Category: Indian wedding planner

What is a Henna Night?

Wedding traditions vary from culture to culture. With the different emerging and classic wedding traditions that we have come to know, a henna night is one for the books. It is an event immersed in history and myths; where the bride’s family ceremoniously gives her to the family of the groom. This tradition originated from Turkey and has been observed in many parts of the world throughout generations.

What is a henna night tradition?

The Henna Night is a representation of the bride and groom’s rich and exquisite culture.

This tradition started to be organized in the bride’s home the night before the wedding with her girlfriends. Usually, it is celebrated by hanging a flag in the bride’s house to signify the start of the wedding accompanied by singing and dancing.

While Henna Night is one of the most highlighted wedding traditions, it has evolved dramatically with time passing. Presently, it is popularly known as a bachelorette party in which the attendance of the groom and his friends are also being considered. When properly planned, a henna night will leave unforgettable memories not only to the couple but also in the minds of the guests.

What do you wear during a henna night?

Generally, the outfits for a Henna Night vary from culture to culture. But it is also important to take note that the motif-inspired costumes or dresses in the past were elaborately adorned with colorful silk and velvet fabrics called the “ Bindalli” for the bride, her friends, and aunt in-laws. It is part and parcel of the Trousseau that normally arrived in advance during the preparation stage.

Meanwhile, a red veil and a sequined make up the face of the bride while the henna tray will be brought in by the relatives of the groom. While the celebration of the Henna Night may have changed over the years, there remains the bride-to-be and henna on her hands.

While a Henna Night tradition is celebrated exquisitely and diversely, here are the top 2 Henna Night themes that will surely captivate the life of the celebration:

Indian Henna Night

Indian wedding is the most selected Henna Night concept lately. If you opt for a fun-filled concept via dancing, then this theme is for you. For an Indian Henna Night theme, guests wear colorful (Sari) Indian clothes as they apply the henna tattoos to the bride and groom. This is the most awaited highlight of the Henna Night.

Afghan Henna Night

In an Afghan wedding, on the other hand, a Henna Night (Khina) is being celebrated basically the same. The bride’s hands and feet are designed by Henna – a ritual that symbolizes the start of the marriage. The bride wears a green headdress which conveys prosperity and is also the dominant color of Afghanistan surroundings; while the groom dons a traditional outfit called “Jami”.

Multicultural wedding traditions demand careful planning, creative execution, and keen knowledge of details. Mimi Ebichi Events commits to top-of-the-class multicultural wedding planning and management. We are dedicated to bringing life to the celebration by incorporating our seasoned experience on the different wedding traditions, multicultural wedding themes, and events management.

Book a free consultation today and start your dream wedding journey with us!

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The Significance of Varmala in an Indian Wedding

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Post date May 20, 2020
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The Varmala in Indian Weddings Washington DC

What is the Varmala and Why is it Significant in Indian Wedding Tradition?

It is no secret that some wedding rituals can be traced to family traditions in ancient times. Varmala (aka Jaimala) is one of them. Historically, princesses in ancient India used to choose their husbands during their Swayamvar, and it depicts similarly in today’s rituals. Varmala is a flower/floral exchanged by couples to signify acceptance of each other as husband and wife.

Indian weddings in Washington DC exude the beautiful aroma of fresh flowers and most also prefer Varmalas made of fresh flowers. The best combination for the same is that of roses, jasmine and marigold. Some people also opt for garlands made of artificial flowers. Artificial flowers have a longer shelf life and may not stain the clothes during the ceremony.

The groom is first worshipped (symbolically) upon his arrival, after which the ceremony of Varmala takes place. Normally the bride puts the Varmala around her husband-to-be first, after which the groom adorns her with hers. It denotes the beginning of the wedding ceremony.

The fun part is seen when the groom tilts his head backwards to make it slightly difficult for the bride to put the garland around his neck first since it is believed that whoever lowers their head first to accept the garland remains the dominated one in the relationship. It begins with the groom dodging the bride’s attempts at placing the Varmala.

Sometimes, groomsmen take the challenge up a notch by picking the groom up on their shoulders. Of course, the men on the bride’s side do the same for the bride (hahaha). They pick her up, almost as a reflex, to bring them both to the same eye level again. The bride then keeps trying to place the Varmala on his neck, sometimes as if she is throwing it to score a basket!

As you can see, the Varmala ceremony is a great depiction of the love, respect, and acceptance that the couple share with each other. The Varmala can also be the first icebreaker between husband & wife. They accept each other by illustrating their ‘I do’ through the ceremony!

At Mimi Ebichi Events, we believe that we are at our best in giving you a wedding that’s as smooth as how you wanted it to be. We understand that this is a significant chapter of your life that you are about to enter and we want your celebrations to be nothing but blissful.

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Vidaai Ritual in Hindu Weddings

Post author By Admin
Post date May 19, 2020
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What is Vidaai?

One of the most emotional and vivid moments of a Hindu ceremony at an Indian wedding is the “Vidaai.” This ritual means “goodbye,” also known as the official farewell or send forth of daughter to from her parents. It is basically the Indian bride farewell ritual.

How can the thought of being separated from their child not swell up the parents’ eyes? We cry too as we witness this teary moment between father and daughter, daughter and mom, siblings, family members and well-wishers.

All the previous ceremonies are only a build-up to this ceremony. Everybody loses control during the Vidaai because it is the moment of truth.

Traditionally, it marks the beginning of the bride’s life as a wife. It also signifies the end of her role as a daughter. Before leaving for her in-laws’ house, the bride performs a ritual which involves throwing rice and coins backwards over her head into her maternal home before crossing the doorstep. It ensures that her home always remains prosperous.

The ritual also depicts that she is repaying her parents for bringing her up with so much love. It is a symbol of the bride wishing for her parents’ home to always remain healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.

No matter how less the distance between her in-laws’ house and her maternal house is, almost every bride cries during Vidaai. During this ceremony, the idea of being separated from her parents takes a real form in the bride’s mind. It is certainly unbearable.

The flip side of Vidaai is a happy fact: It is the beginning of something new. It marks the beginning of the couple’s life together as husband and wife.

View more photos of our Indian wedding here.

The transition phase is now over. They embark on the beautiful and exhilarating journey of marriage – sharing each little happy, sad, frustrating, and hilarious moment together – as man & wife.

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The Most Luxurious Indian Wedding Venues in Virginia

Post author By Admin
Post date August 27, 2019
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Is a Full-Service Wedding Planner Worth It? Here are 5 Benefits.

Indian weddings are one of the most colorful, rich and celebrated cultural events in any Indian family. The myriad of traditions unique to different regions makes each celebration a uniquely South Asian wedding. To carry on this tradition, Indian couples in the Washington DC metro area are usually on the lookout for bespoke and luxury Indian wedding venues in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.

Choosing a Wedding Venue in Virginia

But first, what are the things to consider when choosing a venue that’s perfectly right for your Indian wedding?

1) Capacity (size) – Just like with any event, the venue capacity is important. Indian weddings usually last multiple(2-3) days. The number of invited guests and the rooms needed for different ceremonies/rituals at each wedding event can vary, so choosing a venue with the right capacity to accommodate guests is extremely important.

2) Catering – Cultural and multicultural groups love the option to get catering service from their favorite or preferred restaurants or chefs. For this reason, selecting a venue that allows for outside catering or has Indian chefs is highly recommended.

3) Flexibility on load-in and load-out times – It’s important that there is leeway in terms of this because larger Indian weddings with intricate designs may need more days than just the typical 3-4 hours to set up.

4) Easy and accessible doors and elevators for vendors to load in– It’s important to choose a venue with ease of access because lavish Indian weddings usually require assembly of heavy equipment on site. In some cases, the need for a horse or elephant to make an entrance during the Baraat calls for such access.

5) Parking for guests – If you have lots of guests driving in as well as staying at the hotel venue, then ample parking space is a non- negotiable.

6) Accommodations – Pick a wedding venue that is near the hotel/s of your choice ( if the venue is not a hotel). Much better if the venue already offers accommodation. Be ready to give room for guests’ preferences.

7) Proximity to airports– This is also a way of showing that you care about your guests and the quality of their time. If you are unable to secure your dream venue near an airport, consider providing transportation services to your guests.

8) Time – Cultural weddings tend to start either earlier than normal and end later than usual too. Having a wedding venue that can be flexible with start and end times is ideal.

9) Bar/Beverage – Check if the venue has the option to bring liquor.

Venues for large Indian weddings and other big cultural wedding events

If your dream Indian wedding is a large, luxurious one, the DC area has a lot of options to offer. Depending on the size of your guest list, and your personal taste for the venue’s interiors, check out these highly recommended top Indian wedding venues in DC.

The Bellevue Conference & Event Center

Intercontinental DC – The Wharf

Couples can invite up to 400 guests to share in their big day and experience their ballroom and rooftop locations.

MGM National Harbor

They offer multi-cultural menus, flexible indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, rehearsal dinner venues, on-site jewelers, and more. Check out their South Asian wedding menu.

Sheraton Tysons Hotel

Their largest space can accommodate up to 1,750 guests. They have customizable reception menus and available cultural wedding options.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Offering an array of catering options, their culinary team is uniquely adept at preparing multi-ethnic cuisines and menus with a modern-day twist.

Andrew W Mellon Auditorium

The building is designed by San Francisco architect Arthur Brown, Jr., and erected between 1932- 1934. The grandeur of the building’s exterior is matched by its interior. Limestone-finished walls and piers define the space and frame views of the east and west staircases, the lobby, and the breathtaking auditorium beyond. Due to this historic nature of the building, the capacity of the AWMA is limited to 1000 guests.

Hyatt Regency Reston

Expert setup of dance floors, risers, seating arrangements, ceremony room, and cultural wedding events. They allow you to create your own reception menu, as well.

Mayflower Hotel DC

Has a maximum space capacity of up to 1,100 guests. They offer a variety of special menus to help craft your perfect package. They can also customize a special wedding package that features all of the food, beverage, and unique details you will want for your magical day.

Mimi Ebichi – The Expert Indian Wedding Planner in DC and Virginia

If you’re looking for the right team to put together your luxury Indian wedding, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team of wedding specialists in Virginia to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests. Contact us here.

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Wedding Gowns

Wedding dress shopping is an incredible experience, and one that many brides have been excited about for for years. Whether you plan to visit every store around with your entire bridal entourage or find a couple small boutiques with your mother and maid of honor, it’s important to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for. Before we dive into the different silhouettes, here are a few important terms to remember when it comes to wedding gowns:

Bodice: This is the top of the dress, from the waist (which depending on the dress may not sit on your actual waist) up.

Skirt: The bottom of the dress. Typically made of tulle, organza, satin, or the like.

Embellishment: This is the “decoration” on the dress – think beading, lace, or even flowers.

Train: This is the length of the skirt where it drags the ground behind you. You can find gowns with no train, an extremely long one (cathedral), and everything in between.

Now that we’ve got those basic terms down, let’s talk about the fun stuff!

The Ballgown

This is what you think of when you think of fairy tales. It usually has a fitted bodice, and then flairs out at the waist (either naturally or dropped, meaning slightly lower than your natural waist) that flows into a large, full skirt. Great for a dreamy, romantic look.

The A-line

With a fitted bodice like the ballgown, the A-line also flairs at the waist into a much smaller skirt. The skirt typically resembles the shape of a letter “A” (hence the name), and gives off some of the look of a ballgown, without all the weight and poof.

The Trumpet

The bodice of a trumpet is much longer than the previous silhouettes, which accentuates the bride’s figure more. It typically flairs out at the hip into a fuller skirt, giving it a more dramatic look.

The Mermaid

Much like the trumpet, the mermaid has a much longer bodice, but it goes all the way down to the knee, showing even more figure than the trumpet. It typically gives a much more modern and dramatic look, since the skirt flairs so suddenly.

The Sheath

A sheath gown is much narrower than other silhouettes. It flows straight from the neck all the way to the floor, and can be very fitted, or have a little more give to it. It’s great for showing off your figure with a much simpler look.

The Tea-Length

If you’re dreading the thought of a long wedding gown (maybe even just for the reception), a tea-length silhouette is an option. This can be narrow like a sheath or have a fuller skirt, but usually falls between the ankle and the knee, making it less formal and easier to walk or dance in.

If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION NOW

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