A Guide to Children's Outfits for a Henna Night

Choosing a Colour and the Henna Tradition

Red is the classic colour of a henna night, but who gets to wear it is not the same everywhere. In some families red is considered the bride's colour alone, and it is not welcomed on the people around her. In other regions it is part of the tradition for the children of the family to wear red or burgundy as well.

The safest approach is to ask the bride's family, or whoever is organising the evening, a single short question before settling on the dress. Besides red, burgundy, wine, mustard, deep green and gold tones usually suit the warm atmosphere of a henna night. Very light, pale tones can fade into the background in a crowded, warm hall and are also more prone to stains.

• Check in advance whether red would clash with the bride
• Burgundy, wine, mustard, deep green and gold are safe alternatives
• Very light tones are riskier against henna and food stains
• In photos taken through the evening, darker tones look less worn

The Ceremony Runs Long, So Comfort Comes First

Henna nights usually last several hours, and a child spends most of that time on her feet, playing or being carried. That is why the inside of the dress matters as much as the outside. A soft lining where the tulle meets the skin largely prevents itching and redness behind the legs.

The waist and back should not be too stiff, and the armhole should not pinch. When the child raises her arms, sits down or starts to run, the dress should not restrict her. When a dress is sewn to measure, these points are settled from the start; with ready-made sizes, these are the areas that cause the most trouble.

If you want a full skirt, creating that fullness with an underlayer rather than with stiff tulle will bother the child far less. And when she gets sleepy towards midnight, an outfit she can sit and doze in comfortably makes the evening easier.

• Ask for a soft lining under the tulle skirt
• The armhole, waist and back should not pinch
• Keep the skirt at a length that will not catch when the child climbs steps
• Make sure no one steps on the hem during dancing and play

Season, Venue and Fabric

When a henna night is held in a crowded indoor space, the hall gets much warmer than expected. In summer, heavy velvet or a many-layered design will leave a child restless within an hour. Lighter fabrics and fewer layers are the better choice in that season.

In winter, a thin tulle dress on its own may not be enough. A bolero or shawl in the same fabric, or a long-sleeved design, helps on the way to the venue. At henna nights held outdoors or in a garden, very long skirts pick up dirt at the hem from the soil and grass.

• For an indoor hall in summer: light fabric and few layers
• In winter: a bolero, a shawl or a long-sleeved design
• In a garden setting, keep the hem short enough not to trail on the ground

Protecting the Dress During the Henna Ceremony

Henna can leave a permanent mark on fabric, and it usually cannot be removed. If the child will stand near the henna tray, hold the bride's hand or help hand out the henna, that risk needs to be weighed up beforehand. A light-coloured skirt in fine fabric can become the talk of the rest of the evening after a single touch.

A practical solution is to put a shawl or a plain cover over the child when the henna ceremony begins, or to keep her a step away from the henna tray throughout. After the henna is applied, hands stay damp for a while; keeping a handkerchief nearby is enough to stop her wiping her hand on the dress in that interval.

• Have a shawl or cover ready to put over her shoulders during the henna
• With a light-coloured skirt, keep her a step away from the tray
• Keep a handkerchief on hand until the henna dries
• Putting the dress on at the venue rather than at the start of the evening also reduces stains

A Few Small Notes for Henna Nights

The warm lighting of henna venues, together with camera flash, causes glare on heavily sequinned fabrics. Fabrics with texture that do not shine too much photograph better in close-ups. In the family photo, staying in a nearby tone usually looks more harmonious than trying to match the bride's henna outfit exactly.

At henna nights children often sit on floor cushions or on the carpet, and step forward with candles and a tambourine. In that setting, shoes that are easy to slip on and off make life simpler. We have gathered our general suggestions about shoes and hair separately in the Children's Outfits for Weddings guide.

When deciding on hair, take into account the dampness of the henna and the heat of the hall. Loose hair falling over the face needs constant attention during the henna and the meal; a style that is pinned up but not tight tires the child less as the evening goes on.

• Textured, low-shine fabric rather than very glossy sequins
• Shoes that slip on and off easily, with non-slip soles
• Hair kept off the face but not pinned too tightly
• A tone close to the bride's henna outfit rather than the same one