43 guides

What to write on the invitation, for every Indian ceremony

Every page here answers the same three things: what the ceremony actually is, when it happens and who does what, and the exact words you can copy onto the invitation.

No filler, no lists of expensive objects. Written by people who build these invitations for real families.

Start here 1

What a digital invitation actually is, and what it costs in India.

Wedding Invitation Website A plain guide to wedding invitation websites in India: what you get, what they cost, how they compare to printed cards, and what to send your designer. 5 min read

Wedding ceremonies 5

Each function explained, and the words to put on its invitation.

Haldi Invitation What a Haldi ceremony is, when it happens, who applies the turmeric, and exactly what to write on the invitation. Includes wording you can copy and regional names. 4 min read Mehndi Invitation What happens at a Mehndi, how long bridal henna actually takes, the hidden initials tradition, and wording you can copy for the invitation. 4 min read Sangeet Invitation What a Sangeet is, how the evening is usually structured, how many performances is too many, and wording you can copy for the invitation. 4 min read Engagement Invitation The difference between Roka, Sagai, Mangni and Tilak, when each happens, who hosts, and engagement invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Reception Invitation Who traditionally hosts the reception, why it is before the wedding in South India, how it differs from the wedding invitation, and reception wording you can copy. 3 min read

By community 15

The rituals, the order they happen in, and wording in the right language.

By faith 6

Anand Karaj, Nikah, Walima and the Christian ceremonies, written plainly.

Anand Karaj Invitation What happens at an Anand Karaj, what each of the four Laavan means, gurdwara etiquette to put on the invitation, and Sikh wedding invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read Nikah Invitation What happens at a Nikah, what Mehr and the Nikah Nama actually are, how Walima differs, and Nikah invitation wording you can copy in English, Urdu and Hindi. 4 min read Walima Invitation What the Walima is and why it is a Sunnah, how it differs from the Nikah, when it is held, and Walima invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Aqiqah Invitation What Aqiqah is, when it is held, how the meat is distributed, the shaving of the hair and the silver charity, and Aqiqah invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Christian Wedding Invitation What the banns are, what happens at a Roce and a Chuddo, how Syrian Christian weddings differ, and Christian wedding invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read Baptism Invitation What happens at a baptism, how godparents are chosen, how Syrian Christian practice differs, and christening wording you can copy. 3 min read

Baby and childhood 5

From the baby shower to the thread ceremony, and what to write for each.

Godh Bharai Invitation What a Godh Bharai is, how it differs from Seemantham and Valaikappu, when in the pregnancy it is held, and invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Namkaran Invitation What happens at a Namkaran, why the first syllable is chosen from the birth star, when it is held, and naming ceremony invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read Annaprashan Invitation What happens at an Annaprashan, why the maternal uncle feeds the first bite, the tray of objects the baby chooses from, and invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Mundan Invitation What the Mundan ceremony is, at what age it is held, why families travel to particular temples, the maternal uncle's role, and invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read Upanayanam Invitation What the sacred thread ceremony involves, what the three strands mean, the Gayatri Mantra and the Bhiksha, and thread ceremony invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read

Home and puja 2

Housewarming and puja invitations, including the months families avoid.

Griha Pravesh Invitation The three kinds of Griha Pravesh, what the boiling milk and the rice pot mean, which months are avoided, and housewarming invitation wording you can copy. 3 min read Satyanarayan Puja Invitation When a Satyanarayan Puja is held, what the five chapters of the Katha contain, why the prasad is made in a 1.25 ratio, and invitation wording you can copy. 4 min read

Other celebrations 2

Birthdays and anniversaries, including the milestone ceremonies.

Birthday Invitation What to write on a birthday invitation, why the first birthday matters, the South Indian milestone ceremonies at 60, 70 and 80, and wording you can copy. 4 min read Anniversary Invitation How to word an anniversary invitation, what a silver and golden jubilee usually involves in Indian families, when children host, and wording you can copy. 3 min read

Wording and planning 7

The rules, the timelines, the muhurat, and full samples you can copy.

Wedding Invitation Wording How to word a wedding invitation: the host line, naming parents, what to do when a parent has passed, and full samples you can copy. 5 min read Save the Date When to send a save the date in India, who should get one, what belongs on it and what does not, and save the date wording you can copy. 3 min read Invitation Checklist When to send save the dates, invitations and function specific invites for an Indian wedding, how many to print, and the deadlines that decide your catering numbers. 4 min read Wedding Muhurat How a Hindu wedding muhurat is calculated, what Chaturmas, Kharmas, Holashtak and Shraadh mean for your date, and how muhurat timing should shape your invitation. 5 min read Destination Wedding Invitation What a destination wedding invitation must include, how far ahead to send it, how to handle costs honestly, and wording you can copy. 4 min read Digital vs Printed What printed cards still do better, what a digital invitation does better, real cost maths for an Indian wedding, and why most families should do both. 4 min read Unique Invitation Ideas Wedding invitation ideas beyond the standard card: what makes a design feel personal, and what looks impressive but fails in practice. 4 min read