exquisite look to the trousseau wardrobe.
Sarees from West India:
1. Bandhani
- These are sarees created by dyeing the cloth in such a manner that many small resist-dyed ‘spots’ produce elaborate patterns over the fabric.
- The traditional bandhani market has shrunk however, because of the rise of low-cost silk-screened imitations and most modern bandhani sarees are made with larger designs and fewer ties than in the past. There are varieties available in two contrasting colours, with borders, end-pieces and one or more large central medallion called a pomcha or padma (lotus flower). Red and black is the most common colour combination but other pairs of colours are also found. For instance, the panetar saree is a Gujarati-Hindu saree of satin weave and Gajji silk with red borders, central medallions and a white body, which may contain regularly spaced red tie-dyed spots.
- Single colour sarees and odhnis with white spots are also common. The most famous of this type is the Gujarati saree called Garchola It is usually red, but occasionally green, and is divided into a network of squares created by rows of white tie-dyed spots or woven bands of zari. The Garchola is a traditional Hindu and Jain wedding saree, which used to be made of cotton, but is now usually in silk. The number of squares in the saree is ritually significant multiples of 9, 12 or 52.
2. Patola
- The most time consuming and elaborate saree created by the western region is the potole (plural patola) which has intricate five colour designs resist-dyed into both warp and weft threads before weaving.
- Double ikat patola saree is a rare and expensive investment. A cheaper alternative to double ikat patola is the silk ikat saree developed in Rajkot (Gujarat), that creates patola and other geometric designs in the weft threads only.
3. Gujarati Brocade
These are extremely expensive and virtually extinct. The main distinguishing characteristics of the Gujarati Brocade Saree:
- Butis (circular designs) woven into the field in the warp direction instead of the weft, resulting in their lying horizontally instead of vertically on the saree when draped.
- Floral designs woven in coloured silk, against a golden (woven zari) ground fabric. Although such ‘inlay’ work is a common feature in many western Deccan silks, the Gujarati work usually has leaves, flowers and stems outlined by a fine dark line.
4. Embroidered Tinsel Sarees
- The western region also has a rich embroidered tradition, made famous by ethnic groups such as rabaris and sodha Rajputs.
- The saree with zardozi, the gold gilt thread embroidery technique, at one time patronised by the Moghul emperors and the aristocracy, is today an inextricable part of a bridal trousseau.
- Balla tinsel and khari work are the cheaper variations available in metallic embroidery, which have also become quite popular.
5. Paithani
- This saree is named after a village near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Now also woven in the town of Yeola, these sarees use an enormous amount of labour, skill and sheer expanse of material in their creation.
- Distinctive motifs such as parrots, trees and plants are woven into the saree. The shades vary from vivid magenta, peacock greens and purples. In the pallav, the base is in gold and the pattern is done in silk, giving the whole saree an embossed look.
6. Chanderi and Maheshwari
- The Chanderi saree from Madhya Pradesh is light and meant for Indian summers. It is made in silk or fine cotton with patterns taken from the Chanderi temples.
- The Maheshwari sarees are also both in cotton and silk, usually green or purple with a zari border. The traditional block-printed tussar can also be found in contemporary designs nowadays.
- Balla tinsel and khari work are the cheaper variations available in metallic embroidery, which have also become quite popular.
7. Gadwal
- Gadwal saree is made in cotton in a style influenced by the Banarasi weaves. While the ground of the saree is cotton, there is a loosely attached silk border.
- Copper or gold-dipped zari is generally used in these sarees. The motifs of the murrugan (peacock) and the rudraksh are popular.
- Traditional colours for these sarees are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Sarees from North India:
1. Banaras Brocade
- This saree from Banaras is virtually mandatory in the bride’s trousseau. These sarees vary tremendously as weavers create different products to suit different regional markets and changing fashions.
- Most brocades usually have strong Moghul influences in the design, such as intricate intertwining floral and foliate motifs, kalga and bel. A characteristic found along the inner, and sometimes outer, edge of borders is a narrow fringe like pattern that often looks like a string of upright leaves called jhallr. This is almost a signature of Benarasi brocade.
2. Kota Doria
- Kota in Rajasthan, India is the home of the famous Kota Doria saris made in small villages around the Kota city. "Kota Doria" is a super transparent yet stable cotton or cotton/silk weave consisting of varied guages of yarn, creating an almost graph like pattern called khats (squares formed between the different thicknesses of fibers). The intermittent heavier guage yarns give the fabric enough weight and lateral stability to fall very gracefully, yet it is incredibly airy and transparent. Generally, these pieces are worn in the heat of summer.
- The chequered weave of a Kota sari is a prized possession of many women. The gossamer-fine fabric Kota dorias are the finest weaves in India - so fine that they are almost weightless. The spinning, dyeing and weaving are done by skilled artisans and it takes many men hours to do so. The Kota region's craft is exquisite in its perfection. The Kota Doria weave is very special; the warp and the weft use a combination of threads creating a fine chequered pattern where the cotton provides firmness while the silk lends the gossamer finish to the fabric.
- Besides the chequered pattern, there are other weaves in complicated designs in a combination of silk and cotton. The standard Kota doria yardage, in sari width, is always woven in white and later dyed in different colours. Some of the weaves also have a narrow border edged with Zari. In the case of saris with designs, the threads are dyed prior to weaving. Ideal for hot summer, this is a muslin fabric woven with alternating threads of silk and cotton in both warp and weft in an open weave.
3. Other Sarees from this region
- The region is also famous for producing ornate sarees such tanchois, amru brocades, shikargarh brocades and tissues. Abrawans (literally meaning flowing water)- Tissue sarees, usually woven with the finest silk thread are also quite popular. A classy design in Abrawans is tarbana (woven water) with a fine silk warp with a zari weft giving an almost metallic sheen. Kincab or Kinkhwab sarees are the most popular of the brocades and are so covered with the zari patterning that the underlying silk cloth is barely visible.
- Jamawars also come from Uttar Pradesh. These silk sarees are embellished with zari threadwork. The popular theme is a jacquard weave in ‘meena’ colours like orange and green.
- Tanchois (in zari) are another item from of Uttar Pradesh and have different designs, not just Moghul motifs.
Another type is the kora silk saree which is starched as brittle as organza.
Sarees from South India:
1. Kanjeevaram Saree
- No Indian bridal trousseau is complete without the ‘Kanjeewaram’ saree, characterised by gold-dipped silver thread that is woven onto brilliant silk. Kanchipuram is a town in Tamil Nadu with more than 150 years of weaving tradition – completely untouched by fashion fads.
- Kanjeewarams are favoured for their durability. Kanjee silk is thicker than almost all other silks, and is therefore more expensive. The heavier the silk, the better the quality. Peacock and parrot are the most common motifs. Though lightweight kanjee sarees are popular as they are easy to wear and cost very little, the traditional weavers do not like to compromise. While Korean and Chinese silk is suitable for light-weight sarees (machine woven), only mulberry silk produced in Karnataka and few parts of Tamil Nadu, is right for the classic Kanjeewaram.
2. Konrad Saree
- The konrad or the temple saree is also a speciality item from Tamil Nadu. These sarees were original woven for temple deities.
- They are wide bordered sarees and are characterised by wedding related motifs such as elephants and peacocks, symbolising water, fertility and fecundity.
- Traditional colours for these sarees are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
3. Others
- Pashmina silk, kota silk, Mysore crepes, pochampallis and puttapakshi sarees are also popular South Indian sarees.
- Typical wedding sarees from Kerala are the nayayanpets and bavanjipets which usually have a gold border on a cream base.
- Traditional colours for these sarees are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Sarees from East India:
1. Baluchari Sarees
- This saree from Bengal is usually five yards in length and 42” wide in flame red, purple and occasionally in deep blue. The field of the saree is covered with small butis and a beautiful floral design runs across the edges. The anchal has the main decoration depicting narrative motifs. Taingals and kanthas are other speciality items from Bengal.
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In India, Mehendi is used in celebrations like weddings and other special occasions which are traditionally associated with transcendence and transformation. It is a common tradition for Indian bride to get together with her close friends and spend hours applying mehendi on her hands and feet and get marriage advise in tandem. The mehendi patterns used for wedding are much more intricate and time consuming and therefore bride’s friends have lots of time to give her advice and tease her about the coming wedding night. The bride’s henna must be more beautiful in intricate than anyone else’s to make her stand out on her special day. Bride has to look after her henna carefully till it becomes dry and ensure no accidental spill over.
Mehendi designs have traditionally fallen into four different styles. The Middle Eastern style is made up of floral patterns similar to Arabic textiles, paintings and carvings. The North African style follows the shape of the hands and feet using geometrical floral patterns. Indian and Pakistani design encompass more than just feet and hand and generally extend further up the appendages to give illusion of glove and stockings which are made up of lines paisley pattern and teardrops. Lastly the Indonesian and Southern Asian styles are a mix of a Middle Eastern and Indian design using blocks of colour on tip of toes and finger. All of these styles remain popular today but have also been joined by popularity of Celtic designs and Chinese symbols.
Going with recent trends, the thick line Arabic mehendi is really popular with young girls these days; however the bridal mehendi girls still prefer the fine line style of traditional embroidery mehendi. The green mehendi with coloured stones is in vogue this season. The coloured stick- on stones are matched with the ensemble of the bride and used in patterns of the mehendi to add to the look of the bride. To add more luxury to your henna, Swarovski stones can also used in the motifs of the mehendi to compliment the diamonds in the bridal jewellery.
Have fun with the designs and experiment with them until you find something that you feel really passionate about. To get more insight on the mehendi designs in vogue hire a reputed henna professional.
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Ancient Sanskrit texts in India identify sixteen different embellishments or adornments practiced by Hindu and Muslim brides.
Solah represents 16, a significant number that corresponds to the sixteen phases of the moon and Shringar refers to the adornments or decorations required for the beautification of the bride. The Solah Shringar acknowledges and celebrates the beauty and divinity of the female form. There is a belief that certain ornaments and embellishments enhance the beauty of a woman giving her a celestial appearance. These ancient beauty rituals have been passed down through the centuries and are rituals that can be followed by the modern Hindu and Muslim brides.
To bring out the goddess in you on your special day here are the 16 ancient beauty rituals or the Solah Shringar.
1st Shringar: Decoration of the hair
Traditionally the brides hair was oiled, washed, dried, styled and accentuated with a string of flowers according to the region and the wedding dress. Young brides from the South styled their hair differently to brides from the North. Flowers are considered to be symbolic of life and happiness and are important in the every aspect of Indian marriage including the hair. These days the modern day South Asian brides in Australia have a choice in the way their hair is styled and accentuated with the bridal dress. Hair stylists now specialise in bridal hair styles.
2nd Shringar: Cleaning and preparing the body
Traditionally the bride was given a bath with a mixture of gram flour, turmeric powder, sandalwood powder and oil. This acted as a scrub and provided a glow to her complexion Modern day brides have plenty of choices in the way they relax, bathe and prepare their face and body for the big occasion. Herbal rejuvenation facial treatments, massages, manicures can make the bride feel special.
3rd Shringar: Maangteeka:
The maangteeka is a pendulum like ornament generally made of gold and set with precious stones, which is worn in the parting of the hair and falls over the top of the forehead. The allure of the bride is highlighted by this ornament. On some brides a mangapatti is tied along the hairline. The mandoria consists of a strand of pearls, tied across the forehead on either side and can usually be seen on a Maharashtrian bride. Modern day brides have a choice to wear gold maangteekas and mangapattis or those made of costume jewellery.
4th Shringar: Bindi
Traditionally the circular red dot of vermillion powder placed on the center of the forehead symbolised the brides suhaag or the resolve to the marital relationship. The bindi worn by the bride symbolises her dedication towards her husband. In order to make a bindi attractive, it can be decorated with tiny red & white dots encircling it and also by applying over the curves of the eyes and ends at the cheekbones. Sindoor also symbolises suhaag and is applied in the parting of the hair. The modern Hindu bride, however, has a choice of colourful and elaborate bindi designs that match the colour of the brides wedding outfit and is of the self-adhesive variety.
5th Shringar: Kohl or Kaajal (also referred to as Anjana)
The application of Kohl or Kajal on the edges of the upper and lower lids was designed to enhance the beauty of the brides eyes. Kajal was traditionally prepared from the soot of diya (earthen lamp) lit with a wick placed in clarified butter. Modern day brides have a choice of Kohl pencils or liquid eyeliners accentuating the features of the eyes. Eye makeup adds colour and glamour highlighting the beauty of the brides eyes.
6th Shringar: Nose Ring (also referred to as Nath)
Traditionally a Hindu bride wore gold, pearl or a diamond nose ring on her wedding day. Once married the nose ring is not usually removed by Hindus as they are a symbol of a married woman similar to bindi, sindoor and the mangalsutra (wedding necklace). Enhancing the brides beauty and giving her a more traditional look the nose ring is usually worn on the left nostril. The modern day bride has the option of wearing a nose ring or stud on her wedding day.
7th Shringar: Earrings (also known as Karn Phool)
Traditionally the Hindu and Muslim brides adorn their ears with gold jewellery. Once again the style of the earring varied with the region. The three tiered or jhoonkha style earrings are quite heavy and are supported by gold chains that are attached to the hair. Modern day brides have a choice of wearing heavy gold and diamond earrings or jewellery with a more simple design.
8th Shringar: Wedding necklace (also known as Haar)
The sacred marriage vows are thought to be imbibed in the wedding necklace which varies based on the region. The wedding necklace is traditionally crafted from gold and symbolises prosperity which is why Hindu and Muslim brides wear many different gold necklaces. The modern day bride has the choice to wear a gold wedding necklace which is similar to the symbol of the wedding ring worn by most brides. However there is a trend to have some defining simple pieces of gold jewellery rather the traditional and elaborate gold necklaces worn by brides.
9th Shringar: Armlets (also known as Bazubandh)
Armlets with precious gem stones imbedded were once worn on the upper arms giving a more traditional look to the bride. Modern day brides can have the option of wearing a wide selection of gold or silver armlets.
10th Shringar: Bangles (also known as Choodiyan)
Traditionally, red bangles are worn at the time of marriage and were mandatory for a bride to wear as they signified the long life of her husband. Gold bangles interspersed with red bangles add to the beauty of the brides wrists. Whist gold bangles are still popular with Indian brides, ,modern day brides now have the choice to wear coloured bangles matching their bridal dress.
11th Shringar: Rings or Hath Phool
Traditionally the Arsi was a thumb ring with a small mirror attached allowing the bride to take a glimpse at her new partner. Alternatively a bride wore a haath phool consisting of five rings in all the fingers, joined to a bangle at the wrist with chains from each ring radiating to a medallion encrusted with stones in the centre of the hand, with chains joining the medallion to the bangle This type of decorative jewellery is available to modern day brides designed in gold or silver. This ia also available in costume jewellery.
12th Shringar: Bridal Dress
Whilst the bridal dress ranges from region to region the sari is one of the most graceful attires in the world. The wedding ensemble could also be in the form of a ghaghra-choli (lehenga) Modern day brides have a variety of styles and colours in their choice of traditional sarees, ghagra cholis and the traditional white wedding dress.
13th Shringar: Waist band (also known as Kamberband)
To keep the sari in place as well as accentuate the brides waist a belt of gold or silver is used. The belt circling the waist could be a decorative waistband in solid gold or some other metal or it could be intricate chain with a pendant that rests on one side of the hip. Modern brides can also wear the waistband crafted from gold or silver as an ornament around the waist.
14th Shringar: Anklet (also known as Payal)
One of the most sensuous and attention grabbing accessories worn by the bride is the anklet. A chain of silver with an edging comprising clusters of small bells attached is traditionally worn on both feet which make a pleasant sound as the feet move. These anklets make the most seductive and provocative sound as the brides moves. Modern day brides have the choice to wear fine silver chains around their feet for comfort or have more intricate designs on the anklet.
15th Shringar: Henna designs (also known as Mehendi)
Traditionally mehendi is a very significant shringar of the bride symbolising prosperity. The hands and feet are covered with intricate designs of henna paste in a special pre-wedding ceremony. The mehendi is mostly applied on hands and sometimes on feet too. The mehendi that decorates the palms and wrist has the most intricate designs. Modern day brides are indulging in the cooling effects of the henna paste and interesting designs of the artwork.
16h Shringar: Toe ring (also known as Bichuas)
Made up of silver, bichuas or the toe rings are worn on the fingers of each foot most commonly on the second toe of the left feet. The toe ring is also a symbol of marriage and is traditionally worn till the husband’s death. Traditionally, toe rings are quite ornate, though more contemporary and simple designs are now being developed to cater to the requirements of modern brides.
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Khush Singh-Celebrity & Indian Bridal Makeup Artist
Buddhist weddings are secular in nature, so the marriage itself is usually a civil ceremony. The reception is often held in someone’s home and is small, with only family and close friends invited. Unlike many religions, Buddhists are allowed to marry a person of any faith, provided the spouse respects the teachings of the Buddha. Traditionally, a Buddhist monk blessed the couple at the ceremony temple, reciting sacred passages in the Pali language (you can find English translations of passages as well). Depending on where you and your spouse reside, a temple and a monk may be difficult to find. Many couples today erect their own shrines, complete with a Buddha image, flowers, and candles. Following down this road, it’s common for all gathered to recite a procession of hymns—Vandana, Tisarana, and Pancasila (English translations are widely available on the web).
If you are having a ceremony ritual in a temple, with a blessing, you only need to reserve the space. You don’t need to meet with monks beforehand or have a rehearsal. There is no organ or other music, and the guests do not participate in the blessing. Guests are allowed to wear whatever they like—good taste rules the day here. Be mindful of your footwear, however, as you’ll have to take your shoes off before entering a shrine. And don’t throw confetti (that’s considered tacky). The bride generally wears a dress, while the groom dons a suit. Although Buddhists are allowed to get married on any day of the year, that has not always been the case. It used to be that a monk determined through astrology the appropriate day for the wedding.
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Here are some popular traditional touches that may be added: On the morning of the wedding, the groom’s family brings to the temple trays of fruit, wine, cake (and in olden days, jewelry for the bride), and candles lit by either the bride and groom or the parents. The candle lighting signifies the unity of the couple. Do not bring seven or eight trays, as those are considered unlucky numbers (six or nine is common).
A good thing to remember is that, since Buddhism practices tolerance of other religions, most of the flourishes at a Buddhist wedding are not set in stone; reception ceremonies usually reflect the customs of the site and background of where your party is held and what you’d like to incorporate yourselves. Fascinating also, as a contrast to Western vows, are the customary undertakings as inscribed in the Buddhist Sigilovdda Sutta.
The groom says, “Towards my wife I undertake to love and respect her, be kind and considerate, be faithful, delegate domestic management, present gifts to please her.”
The bride follows with, “Towards my husband I undertake to perform my household duties efficiently, be hospitable to my in-laws and friends of my husband, be faithful, protect and invest our earnings, discharge my responsibilities lovingly and fastidiously.”
After the ceremony, there is generally a large feast with dancing and singing. There is no protocol for a first/dance, father/son dance, etc., so do as you please, and love in harmony.
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Henna, also known as Heena, is a form of body art that has existed since ancient times. Mehndi (or Henna) is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration, in countries like Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, and Somaliland. It is typically employed for special occasions, particularly weddings. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest.
Henna is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, 2–6 m high.
Henna, produces a red-orange dye molecule called lawsone. This molecule has an affinity for bonding with protein, and thus has been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds permanently to lawsone, the colorant of henna. 
Henna has been used to adorn young women’s bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean. Henna was regarded as having “Barakah”, blessings, and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Brides typically had the most henna, and the most complex patterns, to support their greatest joy, and wishes for luck. Some bridal traditions were very complex, such as those in Yemen, where the Jewish bridal henna process took four or five days to complete, with multiple applications and resist work.
Henna painting has become very popular as a form of temporary tattoo and is liked by a lot. The best aspect of henna is that it is totally natural, made from a plant plant whose leaves are first dried and then crushed to make a fine powder. While applying, the powder is mixed with water. This makes henna totally safe to use. Along with that, its application is totally painless and the effect is temporary. You can use henna to get tattoos, without worrying about pain or infection. In case you are not satisfied with a particular tattoo, just wait for a few days. Its color will soon wash off and you can easily go for another design. 
Though there are no set patterns or designs for Henna, there are some popular designs that have been followed since ages. One of the most popular designs is a paisley that is often filled with a checkerboard pattern. Another popular pattern is a lovely peacock, with the sharp and curved beak and the corona on the head. Floral patterns are quite popular as well. 
