All The Details from Rajwa Al Saif's Henna Night
On Monday evening, Queen Rania Abdullah held a henna party at the Bani Hashem rackets in the Jordanian capital Amman, with the participation of a number of princesses of the royal family, and about 600 women who attended from all over Jordan's governorates, villages and valleys, as the first royal celebrations of the marriage of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah to miss Rajwa Al Saif, to take place on the first of June.
After the arrival of Queen Rania Al Abdullah and members of the royal family, including Princess Iman and Princess Salma, Rajwa entered with a zaffa and with roses being thrown and scattered from here and there, and traditional melodies specially written and sung by Jordanian singer Nedaa Sharara.
The celebration, which began its preparations about two and a half months ago, kicked off with a performance by Halim music band, which evoked the spirit of the East and the Arab heritage with its string instruments and also Jordanian singers Diana Karazon and Zain Awad performed numerous songs.
During the festive dinner ceremony, Queen Rania welcomed her guests with a touching speech in which she addressed the bride Rajwa, saying:
"I’m so happy that you could all be here to celebrate with us. Today is a special day for us, and to our entire Jordanian family: Our joy is one and the same… near or far, you are all in our hearts today."
She went on to share a few words about her future daughter-in-law, calling her "the sweetest and most beautiful bride-to-be" and saying that she is as precious to her as her own daughters. "I’ll never forget how happy His Majesty and I were when Al Hussein told us he wanted to marry Rajwa. She is the perfect answer to all my prayers for him," she said. Assuring Al-Saif’s mother, Azza Al Sudairi, she added, "We and Al Hussein will take the very best care of Rajwa. This is her country, and she is among her family and her people."
During her speech, Queen Rania Al Abdullah recalled a promise she had made to the late King Hussein bin Talal that Hussein Jr. would be raised in the same way as his grandfather, and said: "I have kept my promise".
9 young women walked around the area, carrying baskets of straw filled with henna of various kinds to decorate the hands of women with henna.
Basma Danna, who has been known to paint henna for years and practiced it through the annual Jordanian "Jara" market, said that the young women came from several Jordanian governorates, and all of them are professional henna artists.
Queen Rania also shared on her Instagram account a set of photos that mostly show The Crown Prince's fiance, Rajwa Al Saif, during the ceremony.
Rajwa Al Saif's Look
Crafted by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi, Al-Saif’s henna dress is a vision in white and gold.
Rajwa Al Saif celebrated with family and friends in a look that takes inspiration from the traditional Najdi dress, known as Sahabi thoub, which originates from the Najd region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Keeping in mind the occasion and the family, the designer Honayda Serafi made sure to combine the cultural beauty of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to celebrate the union of Rajwa and Prince Hussein beautifully.
Featuring a handcrafted veil and dress, Rajwa Al Saif’s pristine white henna outfit comes doused in 3D ornaments, made using a mix of silk, metallic threads, and traditional reed strings (a signature element of Najdi embroidery).
To create this masterpiece, Honayda Serafi took cues from the bride’s personality, attempting to reflect her innate grace, the rich traditions of her land, and her contemporary spirit.
Featuring a high round neck and full sleeves, the crepe gown features an inverted triangle-shaped bodice that is inspired by the traditional Najdi bodice design, normally worn as a separate piece. As the body-skimming gown continues, it flares out towards the ankles to create a mermaid-esque shape. The bodice of the gown is elevated using embroidery: soft organza flowers share space with geometric shapes and Arabic motifs, all of which are typical to Saudi Arabia and reflect the beauty and traditions of the bride’s homeland.
Rajwa Al Saif’s veil has also been embroidered with meaningful designs, making this piece so personal to her journey. Seven Jordanian stars adorn her veil to signify the seven-pointed star that sits proudly on the Jordanian flag. What makes this symbol even more special is its religious meaning: The star on the Jordan flag signifies the seven verses in the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an and the seven mountains of Amman.
Along with the stars, the veil also features intricate palm trees as a reference to Saudi Arabia and even some poetry. The words "I see you, and life becomes more beautiful" have been embroidered into Al Saif’s veil, from Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi, known for his Andalusian notes.
If you’re a fan of Rajwa Al Saif’s elegant wardrobe, you may already know that the bride-to-be has a soft spot for special symbols when it comes to her clothing. Back in August 2022, when Rajwa was officially engaged to Prince Hussein, she also commemorated the occasion with her clothing an abaya that was embroidered with two gold birds, symbolizing two souls in love.
According to the designer, Rajwa Al Saif’s veil took 760 hours to complete and was worked on by a team of experts, craftsmen, and women. Extending to 10 meters, the piece was made using handcrafted tulle, a process that normally takes close to 2,000 hours of work. As for her billowing gown, the creation is the result of 340 hours of work.
Speaking on the occasion, Serafi shared, "I am very proud and honored to be part of this historic union between His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II of the honorable Hashemite family, and Miss Rajwa Khalid Alseif. May they be blessed with happiness and their union be crowned with success."
Queen Rania's Look
Queen Rania wore a light blue embroidered dress by Lebanese fashion designer Saiid Kobeisy.
Jordan’s Queen Rania dazzled in a blue crepe georgette kaftan dress with pleated details beaded with hues of blue crystals and sequins, in a pre-wedding henna celebration in honor of her future daughter-in-law Ms Rajwa Al-Saif.
A symphony of azure hues danced across the kaftan as if the dress itself had captured the essence of a serene oasis. Beaded with meticulous artistry, the interplay of blue crystals and sequins created a celestial constellation, sparkling and shimmering in harmony with each step Queen Rania took.
Decor and Theme
The henna ceremony was held in a geometric-shaped area, designed specifically for the outdoor celebration in the Bani Hashem rackets, the ceiling was decorated with dried golden wheat stalks and sparkling lamps, the aroma of Arabic coffee and incense spread among the attendees, wooden designs laced with earthen colored ropes and braided longitudinally, handicrafts with the art of macrame, in addition to straw dishes colored red, blue and earthenware, showed a Jordanian delight that combined the creativity and joy of those who made them. The tables were decorated with carved copper pots, straw baskets, roses, and olive tree branches.
9 young women walked around carrying baskets of straw and henna of various kinds to decorate the hands of women with henna designs.
As for the Jordanian Ibtihal Mansour, the owner of the" touch of Silk, she was thrilled when she found out she was chosen for the henna ceremony to make handmade macrame textiles from thick cotton threads, to decorate straw baskets and napkin holder rings, which were woven in the shape of wheat.
