A Pakistani wedding isn't one event — it's a string of celebrations, and each has its own tone: the Mangni is intimate, the Mehndi is a party, the Baraat and Nikah are the heart, and the Walima is the grand reception. This guide gives you the desi invitation structure and wording for every function, plus Urdu and bilingual lines. It's the hub — the linked guides go deeper on each event.
The events of a Pakistani shaadi
| Event | What it is | Usually hosted by | Wording vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangni | The engagement | Either family | Warm, understated |
| Mayun / Ubtan | Pre-wedding ritual, close family | Bride's family | Intimate, family-only |
| Mehndi | Henna & dance night | Both / either family | Bright, playful |
| Baraat | The groom's procession & main wedding day | Bride's family | Grand, celebratory |
| Nikah | The Islamic marriage contract | Either family | Formal, prayerful |
| Walima | The reception feast | Groom's family | Elegant, gracious |
The structure of a desi invitation
- 1An opening — for Muslim families, the bismillah (بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ); for others, a warm blessing.
- 2The hosts — traditionally the parents (“Mr. & Mrs. [Surname] request the pleasure of your company…”).
- 3The couple — full names, often with “son of / daughter of”.
- 4The events — each function with its date, time and venue (a full shaadi lists several).
- 5A closing prayer or line — “InshaAllah”, or “Your presence will complete our joy.”
- 6RSVP — how and by when — effortless if the invitation is digital.
Formal shaadi card wording
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Mr. & Mrs. [Surname]
request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter
[Bride]
with
[Groom], son of Mr. & Mrs. [Surname]
Baraat: Saturday, 13 September 2026 · 8:00 PM · [Venue]
Walima: Sunday, 14 September · 7:30 PM · [Venue]
InshaAllah — RSVP inside
Two families, one happy union — Alhamdulillah.
The [Surname] & [Surname] families joyfully invite you
to celebrate the wedding of [Bride] & [Groom]
across our Mehndi, Baraat and Walima.
Every date, venue and RSVP is inside 👇
Wording for each event
Each function has its own feel — here are quick starters; the linked guides go deeper.
Mangni (engagement)
With joy, we invite you to the Mangni of [Bride] & [Groom]
as our families come together.
[Date] · [Time] · [Venue]
Mehndi
Henna, dhol and colour! 🌼
Join us for [Bride]'s Mehndi — [Date], [Time], [Venue].
Wear your brightest hues.
30+ more in our Mehndi invitation wording guide.
Baraat
The day has come!
Join the [Surname] family for the Baraat of [Bride] & [Groom]
Saturday, 13 September · 8:00 PM · [Venue]
Dinner & celebration to follow.
Nikah & Walima
بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
You are cordially invited to the Nikah of [Groom] & [Bride],
followed by the Walima reception.
[Date] · [Time] · [Venue] · InshaAllah
The full ceremony structure — bismillah, verses and 15+ examples — is in our Nikah & Walima invitation wording guide.
Urdu & bilingual wording
Many families invite bilingually — Urdu for elders, English for the younger generation. A few lines you can lift:
آپ کی تشریف آوری ہماری عزت افزائی ہوگی — Your presence will be our honour.
ہم آپ کو اپنی خوشیوں میں شریک ہونے کی دعوت دیتے ہیں — We invite you to share in our joy.
دعاؤں کی درخواست ہے — We request your prayers.
براہِ کرم اپنی شرکت کی تصدیق کریں — Kindly confirm your attendance (RSVP).
One invitation for all your days
The neatest way to invite guests to a full shaadi is one link that holds every event — Mehndi, Baraat, Walima — each with its own date, venue and dress code, and an RSVP for each. That's exactly what a multi-day digital invitation does: guests tap once, see the whole schedule, and tell you which functions they'll attend. It also renders Urdu and Arabic correctly, right-to-left, so “بِسْمِ اللَّٰهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِیم” looks exactly as it should.
Sending it out? Pair your invitation link with a warm salaam — our WhatsApp wedding invitation messages guide has desi copy-paste messages for every guest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wording for a Pakistani wedding invitation?
It typically opens with the bismillah or a blessing, names the hosts (usually the parents), presents the couple with “son of / daughter of”, lists each event (Mehndi, Baraat, Nikah, Walima) with its date, time and venue, and closes with a prayer and an RSVP. A full shaadi invitation covers several functions rather than one.
How do you list multiple wedding events on one invitation?
Give each event its own line or card with its name, date, time and venue — for example Mehndi, then Baraat, then Walima. A digital multi-day invitation does this cleanly, letting each function carry its own details, dress code and RSVP in a single link.
Who is named as the host on a desi wedding card?
Traditionally the parents host and invite (“Mr. & Mrs. [Surname] request the honour of your presence…”), though the Baraat is usually hosted by the bride's family and the Walima by the groom's. Modern couples sometimes invite in their own names — all are acceptable.
Should a Pakistani wedding invitation be in Urdu or English?
Many families use both — Urdu for older relatives and English for the younger generation. A digital invitation handles bilingual and right-to-left text properly, so you can include Urdu and Arabic alongside English without formatting issues.
How far in advance should shaadi invitations go out?
Six to eight weeks before for local guests, and two to three months ahead for relatives travelling or needing visas — international family needs time to arrange flights and time off.