Need to plan up a mehndi and Manja event without dances. I know 
but we are from the boy’s side and conservative so, there aren’t any plans for either dancing or any significant singing. The bridal party has agreed. Now, I need ideas how to pep up the event. Any colourful elaborate rasams that can be added?
Totally clueless here, so please help.
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
You can't segregate to allow for dances?
I guess you could do various singing competitions.
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
Would they be okay with dances and singing if it was segregated? If so, you should push for that...you can PM for ideas on how to segregate depending on what the venue of the manja and mehndi are.
The manja for the guy can be very simple(I'm assuming you're having one for the guy since your from his side?)...just have him make his entrance with the dupatta on his head carried by 4 of his sisters/girl cousins/aunts etc. and then have his parents, aunts/uncles, cousins do the 'haldi/uptan' rasam on his face and feed him mithai and put the 'flower necklace' on him, etc...and take a photo with each family and him in the middle. Then serve dinner and chit chat and that's all you really need for a fun low-key manja/mayun...
If you can't segregate the mehndi then here are some ideas:
1) Games: "How well do you know the person you're marrying?" is the name and you can have the bride and groom answer questions about themselves before the mehndi but you can't tell either of them what their responses are. Then during the mehndi you play the game: they can sit on two chairs with their backs facing each other so they can't see eachothers answers, and the MC can read the questions out loud and ask for the responses of the bride and groom...they can either have 'yes' 'no' or other words written on poster paper that they can raise up with their arms to give their answer so the other person can't hear, or they can say it out loud....depends on how you play it...the questions can be really funny depending on how far you go with it and you can still keep them very appropriate.
2) Karaoke? Is that an option? It would be a great alternative to dancing. It's always fun to see your friends or family go up on stage and try to sing and make a fool of themselves :p Definitely makes the mood very fun and relaxed...
3) SKIT! Skits are always fun...if you get a confident guy and girl from either family to play the groom and bride's role and create a funny script it can go really well. Of course you have to plan this really well and all the actors cooperating need to be on board. It can be an imaginary story of how the couple first met OR an imaginary story about what their lives will be like after marriage(you can show them as an old couple...I saw this once where the couple was shown being 70 and it was fun to see how they would look, act, talk to each other at age 70 and it was hilariousss...the crowd was cracking up)...and you'd be surprised that even the most 'conservative' uncles/auntys will crack up and find it funny as long as it's tasteful.
4) Antakshari! The girls side vs guys side can compete or all girls vs all guys. But if singing is a no-no then you can't do this either.
If I think of more I'll let you know. My fiance went to a mehndi in her family where it was just a dinner and the nikah was performed there(I've never seen that before) and that was it for the entire event. No singing, no dancing, nothing. There weren't even entrances...they didn't have time to light candles and have entrances b/c the baraat showed up late or something...and it was in a small community hall of a masjid. Anyway, I was disappointed when I heard b/c I look forward to mehndis as being the fun and eventful event...esp. for us youngsters, BUT I came to realize that the family and the bride and groom that were involved couldn't care less b/c mehndi's just weren't a big deal to them at all. They were completely happy and fine. They didn't need 'entertainment' at the mehndi for it be special for them.
What I'm trying to say here is if the bride and groom and the majority of their families are happy with just having a simple get together where people can have dinner, talk, take a few pictures then leave it at that. Especially if their happier doing it that way for religious reasons. Do what makes everyone happy and don't try pressuring them or yourself by trying to make it "fun" if that's just not a priority for them. The important thing is they're getting married and all the important people in their life will be together on the special occasion and that's all that really matters in the end, right? Sorry for my rant, just my 2 cents. lol.
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
^ I really like those ideas!! :) those are great suggestions and alternatives
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
Would they be okay with dances and singing if it was segregated? If so, you should push for that...you can PM for ideas on how to segregate depending on what the venue of the manja and mehndi are.
Yes, I believe so. It would really help if you can PM me a few ideas. The dances still would not be very choreographed or rehearsed because both the families as not very open to the idea.
Can we do an elaborate entry for both separately (would need ideas for those as well) and loads of rasams (again would need lists of them)?
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
^ I really like those ideas!! :) those are great suggestions and alternatives
^Thanks!
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
Yes, I believe so. It would really help if you can PM me a few ideas. The dances still would not be very choreographed or rehearsed because both the families as not very open to the idea.
Can we do an elaborate entry for both separately (would need ideas for those as well) and loads of rasams (again would need lists of them)?
I'm on the thread so we can talk about it on here. First off, what is the venue? Where is the mehndi taking place? Will there be two separate rooms there? Even if one is smaller and not decorated much it's okay..it still works for the purpose of segregating.
If this is the case, then I suggest having the separate bride and groom entrances together in front of everyone combined, have the rasms combined, dinner combined, and THEN when the entertainment portion starts you can segregate men and women. Of course, to give you further ideas I need to know if the Mehndi is being held in a home, hall, hotel, etc. and how many available rooms there will be at the venue. The main issue we need to work on is to get something going for the guys while the women stay back in the main room to do their thing. Let me know...
As far as cultural rasms are concerned, I'm sure some of the girls here can help you out b/c I don't know much about them...just have a general idea about some: mehndi on the paan leaf, feeding mithai, money around and over the head as sadka, taking pics with the couple, etc.
In my family usually the mother-in-law comes and does her own rasm for her 'bahu' so she'll sit up on stage next to her while the groom's sisters and bhabhis(if any) will assist her and after doing the 'mehndi on paan leaf' rasm they basically present some of the jewelry they're giving to her in the bari and they'll slip one jewelry set on her right then and there...called a 'charawa'(putting something on)...then they'll take pics with it and then they can take it off after the rasm if the bride is already wearing other jewelry or doesn't want to wear something that heavy the whole night. Some families also present and show the bride each outfit they are giving to her in the bari and for this usually the bride's mother will be sitting with her on stage too...it's nice b/c sometimes the bride doesn't get to see her bari until the morning after the Mehndi when everything is over so it's exciting for her to get to see everything actually being gifted to her from the guy's family...I have pics of this if you're interested in seeing what I'm talking about...
But every family has different rasms and I'm not the best person to ask so I hope other ppl on here help you :)
p.s. when is this wedding?
Re: Mehndi Impossible?! What to do?
Gupshup has made a pro out of u Groom Doc 
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