With the blessing of her grandmother, Hajja Zeinab El-Shennawy
Mona El-Shennawy & her daughters
invite you to a ladies’ henna night for their beloved
Yasmine
on the eve of her wedding to
Hassan El-Gohary
Thursday, 10 February 2028 · from 7:00 pm
Beit El-Shennawy, Cairo
The family courtyard
- Thursday, 10 February 2028the night before the wedding
- 7:00 pmuntil late
- Beit El-ShennawyAl-Muizz Street, El-Gamaleya, Cairo, Egypt
Kindly reply by 24 January 2028
The night, on Yasmine’s henna tray
At a henna night everything comes round on a brass tray. Watch it turn, piece by piece.
7:00 pmCandles at the doorEvery guest is handed a lit candle at the gate, and the courtyard fills with light.
7:30 pmHenna for everyoneTwo henna artists paint every hand that wants it, from Teta's to the youngest cousin's.
8:30 pmThe zaffaThe daff and the zaghareet bring Yasmine in, her sisters and cousins singing around her.
9:00 pmThe henna trayTeta Zeinab lights the candles on the tray and puts the henna on Yasmine's palms, with incense for luck.
9:30 pmDinner and sweetsFatta and mahshi, then basbousa and konafa warm from the oven.
10:30 pmEverybody dancesRose sherbet goes round, then the circle opens and the daff plays until late.
The henna stays in the middle of the tray. That is for Yasmine.
8:30 pm
Yasmine comes in with the zaffa
The lights go low and the daff starts: her sisters and cousins lead the zaffa through the gate with candles, and Yasmine comes in under a shower of rose petals to the zaghareet of every woman in the house. Be there for it; it is the moment of the night.
Come in henna-night colours
It is the most colourful night of the wedding: come in a jalabiya or a kaftan of emerald, ruby, saffron or sapphire. Velvet, brocade and embroidery are all welcome, and so is a scarf with a little gold in it.
- Leave white to the bride tonight.
- Comfortable shoes: there will be a zaffa, and dancing.
- Clean hands, no lotion, so the henna takes.
Bring your voice: the zaffa songs are on cards at your seat.
Set your card on Yasmine’s tray
Your reply is piped in henna on a little card and set on the tray with the others.
With love, Mona El-Shennawy & her daughtersand YasmineReply by 24 January 2028
