Snap into Shape
It has been proven that getting your heart rate up, working your muscles to capacity, and eating healthily can kick your brain into “I’m a superstar!” gear. So even if you won’t have 300 eyes staring at your bare biceps on your wedding day, fitting in regular pre-matrimonial workouts can keep you focused and feeling great. Do not go on crazy diets to loose weight but eat healthy.

Ring ready Manicure
As soon as you get engaged you are in limelight. Everyone wants to see your ring so this is the time you start keeping your nails well buffed & polished. Apply hand lotion regularly to keep your hands & cuticles soft. Make sure you get a gel Manicure for your wedding this will avoid any chipping and will last long.

Mane Mantra
Start collecting pictures of the hairstyles you like few months in advance. Must have a consultation 3 months prior to your wedding date to evaluate your style, have trial discuss any options like Keratin treatment, color highlights you may need for your wedding hairstyles. Settle for a perfect look for wedding, mehendi & sangeet. Try to have different looks for different occasions. Depending on your dress selection. Take a picture of your trial hairstyle so that you & your stylists are on the same page. Keep your hair moisturized & conditioned to look healthy & shiny. Remember your hairstyle is going to enhance your clothes, expensive Jewellery & makeup.

Go For the Glow
Check a dermatologist if you have any skin issue 6 months before wedding Check with a Dermatologist if you have skin issues. Start laser hair removal or waxing depending on your preference. This way your skin gets use to hair removal. Do not try new treatments last minute this may cause problems. Get with a good esthetician & start getting facials on regular bases. All the Peel & heal facials need to be done way ahead of time to avoid any last minute surprises. keep your skin hydrated & radiant with good home care.

Luscious Body treatment
modern brides were very beautiful sarees & lehanga with deep necks & backs. Please be sure to exfoliate your body on a regular basis. If you have back acne then start getting back facials. Stress relief massages are a must to keep you distressed

Makeup Tricks & tips
Your make up should be an enhancement of what you normally wear. For example, if you usually go for the natural look, stick to natural colors but slightly stronger. You don’t want to try out blue mascara and red lipstick! Remember your fiancé is marrying you, so he should at least recognize you! Saying that you should define your features stronger than what you usually do, so they show up in photographs. You should feel comfortable in the make up you are wearing; this is not the time to try out anything drastic. If you are having your make up done professionally, make sure you have a practice run before your big day. A good idea is to have a dress rehearsal and take photos, so you can then check that it will look good.

A dear friend of mine who recently got married, she cried the whole way through. Waterproof mascara is a must! You want your make up to last all day. Artificial lashes give a glamorous look. fabulous long lasting make up items around, which will ensure that you don’t need to “touch up” during the day. Believe me you won’t have time to re-apply your make up.

Shape your brows
Visit a specialist, especially if you want to reshape your brows, Over plucked brows will need time to grow in. Try threading (hairs are wrapped with thread and pulled), or find an aesthetician who pairs waxing with tweezing to shape brows better. Go for follow-ups every three weeks.

Brighten your smile
First, get a teeth cleaning, even if you’re not due for one. Drugstore whiteners, like strips and gels, take about three weeks to work.

Pack an emergency kit
Fill a cosmetics bag with supplies: tissues , a nail file, dental floss, breath mints, and bobby pins. Ask your makeup artist for pressed powder, lipstick, and concealer to put in a custom makeup palette. Also, bring your nail polish for quick fixes.

Enjoy your wedding you paid for it

Pareen Merchant
Cosmetologist/
laser Specialist CCE, CME
Sanctuary Salon & Day Spa
www.sanctuarysalondayspa.com
407-909-1011

Snap into Shape

Ring ready Manicure

Mane Mantra

wedding, mehendi & sangeet

Jewellery & makeup

Go For the Glow

Luscious Body treatment

sarees & lehanga

Makeup Tricks & tips

Shape your brows

Brighten your smile

Pack an emergency kit

nail polish

lipstick

Pareen Merchant

Recently, Desh-Videsh sat down with the winner of the 2012 Charlotte Mehndi Competition, Poonam Parmar. Poonam provides her services nationwide. Learn more about Poonam and what inspires her designs.

For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on how you got started in the wedding industry? I have over 10 years of experience in this industry. I started at a very young age. I was fascinated with the art of henna, so I began professional training in Mumbai India. Over the years, I mastered the art. Once I had the experience and appreciation from others began to come my way, I decided to turn this passion into a career and become a professional artist.

How does it feel to be the winner of the MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition? It was a wonderful experience, and I truly feel humbled. A big thanks to the MyShadi Expo for providing a stage for this competition.

Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a Professional Henna Artist? Basically I am very good at sketches and innovating new designs. I am constantly trying new methods. A henna artist needs lots of passion and should value hard work – that is totally me! The best part is seeing the joy on a bride’s face and experiencing true satisfaction with your own work. For me, this is the only field where there are tremendous opportunities to enhance your artistic abilities and and grow as a person everyday.

What inspired your winning Mehndi design? There was no true inspiration. The design just came to mind, and I worked hard and let my heart make it a reality. In the end, the design came out beautifully.

What other wedding related services you offer? I only provide henna services. I offer bridal packages as well as a package for doing henna on wedding guests. In addition, I do sell gift articles such as wooden boxes and candles decorated with henna.

What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? Bringing fresh and new designs to the table definitely helped me in my first year. I have learned to always listen to your clients needs so that I can try to modify designs as per their likes and dislikes. Trial and error is not something that works in this business!

The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect Indian weddings and your business? I have not seen any obvious change yet. While many people may have found ways to cut their budget and cut corners, everyone is always enthusiastic about henna. As such, I have not noticed any differences in budget when it comes to bridal mehndi.

What suggestions do you have for brides planning their wedding? I definitely suggest that they plan and book early. If they are not sure about something, they should meet personally with the henna artist or event managers to view samples to get a full idea of what to expect. The best thing is to take a look at magazines like Desh-Videsh and attending bridal shows. Venues like this are legit and have a large number of resources.

Do you have any suggestions for brides who are planning their wedding mehndi? Meet with the mehndi artist and find out if they use their own designs/creations. There are so many factors to consider, so if possible, try to meet with the artist in person and book in advance.

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Poonam Parmar

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Recently, Desh-Videsh sat down with the winner of the 2012 Orlando Mehndi Competition, Niketa Amin, who started refining her artistic skills at an early age. Niketa, an expert at mehndi, also offers brides hair, makeup, and other beauty services to brides-to-be in the Orlando/Tampa area. She plans on expanding services nationwide soon.

For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on how you got started in the wedding industry?
As a child, I would tag along with my mom and help her with hair, make-up, henna designs, arts and crafts. I used to enjoy doing mehndi designs on everyone and everything. I started out by doing henna for friends and family for fun and also designed pots and wall decorative pieces with creative designs. As I got older and better with practice, it was only natural that I turn my hobby into my profession. With my parents’ support and encouragement, I started my own business for all bridal services.

How does it feel to be the winner for the MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition?
I feel very happy about winning the competition. Being chosen from other a field of other mehndi professionals who also had beautiful designs made me feel very confident and honored. I wanted to make my parents and husband proud of me and they are, so the feeling is more like winning their hearts than winning a competition.

Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a Professional Henna Artist?
My finishing work, speed and my creativity made my parents say that I can be very successful professional mehndi artist. I have done mehndi designs semi-professionally since the age of 13 in India and professi-onally in London since the age of 19. What really inspired me to become a Professional Artist was when I was working long side with another famous mehndi artist, Ash Kumar. We were working at the same mehndi party. I remember him complimenting me saying I was really fast and he liked my finishing work.

What inspired your winning Mehndi design?
Big thanks to my husband who actually encouraged me to show my henna art to everyone at the bridal show as I was not going to enter originally. His enthusiasm and confidence in me inspired me to enter the competition. He helped me go over different mehndi designs and finally suggested that incorporating a peacock design with beautiful glittery colors would look original and attractive. Since mehndi designs with color are a fashionable trend, the peacock inspiration helped to win the competition.

What other wedding related services you offer?
I offer full bridal packages that include hair, make-up, all types of mehndi, and sari draping. For brides-to-be, I also recommend and provide a free hair and make-up trial. In addition to that, I also offer pre-bridal services including threading, full body waxing, facials, manicure, pedicure, and haircuts.

What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business?
In my first year of business, I learned that providing great quality service was above all else. When brides and their families felt confident with their looks and mehndi designs, I received more referrals and thus more success in the business. In the past year, I learned people expect great service but now they also want great value. In today’s day and age, people are looking for good deals, and the wedding industry is no exception. Now I have modeled my business to provide great quality service along with better value.

What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why?
My favorite wedding was obviously my own, but my favorite (and funny) moment occurred during my wedding time for someone else’s wedding. I was getting married on the 21st, and I was getting my mehndi done at my house. A previous client came to me at that time saying that she wanted me to do her mehndi design because she was getting married on the 20th. She insisted that she always wanted me to do her mehndi for her wedding even though I recommended other people to her. So she waited until my mehndi dried and then she got hers done by me. So even during my own wedding, I ended up doing another bride’s mehndi giving both of us a story to remember.

The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect Indian weddings and your business?
The economic climate has affected a lot of businesses including the Indian wedding business. People nowadays are looking for the less services than before with more preference on value. What I have done is to adjust by offering brides and their families full services at a lower cost. This helps many families dealing with an already high wedding cost.

What suggestions do you have for brides planning their wedding?
Always go in for a trial, and check the quality of the work as well as the cost. Your wedding day is very important, but do not plan only for that day. You have to plan for what you will look like in your wedding pictures two or 25 years from now. Your wedding may only be one day, but you live in your wedding album forever. Your mehndi may look okay or good enough when you look at it in person, but look at how it will appear in pictures or videos. The same goes for make-up – do not assume that brand name will do everything, you have to look at the skill of the person applying the make-up. So remember, even though all brides look good on their wedding day, you should plan to look great for the future.

Do you have any suggestions for brides who are planning their wedding Mehndi?
Plan on having your mehndi done two to three days before your wedding day to maximize the color effect. While instant mehndi is available for those with a time crunch, it just doesn’t last long. Brides are also encouraged to choose their own designs. With more colors and decorative jewels/stones available, brides can create a one of a kind design that can match their wedding dress. For all my full-service bridal clients, I give them the option of adding glitter color on the day of the wedding when I’m getting them ready, so as to amplify the mehndi design in their pictures and video.

body waxing

brides hair

desh-videsh

facials

glitter color

haircuts

indian wedding

makeup

manicure

mehndi competition

mehndi designs

mehndi professionals

niketa amin

pedicure

pre-bridal services

wedding industry

beauty

Recently, Desh-Videsh sat down with the winner of the 2013 Fort Lauderdale MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition, Heather Tench Camillo, henna artist with The Henna Company in Miami, Florida. Learn more about Heather and what inspired her winning design.

Desh-Videsh: For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on how you got started in the wedding industry? Heather Camillo: As a young woman I was always drawing. I even thought of becoming a permanent tattoo artist. While trying to pick my own permanent tattoo placement, I discovered henna and fell in love with it. I then read every book I could find on it, about designs, the history and recipes, so I could mix it myself to get the best color at it’s freshest.

DV: How does it feel to be the winner for the MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition? Camillo: Being a self-taught henna artist, it feels wonderful to be a representative of a traditional art and introduce it to new generations. I am proud to have learned this art form, and I look forward to sharing it with others.

DV: Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a Professional Henna Artist? Camillo: After hearing from my friends and family that I should pursue body art professionally, I decided to go for it. I was really nervous at first about doing bridal henna, but I really enjoy being able to share my artwork with a bride during such a big moment in life. I am happy to preserve this tradition.

DV: What inspired your winning Mehndi design? Camillo: When it comes to henna, I can be very competitive and a perfectionist. I chose a blend of designs making one beautiful piece that was both traditional and had a modern feel.

DV: What other wedding related services you offer? Camillo: In addition to bridal henna, I also provide make-up services. I also work with a Bollywood dance group, who can provide dance lessons.

DV: What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business & What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business? Camillo: In my first year I learned that understanding the clients needs is important. Being able to provide different design styles to fit what she has in mind and to fit the budget. I am constantly pushing my self to learn new designs to make this possible.

DV: What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why? Camillo: I received an email from an out of town college student who is also an aspiring henna artist. She was so busy with her classes and had a short engagement period. Before she knew it, her wedding was coming up fast. By the time she contacted me, I had a very busy week of weddings already. After showing me the design she wanted, we agreed on an early morning time before one of my other appointments. I did her bridal henna, and she loved it. After her wedding, she sent me pictures of the ceremony. We are now friends and keep in contact.

DV: The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect Indian weddings and your business? Camillo: The economic downturn has definitely been difficult for everyone. By offering different henna packages that make it possible to have that dream wedding without breaking the bank has worked for me. Fortunately, the economy is on the rise again.

DV: Do you provide your services locally, across Florida, or even all over the United States? Camillo: I am based in Miami, Florida, and I do travel to near by cities. I can travel along the east coast with ample notice.

DV: What suggestions do you have for brides planning their wedding? Camillo: If it’s in your budget, think about contacting a wedding planner. Be sure to find them early!

DV: Do you have any suggestions for brides who are planning their wedding Mehndi? Camillo: Book your henna artist as soon as possible! Most brides book an artist about 6 to 12 months in advance. If you should find yourself looking for an artist at the last minute, it really helps to have an idea of what style of mehndi you would like or even some pictures to help visualize what you are looking for.

The Henna Company is based in Miami, Florida. To learn more about Heather and her services, visit www.thehennacompanymiami.com or call (786) 271-8929.

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u.s. Indian wedding industry

myshadi bridal expo mehndi competition

indian weddings

mehndi design

henna artist in Florida

bridal henna In florida

bollywood dance group

Recently, Desh-Videsh sat down with the winner of the 2013 Tampa MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition, Vaishali Mehta. Learn more about Vaishali and how she got started in the henna business.

Desh-Videsh: For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on how you got started in the wedding industry?
Vaishali Mehta: There were never any intentions about entering the wedding industry. It started out as a hobby that I enjoyed for personal satisfaction. I believe you have to enjoy what you do. A friend needed a personal favor at the last minute and requested for me to pitch in and do the mehndi for her wedding. My work was appreciated and acted as a reference, and before I knew it, I was not only doing what I liked, but it was also earning me money, becoming more than a hobby and giving me insight into how much talent and dedication goes into our events.

DV: How does it feel to be the winner for the MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition?
Mehta: I feel very honored when my work is appreciated at such a large platform, especially when it is given to me after comparing me to many of my equally talented colleagues.

DV: Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a Professional Henna Artist?
Mehta: Much of my personal satisfaction turned into appreciation, which led to confidence, good word of mouth references and a lot of learning about how to manage an independent business. The drive to move forward as a business came from my background in graphic design, my experience, and exposure to different aspects of our culture. Knowing that I have a creativity and imagination as well as skill helps me to reflect my individual personality in my work.

DV: What inspired your winning Mehndi design?
A wedding in a woman’s life is an event that is often imagined and dream about. Sometimes, when just sitting idle thinking about that day or the one you are going to spend it with can lead to the feeling of inner tickle and joy that makes you feel good. I wanted to capture the process of creating those dreams and of the good moments to come.

DV: What other wedding related services you offer?
Mehta: My main focus is henna; however, it is also in the presentation that enhances the Henna. So, I do use a lot of adjunct materials, like glitter and different accessories to express my work. In addition, I have also been involved with decorations involving gifts that are exchanged between the families.

DV: What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business?
Mehta: The first year in business is like learning how to swim in the ocean. As a homemaker with the opportunity to further your likes, you quickly find out that it is not just about talent. You need to find the platform and ability to fund the expression for that talent. It also required prioritizing life, being able to balance family life, and striving for success in my professional goals. Over the last year, management, scheduling, and monetary management were key learning features, that is in addition to expanding into different ways of expressing my work.

DV: What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why?
Mehta: I cannot lie, I still remember the day that I got married. The feeling of knowing that you are about to spend the rest of your life with someone you have chosen to do so, not just inherited, can be exciting yet nerve wrecking. Knowing that a new journey is about to start, you are treated as a princess, all your needs are met by a simple request, and the pampering from friends and family is an additional bonus. The entire journey can be so joyous. Each wedding I have been to, I have enjoyed how different women experience this joy and the glow they reflect on their face. Watching those feelings of inner content and the dreams about to come true are always the best.

DV: The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect Indian weddings and your business?
Mehta: I have seen a wide spectrum. There have been people who have down scaled their celebrations to a more financially practical approach. Others have tried to maintain the same standards as their previous family weddings – not to be left behind but also not to be completely lavish. Others, destination weddings have been a recent craze and people do make arrangements for the entertainment and comforts of their guests. As per my business, I have tried to always spend my time with the marrying couple and their families if needed and gotten a perspective of what they would like to express and tailor my services accordingly.

DV: Do you provide your services locally, across Florida, or even all over the United States?
Mehta: Currently, I am trying to focus in Florida. However, the idea is to grow the business, so that is a destination that needs to be reached.

DV: What suggestions do you have for brides planning their wedding?
Mehta: It is your wedding and your dream. Listen to what your family has to say and be practical about the budget and all of the process. However, also remember, this event is a commitment for life and most of you have probably dreamt of that special day. So, please make sure everything does go according to your plans. Be meticulous about the details and communicate about the expectations from your family members and friends, manage time efficiently and after all the hard work, don’t forget to enjoy the precious day.

DV: Do you have any suggestions for brides who are planning their wedding Mehndi?
Mehta: It should reflect your personality, one of your groom and the world you are about to build together. It should make your groom hold your hands and just look at them over and over until he can say these are the hands I want to hold forever.

Recently, Desh-Videsh sat down with the winner of the 2013 Tampa MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehndi Competition, Vaishali Mehta.

Learn more about Vaishali and what inspired her winning design. Phone: 813-948-8436, E-mail: mehtavaishali20@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition, Manisha Panjwani of Manisha’s Mehendi Designs! Learn more about Manisha, her winning design, and the services her company offers.

Tell us about yourself and your background.
I am originally from Mumbai, India. I attended St. Louis High School in West Mumbai (Andheri) and also have a degree in Commerce. I am happily married and have a four-year-old daughter. For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on the formation of your business?

I first began my mehendi business in India about 10 years ago. I began by practicing on my family and friends, and when I realized how much I enjoyed applying henna, I decided to go into business for myself. In the United States, I have been in business for over three years. What I like most about my work is seeing my clients’ faces light up when I am able to give them exactly the particular design they are looking for. My work is so rewarding.

How does it feel to be the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition?
It feels great! I am so honored to be the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition. Thank you for choosing me!

Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a professional mehendi artist?

I was inspired to become a professional Mehendi artist when I realized that I could turn my passion into a business venture. Since I really enjoy what I do, it doesn’t feel like work to me. It feels more like a ‘calling’ because I get to bring smiles to a lot of people’s faces by creating designs especially for them.

What inspired your winning mehendi design?
Bridal designs have always been an inspiration to me, as this is one of the most important days of a woman’s life. It is the one day a woman gets to feel like a queen, and I am inspired by the joy and happiness my Mehendi bridal designs bring to the bride and to her entire bridal party.

What other wedding related services you offer?
My service is not limited to brides as I happily provide mehendi services for family members and wedding guests.

What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business?
The biggest lesson I learned in my first year in business was patience. I had to be patient with myself mostly as I learned how to become a more experienced and creative Mehendi artist. The biggest lesson I learned in this past year of business is that I must continue to develop myself professionally during the lean months when business is slow. Since the bridal industry is seasonal, I like to use my downtime to learn new techniques and to attend professional development conferences.

What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why?
My favorite wedding that stands out was my cousin’s Sania’s wedding. It was so special to me because we grew up together in India and had remained close since coming to live in Atlanta. It stood out to me the most because I was the artist she chose to apply not only her Mehendi, but also to her entire wedding party, which were members of my family, too. I will always cherish that memory.

The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect your business?
The economic climate affected my business to the extent that I had to come up with some creative ways to make sure that my prices were reasonably low when bidding wedding jobs. Brides deserve the best quality for their money, so I would sometimes offer to provide a free sample to assure them that they were in good hands.

In what regions (city, entire state, all over the US), do you provide your services?
I provide my services in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas. I am also willing to travel as far as the need arises.

What advice do you have for brides planning their wedding?
The best advice I can give to brides planning their wedding is to have fun! Too many times brides get caught up in the details of wedding planning and become so stressed that they forget to enjoy the beauty of their own wedding. A part of my job as a Mehendi artist is not only to create stunning designs for brides, but also to remind them to be patient, relax, and enjoy! Find Manisha’s Mehendi Designs on Facebook or e-mail manishasmehendidesigns@gmail.com for more information.

About the Author
Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique public relations firm that specializes in developing campaigns to capture untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based specifically on the client’s needs. For more information, visit www.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition, Manisha Panjwani of Manisha’s Mehendi Designs! Learn more about Manisha, her winning design, and the services her company offers.

Tell us about yourself and your background.
I am originally from Mumbai, India. I attended St. Louis High School in West Mumbai (Andheri) and also have a degree in Commerce. I am happily married and have a four-year-old daughter. For those who are not familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit on the formation of your business?

I first began my mehendi business in India about 10 years ago. I began by practicing on my family and friends, and when I realized how much I enjoyed applying henna, I decided to go into business for myself. In the United States, I have been in business for over three years. What I like most about my work is seeing my clients’ faces light up when I am able to give them exactly the particular design they are looking for. My work is so rewarding.

How does it feel to be the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition?
It feels great! I am so honored to be the winner of the 2014 Atlanta MyShadi Bridal Expo Mehendi Competition. Thank you for choosing me!

Your passion for this art form is evident. What inspired you to become a professional mehendi artist?
I was inspired to become a professional Mehendi artist when I realized that I could turn my passion into a business venture. Since I really enjoy what I do, it doesn’t feel like work to me. It feels more like a ‘calling’ because I get to bring smiles to a lot of people’s faces by creating designs especially for them.

What inspired your winning mehendi design?
Bridal designs have always been an inspiration to me, as this is one of the most important days of a woman’s life. It is the one day a woman gets to feel like a queen, and I am inspired by the joy and happiness my Mehendi bridal designs bring to the bride and to her entire bridal party.

What other wedding related services you offer?
My service is not limited to brides as I happily provide mehendi services for family members and wedding guests.

What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business?
The biggest lesson I learned in my first year in business was patience. I had to be patient with myself mostly as I learned how to become a more experienced and creative Mehendi artist. The biggest lesson I learned in this past year of business is that I must continue to develop myself professionally during the lean months when business is slow. Since the bridal industry is seasonal, I like to use my downtime to learn new techniques and to attend professional development conferences.

What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why?
My favorite wedding that stands out was my cousin’s Sania’s wedding. It was so special to me because we grew up together in India and had remained close since coming to live in Atlanta. It stood out to me the most because I was the artist she chose to apply not only her Mehendi, but also to her entire wedding party, which were members of my family, too. I will always cherish that memory.

The economic climate affected the U.S. wedding industry in a profound way over the past years, including the normally untouchable high-end segment of the market. To what extent did it affect your business?
The economic climate affected my business to the extent that I had to come up with some creative ways to make sure that my prices were reasonably low when bidding wedding jobs. Brides deserve the best quality for their money, so I would sometimes offer to provide a free sample to assure them that they were in good hands.

In what regions (city, entire state, all over the US), do you provide your services?
I provide my services in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas. I am also willing to travel as far as the need arises.

What advice do you have for brides planning their wedding?
The best advice I can give to brides planning their wedding is to have fun! Too many times brides get caught up in the details of wedding planning and become so stressed that they forget to enjoy the beauty of their own wedding. A part of my job as a Mehendi artist is not only to create stunning designs for brides, but also to remind them to be patient, relax, and enjoy! Find Manisha’s Mehendi Designs on Facebook or e-mail manishasmehendidesigns@gmail.com for more information.

About the Author
Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique public relations firm that specializes in developing campaigns to capture untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based specifically on the client’s needs. For more information, visitwww.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670.