A planning guide
Planning a kına gecesi in London
The kına gecesi — the henna night before the wedding — is one of the most loved evenings of a Turkish wedding. Every family hosts it differently, so treat this as a checklist of questions, not a set of rules.
The questions to settle first
- Who hosts, and who is invited? Traditionally the bride’s family hosts. Some families keep it to women; many now invite everyone.
- Home, hall or restaurant? A front room for 40, a hired room for 120, or a banqueting hall for 300 change everything else — budget, music and food.
- Which traditions? The henna tray carried in with candles, the red veil, the songs, the coin pressed into the henna, a bindallı or modern dress. Decide what you keep.
- Music. Recorded songs, a singer, or a live band — and whether the kına songs are sung by family.
- Food. A full dinner, mezze and sweets, or tea and baklava — London catering benchmarks run roughly £40–£120 a head for a served meal Benchmark.
- The date. Usually a night or two before the wedding — check it leaves time for the bride’s hair and henna to set.
A simple timeline
- 6–9 months out: decide the size, book the room or hall
- 3–4 months out: music, catering, the dress, the tray and decorations
- 1 month out: confirm every supplier in writing, share the evening’s running order
- On the night: one person (us, if you like) holds the plan so the family can enjoy it