Tikka designs for brides: mehndi, barat and walima

A tikka sits right on the parting of your hair, so it is in almost every wedding photo. Here is how to pick one for each day of the wedding.

First, the size

A small face and forehead suit a small or medium tikka. A heavy bridal dupatta needs a tikka with a little more presence, or it disappears under the fabric. A centre parting shows a tikka best.

Mehndi: colour and a lighter piece

Mehndi outfits are bright, so a tikka with green onyx or pearls works well. Keep it light: you will be dancing.

Barat: polki and pearls

The barat is the day for your biggest pieces. A medium polki tikka with pearls goes with polki jhumkas and a collar set in the same gold finish.

Walima: softer and lighter

Walima outfits are often pastel or silver. A lighter tikka with zircons, worn with pearl or silver-look earrings, looks fresh and calm.

A small tikka for sisters and guests

The bride's sisters and friends often wear a small tikka at the mehndi or the dholki. A small tikka with studs or a small jhumka is enough.

Matching the tikka with your earrings

Match the finish, gold with gold and silver look with silver look, rather than the exact design. If your earrings are big, a smaller tikka keeps the look balanced.