Invitation Design

nilaniluv

So I am planning to design my invites myself and was thinking of using some sort of a henna pattern. The thing is we are going to be doing a non-denominational ceremony and nothing really traditional I will only be changing for the reception. Do you think because I am using the henna pattern that people will think its a traditional indian wedding? I don't mind because I already know my crowd will wear sari's regardless but I don't want people to expect a big indian shin-dig ....

ESJ'sBride

Many people will say that the invitation sets the tone for the wedding (i.e -the color scheme, formality, theme etc). Would you incorporate henna anywhere else? Your hands? Maybe on the cake? You could have some more designs to have a slight henna/ indian theme. Like on the menu, programs, thank you cards etc. But if that is the one aspect of the culture you would like to include then go for it. The decision is really yours and FI's in the end.

sistergh

We used a henna pattern for our upcoming fusion celebration.  I can send you a picture/link if you give me your e-mail.  (I just don't want to post it here because the invite company's website uses our exact invitation with dates/times/full names/etc.)  I LOVED the way our invites turned out, by the way.  We're also going to use the same pattern on our cake.  (We didn't DIY, though.)  I think it sort of conveys that there's an Indian element to it, but it doesn't look as Indian-y as some of the other Indian wedding invites I've seen.

Meghana55

I don't think it would come off as it being a traditional indian wedding.  I designed my own invitations as well and had kind of a rangoli theme going.  I think it was a modern twist on a traditional aspect.  My invitation had a SA element, but definitely didn't look overly indian.  I have a pic in my bio of my invites pre-editing, first draft.  I can try and dig up the pictures of what they ended up looking like, but that's the general idea.  Also, if you page Veena (velveena) she can show you pics of her invitations that she designed.  They were henna inspired and they were beautiful!  She had a mixed wedding, and her invitations were SA-inspired but definitely modern/americanized. 

sami05

i am in the same situation (having a regular non-denominational ceremony but some touches of south asian things here and there like on the menu cards and such) and did some modern invites with some henna print. i think by the tone/colors of the invite, you can tell it will be a more of an "american" spin to it.  if you want i can e-mail you PDFs of my set. let me know!

nilaniluv

Yeah I wanted to incorporate the same design on all the paper products and maybe the centerpieces and the cake but not on my hands. I will be very subtle just on the corners where people usually put flourishes. My e-mail is nilani111@hotmail.com

sistergh

You've got mail!  Hope the design helps!

katie978

I think it sounds beautiful and perfect for an Indian-tinged non-denom wedding.  There are so many beautiful mehndi inspired patterns around, I feel like I'm constantly seeing ones I wish we'd used.  I think mehendi paisleys look beautiful and are somewhat familiar to both Indian and American crowds.  I'm also using mehendi peacocks in mine because we're having a peacock theme at the reception.  Look around online, I've found you can find essentially anything done in mehendi.And I agree with pps, people won't think its going to be traditional Indian wedding ... particularly since I presume you won't have bharaat, etc etc listed on the invitation.  The words will convey more than the design.Feel free to post ones your thinking about and I'm sure we'd be happy to give more specific opinions

nilaniluv

Thanks ladies! I will stick to my original design! I just didn't want people to think it was going to be the traditional ceremony and think they have to go and buy new south asian attire.

SmithaandMike

I had the same idea and couldn't really find anything I liked. I live in southern CA so maybe it's just the stores I went to. I looked on Etsy and there is some cute stuff but it was more expensive than just buying it on line. As far as it being too indian, I don't think so. Henna is so main stream now and and paterns are being used on all sorts of items. You might want to check out indianweddingcards.com That's what I ended up going with and there are some nice ones on there that don't look too traditional or religious. GL!