LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY79WEDDINGSEasternsplendourThere8217s every chance that this
summer you8217ll be attending
several weddings, and though
they8217ll all doubtless be moving
and beautiful, some stick in
the memory of guests more
than others. So when you8217re
planning your wedding, why
not go for something
completely different?More and more brides are looking at
different cultures for inspiration, most
notably South Asian weddings. Anyone
who8217s ever attended an Asian wedding,
or has seen one on TV or in a
Bollywood movie, will know that they
are hugely glamorous and enjoyable
events. In some cases they can take the
form of huge week-long celebrations,
filled with colour, music, dance and
tradition.
Even if you8217re not of Asian origin
yourself there8217s nothing to stop you
taking inspiration from some of the
most attractive aspects of the culture.
For example, you could swap the
traditional wedding dress for a lehenga,
the traditional bridal outfit which is
usually bright red. Guests can wear
saris and the result is a sea of colour.
If you8217re holding the reception in a
marquee, you could decorate it in the
style of an Indian or Arabic tent, with
a brightly coloured marquee lining,
plenty of light via chandeliers or
lanterns and even the guests sat on
low floor cushions. This has the effect
of heightening the glamour while also
making it seem much more informal.
An aspect of Asian weddings which
seems to have had the most impact in
Western ceremonies is that of body
art. You8217ll find that in most Muslim,
Hindu and Sikh ceremonies, the bride
will have henna, or mehdni, or her
hands and feet, and most of the other
women present will also have mehdni
on their hands.
One of the most obvious things
about the
bridal mehdni
is that the colour is extremely rich and
dark. This is actually much sought
after as it8217s said that if the mehdni
comes out dark when it8217s dried, then
the bride will have the very best
chance of a blissfully happy
relationship with her husband. Others
suggest that it will also create the best
of relationships with her mother-in-
law 8211 clearly of major importance!
Of course, you probably won8217t be
willing or able to create such elaborate
patterns, but some tastefully applied
henna will certainly make you look
extra special on the big day.
The eastern approach to weddings is
certainly glamorous and exciting, and
should provide plenty of inspiration
for your special occasion.PICTURES BY KEVIN GREENE PHOTOGRAPHY076-077-078-079:Layout 1 20/5/08 14:13 Page 4
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