A Nikah card has to please two audiences at once: the khala who will read every word of the dua, and the college friend who only wants to know where the Walima is and whether there's parking. Here is wording for both, plus the etiquette that trips families up.
Short answer: A Nikah invitation usually opens with Bismillah, names both families, gives the Nikah date and time (often written as a prayer time, such as “after Asr namaz”) and venue, and ends with a request for the guest's presence and duas. The Walima is hosted by the groom's family and often gets its own card or its own guest list. To send it online, put the wording on an invitation link with maps and RSVP and share it on WhatsApp.
Nikah invitation wording in English
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
With the blessings of Allah and our elders,
Mr Imran Sheikh and Mrs Farah Sheikh
request the honour of your presence at the Nikah of their daughterAyesha
with
Zaid
son of Mr Arif Khan and Mrs Nazia Khanon Friday, 15 January 2027, after Asr namaz
at Al Noor Gardens, Banjara Hills, HyderabadYour presence and duas will mean the world to us.
Walima invitation wording
Mr Arif Khan and Mrs Nazia Khan
request the pleasure of your company at the
Dawat-e-Walima of their son
Zaid with Ayeshaon Sunday, 17 January 2027, at 8pm
at The Grand Ballroom, Hyderabad
Urdu phrasing families like on the card
| Phrase | Meaning | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Insha'Allah | If Allah wills | Before the date: “Insha'Allah, the Nikah will take place on…” |
| Ba-tareekh / ba-waqt / ba-maqaam | On the date / at the time / at the place | Formal Urdu cards list the details this way |
| Ba'd namaz-e-Asr | After the Asr prayer | In place of a clock time for the Nikah |
| Aap ki tashreef aawari hamare liye baais-e-masarrat hogi | Your gracious presence will be a source of joy for us | The closing line |
| Dawat-e-Walima | The Walima feast | Heading of the Walima card |
Which verse or dua goes on a Nikah card?
Two are chosen far more than any others.
Surah Ar-Rum, 30:21: “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.”
The wedding dua: Barakallahu lakuma wa baraka alaykuma wa jama'a baynakuma fi khayr, “May Allah bless you both, send blessings upon you, and bring you together in goodness.”
If you print Arabic script, have someone who reads Arabic check the final proof. A missing diacritic is the kind of mistake an elder spots in the first second.
Short Nikah messages for WhatsApp
- Assalamu alaikum! Alhamdulillah, Ayesha and Zaid's Nikah is on 15 January, Insha'Allah. All the details, including the Walima, are in this link. Please let us know if you can come.
- Aap ko aur aap ke ghar walon ko Ayesha ki Nikah mein dil se dawat hai. Saari tafseel is link mein hai.
- Dawat-e-Walima, Sunday 17 January, 8pm. Zaid and Ayesha would love to see you there.
- Manjha and mehndi on Wednesday evening, Insha'Allah. Come early, the dholak starts at 7.
- Respected Khala, your duas mean the most to us. Ayesha's Nikah card is in this link. Please do come.
Nikah and Walima etiquette that catches families out
- Two guest lists are normal. The Nikah is often close family; the Walima is often everyone. Send each group only the functions they're invited to, or someone will turn up at the Nikah expecting dinner.
- Prayer times move. “After Asr” shifts through the season, so add an approximate clock time for guests travelling in.
- Say if seating is separate. If men and women sit separately, mention it, especially for guests who don't know the family's customs.
- Name the host on each card. The bride's family usually hosts the Nikah and the groom's family the Walima. Guests like to know whom to thank.
How do you send a Nikah invitation online?
- Create the invitation at wedence.in/create with both names.
- Add the Nikah, the Walima and any mehndi or manjha as separate functions, each with its own time and venue.
- Pick a design. Mehfil-e-Noor, in midnight navy and gold with a star field, was built for Nikah weddings; Wedding Cinema and Bellagio are the two free designs.
- Share the link on WhatsApp. Guests RSVP per function, so you know the Nikah count and the Walima count separately.
For the two-guest-list problem, Wedence's Event Invites (Signature plan) give each group its own link showing only its functions. Wedence's animated invitation and essential wedding website (your first two functions, the venue and RSVP) are free forever on two designs, Wedding Cinema and Bellagio, with no watermark and no cap on guests.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write on a Nikah invitation?
Open with Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem, name the hosting parents, the bride and groom, the date, the time (often as a prayer time such as "after Asr namaz") and the venue, and close by asking for the guest's presence and duas.
Who hosts the Walima?
The groom's family traditionally hosts the Walima, the feast after the Nikah, so the Walima card is usually in the groom's parents' names.
Which Quran verse is used on wedding cards?
Surah Ar-Rum 30:21 is the most common: "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy."
Can I send a Nikah invitation online for free?
Yes. Wedence's animated invitation and essential wedding website (your first two functions, the venue and RSVP) are free forever on two designs, Wedding Cinema and Bellagio, with no watermark and no cap on guests. The Mehfil-e-Noor design, built for Nikah weddings, is a one-time add-on.
How do I invite some guests only to the Walima?
Send them a link that shows only the Walima. On Wedence, Event Invites (Signature plan) make one link per guest group, each showing only that group's functions.