Like most Hindu brides, I had a Mehndi ceremony when I got married.  This is when the hands and feet are painted with henna.

The designs are very intricate and take hours to do.  The lady started mine at 7am and didn’t finish until 5pm!  These days some brides choose to have only a little done, rather than all of it.  While planning mine, my mum suggested I do that – just have a little on my hands and feet.  I refused!  A bride only has her Mehndi once, and I wanted to do it properly!  The henna is a dark green paste and the bride is not meant to remove it until it is completely dry.  They (whoever ‘they’ are) say that the darker the mehndi, the more loved the bride will be.

The groom’s name or initials are usually hidden in the design somewhere and he then has to find it.  I don’t know if it’s true or not, but friends and I always joked that it’s a good way to ‘break the ice’ on the wedding night – especially if the wedding is arranged and the newly married couple have only met once or twice before!

Hub didn’t find his name (don’t ask).  It had been put on the side of my ring finger.  A very special place, I thought.

Now, if you read my post The Plan, you will know that I have a list of things that I aim to do while I’m in London this week.  I’ve achieved most of them, including number 10.

I got a tattoo.  I had my husband’s name tattooed on my ring finger, where his name had been placed during my Mehndi.  It hurt; and should probably be a bit smaller than it is, but I quite like it 🙂

No doubt some of you will think I’m out of my mind.  I know my sister does!

I came across this site, which is great if you want to know any more about Hindu weddings!