Mehndi ceremony checklist

3 to 9 months before

• Book the bridal henna artist. In peak season, good artists book six to nine months ahead; for a destination, allow at least three to six months.
• Ask what is in the paste: natural henna only, never "black henna".
• Get the contract to name the arrival time, number of artists, hours, overtime rate and travel fees.
• Decide whether guests get henna, and roughly how many will want it.
• At a destination, check whether the resort package includes henna and what outside vendors pay.
• Ask about G6PD deficiency in the family before children get henna.

1 to 2 months before

• Book enough artists for guests: each does roughly 8 to 15 simple designs an hour.
• Fix the date, one to three days before the wedding.
• Plan the order of the day: the bride first, then the bridal party, then guests.
• Book the space: comfortable seating, bright warm light, shade outdoors, heating if it is cold.
• Plan music, food and decor.
• Choose outfits: a bright colour for the bride, short sleeves for guests.

The week before

• Confirm the artist team, arrival time and the bride's start time.
• Block two to six hours for the bride's application, plus time to rest.
• Keep the next 12 to 24 hours free of anything that means wet hands.
• Ask the artist to bring aftercare supplies, such as a lemon-and-sugar mix.

On the day

• Start with the bride, in a low cushioned seat, with someone to help with food and drinks.
• Keep hands warm, and do not touch wet paste.
• If any paste stains black within about 30 minutes, it may be black henna. Watch for itching or blisters over the next 12 days, and see a doctor if they appear.

Afterwards

• Leave the paste on for at least four to six hours; overnight is common.
• Dab on a little lemon-and-sugar, then scrape the paste off rather than washing it.
• Avoid water for 12 to 24 hours, and avoid chlorinated pools and scrubs.
• Expect orange at first. The stain darkens over one to three days.