Mehendi ceremony jewellery ideas that are light and comfortable

It helps to picture the mehendi day as it actually happens. You arrive, settle into a low seat or on cushions, and the artist begins with one hand. For the next few hours you cannot use your hands at all. Then there is a drying period, often with lemon and sugar dabbed on, while guests dance around you and take photos. Later, you may dance a little yourself.

So the jewellery has to do three things. It must stay put without you touching it, it must not get in the artist's way, and it must still look good in photos taken from every angle while you sit. That rules out anything heavy, anything that slips, and anything on your hands and wrists.

Remove rings, bangles, haathphool and watches before the artist begins. Metal on the hand blocks the design and can smudge the paste. Plated pieces are also best kept away from the wet mehendi and the oils sometimes used to deepen the colour, because these can mark the finish.

If you want something on your arms for photos, a light bajuband worn above the elbow is the only safe option. It stays well clear of the mehendi and adds a pretty detail in sleeveless or short-sleeve blouses.

These are light enough to forget about, but still look festive:

Whatever you pick, keep the total weight low. A good test is whether you would happily wear the full look to a long lunch. If not, it is too much for a mehendi.

• Meenakari jhumkas or chandbalis in green, pink or yellow, which echo the bright colours most brides wear for mehendi.
• Floral jewellery made of fresh or artificial flowers, such as a flower tikka, flower earrings and a flower choker. Very light and popular for this function.
• A small Kundan maang tikka that frames the face in close-up photos.
• A short, single-layer Kundan necklace or a slim choker if your outfit has an open neckline.
• Statement earrings with a light base, which carry the look on their own if you skip the necklace.
• A pretty hair accessory or juda pin, since your hair is often styled in a braid or bun for this function.

Earrings are the hero of most mehendi looks, so comfort matters. Choose a pair you have worn for at least an hour at home before the day. Jhumkas with a light dome feel much easier than large solid Kundan plates. If you love a heavier pair, add an ear chain or sahara to share the weight.

Also consider the angle. You will often be leaning forward slightly towards the artist, and long earrings that swing into your face or get caught in the dupatta quickly become annoying. Medium-length drops are usually the sweet spot. Our Kundan and Meenakari earrings include lighter jhumka and drop styles that suit this kind of day.

Check the backs as well. Push-back earrings can slowly loosen when you lean on cushions or rest your head, so screw backs or a pair of spare stoppers in your potli can save a lost earring.

Mehendi outfits tend to be bright and playful: green, yellow, orange, pink, or a mix of all of them in a lehariya or bandhani. Jewellery with coloured enamel or mixed beads suits that energy better than very formal bridal Kundan. Save your grandest sets for the wedding itself; the mehendi is where you can be lighter and more fun.

If your outfit is a pastel or ivory instead, a simple AD drop earring or a pearl-heavy Kundan tikka keeps the look soft and fresh.

Once the paste has dried and been gently removed, avoid putting rings and bangles straight back on if your hands are still oily from balm or sugar-lemon. Wipe your hands well first. Wipe any earrings and necklace with a soft, dry cloth before storing them, because perfume, sweat and the scent sprays common at these functions can dull plating over time. Put each piece in a separate pouch so they do not scratch each other before the next function.