An Indian wedding ceremony is an incredible fairytale extravaganza. For at least four days the bride and groom are treated like royalty with family and friends taking part in the colourful celebration which is rich in culture and tradition.

The bride is traditionally dressed in a sari in colours such as pink or deep reds which is embroidered using is a type of thread made of fine gold or silver wire called a Zari.
 

The 'Mehendi' is a pre-wedding ritual where the bride, together with her female friends and family get together and the hands and feet are painted using henna to draw intricate designs. The occasion is usually held in the late afternoon. Although it is primarily a ladies tea-party; the male relatives are allowed to be present. The process using the paste; which is a recipe of henna, oil, lemon juice and some water tinted with tea takes about four hours to complete. Ideally, the bride-to-be should not wash her hands until the paste has completely dried. Mehendi signifies the strength of love in a marriage. The darker the mehendi, the stronger the love and the longer it lasts before fading,also holds significance. Traditionally, the new bride is not allowed to work in her husbands home until her mehendi has faded away completely.

Monaco played host to a magnificent Indian wedding, which featured all the rituals, and traditions which has never been seen in these parts.
 

Photograph by Pat Denton for Monte Carlo Weddings