The bride's closest friends and female family members gather to eat, dance, and
sing. They put henna on their hands. Bridal Henna should be applied 1-3 days before the wedding to allow the henna stain time to mature and deepen(Some Indian cultures do the practice of henna markings). Traditionally the grooms initials are hidden in the patterns. The stains it leaves on their hands for weeks afterwards tell everyone that they are a new bride, or have been to a close friend or family-member's wedding. Traditionally, and still for many brides, it is a melancholic evening. The following day, the bride will leave her father's house, where she has lived all her life, to live in her new husband's house. It can be both sad and scary for the brides, and at the very least is the end of an era. There is a song that is sung especially at henna nights which demonstrates the melancholy. It is called "Yuksek Tepelere".
A. Before the wedding
I. Matchmaking and asking for the hand of a daughter
II. a. Verbal agreement to betrothal
b. Sherbet
c. Engagement
III. Koran-accompanied wedding gift announcement
IV. Sending and exhibiting the trousseau
V. Bridal bath
B. Wedding
I. Henna night
a. Bride henna
b. Groom henna
II. Receiving the bride
III. Marriage
