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Updated Oct 14, 202440 Breathtaking Wedding Henna Ideas for Your Celebration
Find inspiration for stunning wedding day body art.
Known as an important part of numerous cultures, wedding henna symbolizes prosperity, joy and good health in a marriage. The temporary design is applied using henna paste often on the hands, arms or feet. "Henna paste is made out of dry henna leaves," said Heena Shah, expert henna artist and owner of Mehndi with Heena in Gainesville, Virginia. "The plant contains lawsone, a reddish-orangish dye, and leaves a beautiful temporary stain."
Henna designs, also known as mehndi, range from simple and delicate to bold and intricate. The Hindu wedding tradition is part of the pre-wedding festivities and usually takes place the day after the Haldi ceremony, and a day or two before the wedding. Whether you're preparing for a mehndi party or planning an Indian wedding, we gathered the best wedding henna designs to inspire your unique body art.
In this article:
Wedding Henna Designs
Wedding henna designs often include mandalas, eyes to ward off evil spirits, vines, paisley or intricate patterns. Find a motif that fits your style and personality. "Every design is different and unique," Shah said. "Every artist has their own style of doing it. That's the beauty about it."
1. Playful Wedding Henna Design
This wedding henna design combines traditional styles with playful elements. Detailed patterns combine with a darling bird motif.
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2. Classic Indian Wedding Henna
Any henna pattern is beautiful, whether it is simple or complex. This classic wedding henna features a mirrored image for a symmetrical design.
3. Coordinating Bridal Wedding Henna
Create a memorable experience with your partner by getting matching henna together. Choose a design that complements your personality and attire.
4. Hand and Feet Indian Wedding Henna
Incorporate your wedding henna on both your hands and feet. This is a great idea if you're wearing strappy shoes that won't cover too much of your henna.
5. Traditional Wedding Henna on Palms
Wedding henna doesn't have to cover your arms. Choose a design that is focused on your hands only, especially if you're wearing detailed bangles that might otherwise cover your design.
6. Alternating Pattern Wedding Henna
This traditional wedding henna features alternating patterns which are incredibly detailed. Shift your design to a different motif when it reaches your arms for visual interest.
7. Wedding Henna with Small and Large Designs
Henna with small and large details helps draw the eye to different parts of your wearable artwork. Combine with simple jewelry that won't take attention away from your henna.
8. Detailed Henna for an Indian Wedding
This classic henna features alternating lines, swirls and flowers on the tops of the hands and palms. Just like with jewelry, a simple nail color helps your design shine.
9. Wedding Henna with Flowers and Eyes
This wedding henna design features a delicate pattern of flowers, along with eyes to ward off evil spirits. When the bride places her palms together it completes the pattern.
10. Simple Mandala Wedding Henna
This classic henna design features two mandalas on the center of the to-be-wed's palms. Details on the fingers and arms complement the rest of the body art.
11. Wedding Henna with Vines
The pattern of this wedding henna includes simple vines that travel upward to a more intricate design. We love how the placement of the henna coordinates with the placement of the to-be-wed's jewelry.
12. Detailed Wedding Henna with Flowers
Flowers and repeating patterns make up this detailed wedding henna. The motif makes a bold statement from the bride's fingers to forearms.
13. Hindu Wedding Henna Design
This couple chose coordinating wedding henna tattoos with a simple paisley design. The mehndi begins with bold lines and transitions into a more delicate pattern.
14. Bold Wedding Henna on Hands and Palms
Go all out with wedding henna that catches attention no matter how you position your hands. This complex pattern covers the tops of the hands and palms.
15. Indian Wedding Henna with Detailed Palms
Wedding henna with lots of detailed patterns on the palms stands out, especially throughout a Hindu ceremony. This design includes an elaborate motif with overlapping patterns.
16. Simple Henna for an Indian Wedding
This bride's wedding henna designs on the tops of her hands are the focal point of the henna tattoos. Additional artwork on her finger tips and wrists adds a subtle hint of complexity to the otherwise simple design.
17. Single Henna Design on Wrist
The simplicity of this singular henna tattoo stands out on the bride's arm. The addition of her monogram adds a sentimental, personalized touch to the center of the mandala.
18. Paisley Wedding Henna Designs
Though this paisley design is intricate, the simplicity lies in the symmetrical design. When cupped together, the bride's hands form a trendy tattoo.
19. Simple Swirled Paisley Henna
Swirled paisleys and mandalas cover this bride's forearms and fingertips, proving that wedding henna patterns don't have to be largely extravagant to make a statement.
20. Wedding Henna with Individual Shapes
Wedding henna designs don't always have to connect. This example shows how individual shapes can come together to form one simple mehndi design.
21. Wedding Party Henna Tattoos
Indian wedding henna doesn't have to be reserved just for the bride. Entire wedding parties can get matching body art too. This bride's intricate mehndi design is complemented by corresponding art on the bridesmaids' hands.
22. Couples Matching Wedding Henna
Couples can also get matching traditional wedding henna. This bride's henna design, which covers her palm, fingers and forearm, is matched with a simple tattoo on the groom's palm.
23. Floral Indian Wedding Henna
Bridal party members don't need to have the same exact henna designs. This wedding party opted for various floral designs and mandala artwork to complement the bride's palm and forearm designs.
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24. Detailed Matching Wedding Henna
Matching intricate mehndi designs are a must for couples who love extravagance. This bride's complex henna matches the groom's palm designs. Together, the artwork serves as a stunning display of heritage and tradition.
25. Mandala and Elephant Henna
Matching wedding henna tattoos don't need to be extravagant if it's not fit to the couple's taste. These simple designs—which include an elephant and a monogrammed mandala—are perfect for those who want to pay homage to tradition without an over-the-top design.
26. Wedding Henna with Historical Figures
Henna designs can often be inspired by traditional Hindu culture. This bride's wedding henna depicts two figures within an intricate design of artwork. If you're particularly inspired by historical figures or fictional characters, including them in your artwork is a unique way to personalize your bridal henna.
27. Finger and Hand Henna Design
The intricacy of this mehndi design shines on the bride's fingers. Not only is this a unique alternative to artwork on your palms or forearms, it's an ideal way to show off your wedding jewelry.
28. Flower Wedding Henna
The use of blank space in this henna design makes the artistry stand out. While the eye is initially drawn to the henna flower in the middle, the artwork on the bride's fingers and forearms adds another stunning dimension to this design.
29. Intertwined Wedding Henna Design
Several small designs come together to form complex vignettes on this bride. Together, each pattern flows into one cohesive mehndi tattoo that spans from her fingertips up her arm.
30. Palm Wedding Henna
Three mandalas placed on top of each other comprise this bride's mehndi design, along with decorative lines and leaf-inspired patterns spanning the length of her fingers.
31. Wedding Henna with Alternating Patterns
Brides who love exquisite jewelry will adore this intricate henna design. The front and back of the bride's hands are adorned with various shapes and patterns that resemble dainty jewelry pieces, completing the bridal look.
32. Wedding Henna with Detailed Pattern
Guests won't be able to take their eyes off an intricate pattern like this. Seasoned henna artists will be able to replicate a similar design that includes small, detailed tattoos covering the front and back hands of the wearer.
33. Two-Part Henna Design
When cupped together, the bride's hands display a piece of art that's simply stunning. Darker coloring on the palms stands out, while the lighter red shade on the bride's arms adds a secondary layer of artwork to complete this wedding henna design.
34. Flower and Paisley Wedding Henna
Those who love symmetry will adore this balanced henna design. Various lotus flowers, paisley designs and leaf-inspired art creates a mirrored image on both hands. It extends up the forearm for an added touch of artistry.
35. Wedding Henna on Palms Design
Looking for wedding henna that delivers a serious "wow" factor? Get inspired by this design. This bride's tattoos feature two completely different designs that cover both palms.
36. Mirrored Wedding Henna
One large mandala spans across this bride's palms. When brought together, the mandala is complete, while the surrounding designs mirror each other from both arms.
37. Geometric Indian Wedding Henna
This bride's back hand henna designs are accented with hand chains and bangles. Complex patterns, including dots, lines and mandalas cover her arms while hanging tassels complete the wedding henna look.
38. Two-Palm Complete Henna Design
When brought together, this bride's henna tattoo reveals two faces looking at each other. The symbolic design is encircled with elaborate patterns that create an ornate mehndi tattoo.
39. Trendy Paisley Wedding Henna
Mirrored images of mandalas, paisleys and unique patterns make up this trendy henna design. Once the hands are placed together, it forms a cohesive work of art.
40. Wedding Henna on Hands and Feet
Mehndi designs aren't limited to being applied to hands and arms—some opt for foot henna too. This bride's intricate patterns cover her arms, wrists and fingers as well as her ankles and the tops of her feet. Together, these henna patterns create an unforgettable bridal look.
What to Know About Wedding Henna
From cost to when to schedule your appointment, we gathered the important info you need to know about wedding henna.
What Is the Significance of Henna at a Wedding?
"Henna is one of the most important ceremonies to kick off the wedding festivities," Shah said. "Henna has reportedly been used for body art for at least 5000 plus years…Henna also symbolizes positive spirits and good luck." She added that henna can also help to reduce stress.
How Long Before the Wedding Should You Do Henna?
Schedule your henna session two days before your wedding. "Natural henna takes 24 to 48 hours to give you the best color," Shah said. This also gives the design plenty of time to dry before you begin your wedding festivities.
How Much Does Henna Cost for a Wedding?
Henna cost depends on the style of your design and how long it takes to apply. Artists charge between $200 to $600 for this service. To find a henna artist near you to bring your design to life, head over to The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
How Does Henna for a Wedding Work?
Indian wedding henna takes between three to eight hours to apply depending on your design. It will take about a half hour to dry, but it's recommended to keep the paste on for at least six hours to develop a longer-lasting stain. "Keep Henna paste on overnight and avoid water as much as possible," Shah said. Once applied, henna usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks.
