Indian wedding glossary · Before the wedding
What is Shadi card?
Also written: Wedding card, card matter, nimantran patra, शादी कार्ड
A shadi card is the wedding invitation, and its card matter is the wording: the invocation, the hosts, the couple and their parents, each function with date, time and venue, and the family's welcome.
- Who keeps it
- Every community, in its own language and format.
- When
- Sent four to eight weeks before the wedding, after the save the date.
About Shadi card
What should you know about Shadi card?
A traditional Hindi card opens with Shri Ganeshaya Namah, names the hosts, says "sapariwar saadar aamantrit", lists the functions and closes with darshanabhilashi (those eager to see you) and the names of the family. English cards follow the same order in "request the pleasure of your company" language.
Many families now send the card on WhatsApp as a digital invitation, sometimes with a separate link for each family showing only the functions that family is invited to.
In the order of functions
Where does Shadi card come in an Indian wedding?
Sent four to eight weeks before the wedding, after the save the date.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Shadi card?
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥ सौभाग्यकांक्षिणी रिया संग चिरंजीव अर्जुन के शुभ विवाह के पावन अवसर पर आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं।
Related words
Words that go with Shadi card
- Kankotri
Kankotri is the Gujarati word for the wedding invitation card, named after kanku (kumkum), the red powder families mark it with for luck.
- Save the date
A save the date is an early message that tells guests the couple's names, the wedding date and the city, so they can plan travel and leave before the full invitation arrives.
- Lagan
Lagan is the fixed auspicious time of the wedding, and in many families the lagan patrika is the formal letter the bride's family sends to the groom's family to announce that date and time.
- Muhurat
A muhurat is the auspicious date and time chosen by a priest for the wedding, and often for each key ritual, based on the Hindu calendar and the couple's horoscopes.
- Vivah
Vivah is the Hindi and Sanskrit word for marriage, and vivah sanskar is the Hindu wedding seen as one of the life-cycle rites, the sanskaras.
Questions
Shadi card, answered
What is Shadi card?
A shadi card is the wedding invitation, and its card matter is the wording: the invocation, the hosts, the couple and their parents, each function with date, time and venue, and the family's welcome.
Which families celebrate Shadi card?
Every community, in its own language and format.
When does Shadi card happen in the order of wedding functions?
Sent four to eight weeks before the wedding, after the save the date.
What do families write on the invitation for Shadi card?
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥ सौभाग्यकांक्षिणी रिया संग चिरंजीव अर्जुन के शुभ विवाह के पावन अवसर पर आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं।
Put Shadi card on your invitation with its date, time and venue, and send it on WhatsApp. Two invitation designs are free forever.
Make your invitation