Wording & messages
Wedding Invitation Wording: What to Write, with Indian Examples
What to write in a wedding invitation: the details to include, the order to put them in, and wording for Hindu, South Indian, Sikh and modern weddings.
What to include: the checklist
| Element | Example | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Invocation or blessing | ॥ Shri Ganeshaya Namah ॥ · Ik Onkar · a verse or prayer from your faith | Use what your family uses, or leave it out |
| Hosts | Mr & Mrs Rajesh Mehta | Traditionally the parents; today couples often host too |
| Invitation line | "request the pleasure of your company" | Formal or warm. Choose one tone and keep it |
| The couple | Ananya, daughter of …, with Aarav, son of … | Full names; double-check every spelling |
| Ceremonies | Haldi · Saturday, 4 December 2027 · 10 am | Day, date and time for each event |
| Venue | Name, area, city, plus a map link | One venue per event, each with its own map |
| Dress code | "Shades of yellow" | Optional; helpful for themed events |
| RSVP | "Kindly reply by 15 November" + contact names | Always give a date |
| Closing | "With best compliments from…" / दर्शनाभिलाषी | Traditional in many families |
The order of a traditional Indian wedding invitation
- Invocation: a blessing at the top, such as ॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥.
- Hosts: the parents (sometimes grandparents) who are inviting.
- The couple: the bride and groom, with their parents' names.
- The request: the line that invites the guest.
- Ceremonies: each event with day, date, time and venue.
- RSVP and contacts.
- Family names: relatives who look forward to your presence. In Hindi cards these appear under दर्शनाभिलाषी ("eager to see you") or स्वागतोत्सुक ("eager to welcome you").
On a digital invitation the same order works. Each block simply becomes its own short section, and each venue gets a tappable map instead of a long address.
Wording examples you can adapt
Traditional Hindu, hosted by the parents
Traditional designs such as April Royale, with Shri Ganesh at the top, suit this kind of wording.
Hosted by the couple (modern)
South Indian
South Indian invitations often give the muhurtham as a time window. Do the same so guests arrive for the most important moment. Vaikuntha Mahal is designed for South Indian temple weddings.
Sikh (Anand Karaj)
For a Punjabi or Sikh wedding, Anand Vilas carries Ik Onkar, phulkari and a baraat procession.
Other traditions
For a Nikah, a church wedding or an interfaith celebration, keep the same structure: the blessing your family uses, the hosts, the couple, the ceremony and the venue. Ask an elder or your officiant to check religious lines before you send.
An intimate wedding
A destination wedding
Reception only
Remembering a parent or grandparent who has passed away
Many families honour them in the opening lines: With the blessings of the late Shri [Name]… Include this only if the family wishes it, and agree the wording together.
Lines for each ceremony
- Haldi: Join us for the Haldi on [Date] at [Time]. Wear yellow, and expect to get a little haldi on you!
- Mehendi: Mehendi, music and good company: [Date], from [Time] at [Venue].
- Sangeet: An evening of music and dance for [Bride] & [Groom], [Date] at [Time]. Dress code: [Theme].
- Reception: Please join us for dinner and celebrations at the reception on [Date] at [Time].
RSVP, dress code and gift lines
- RSVP: Kindly reply by [date] to [Name, number], or through the invitation link. (New to RSVP? Here's what it means and how it works.)
- Dress code: Dress code: shades of yellow (Haldi) · Indian festive (wedding).
- Gifts: Your blessings are the only gift we wish for. Keep it gentle, and only include it if both families agree.
Wording mistakes to avoid
- Day and date that don't match. Check every one against a calendar.
- AM/PM confusion and midnight muhurats. For a ceremony after midnight, write it as the night of Saturday 4 December (muhurat 12.30 am, Sunday 5 December).
- Different spellings of the same name across events.
- Mixed honorifics. Pick Shri/Smt or Mr/Mrs and use it throughout.
- No RSVP date, or no contact for questions.
- Too much text on one screen. On a phone, short blocks are easier to read.
How wording changes on a digital invitation
A printed card squeezes everything onto one or two panels. A digital invitation spreads it out:
- the blessing and couple's names on the opening screen
- the family introduction on its own
- each ceremony as a separate card with a map button
- a reply button at the end
You can also correct a typo after sending. See how VowStory works, or read the complete guide to digital invitations. When you send it, pair it with one of our WhatsApp messages.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write on an Indian wedding invitation card?
An invocation, the hosts, the bride's and groom's names with their parents, a line inviting the guest, each ceremony's date, time and venue, how to RSVP, and the family members who look forward to welcoming the guest.
How do you word an invitation when the couple is hosting?
Start with "Together with their families, [Bride] and [Groom] invite you…", then give the date, city, ceremonies and RSVP details.
Should both families' names be on the invitation?
Traditionally, yes. The bride is introduced as the daughter of her parents and the groom as the son of his. Many modern invitations do the same even when the couple hosts.
What does दर्शनाभिलाषी mean on a wedding card?
It means "eager to see you". Under it, the family lists relatives who look forward to your presence at the wedding.
