Baraat invitation wording: arrival time, dinner time and both families

The Baraat is the big night: the bride's family hosts, the groom arrives with his family and friends, and the evening ends with the Rukhsati. Its invitation is usually the most formal card in the set and the one most guests keep, so it is worth getting the details exactly right.

The trickiest part is time. Baraat cards in Pakistan are famous for saying 8 pm when everyone knows dinner will be at 10:30. There is a better way.

Who sends the Baraat card?

Traditionally, the bride's family sends the Baraat (or Shaadi) card, because they are the hosts. The groom's family also invites their own guests to come along with the baraat, and those guests need to know where to gather and when the baraat leaves. That means two slightly different invitations for the same night, and both are covered below.

Arrival of the baraat vs dinner time

Guests decide when to leave home by the time on the card. If the only time printed is “8 pm” and dinner is served at 10:30, punctual guests sit hungry for two hours, while everyone else arrives at 10 and the hall feels empty when the baraat walks in.

The fix is to print separate times for each moment: when guests should arrive, when the baraat arrives, when dinner is served and, if you like, when the Rukhsati will be. Guests then choose for themselves, and the people who matter most to you will be there for the entrance.

Naming both families

The bride's parents host, so their names appear as the inviters. The groom is named with his father (S/O), which is how the groom's family is honoured on the card. Some families also add a line naming the groom's family explicitly, such as “with the Qureshi family”, which is a gracious touch when the families are close.

The groom's side: joining the baraat

The groom's family invites their guests to accompany the baraat. The key information is different: where to gather, when the baraat departs, and whether transport is arranged. If guests can go straight to the hall instead, say that too.

A shorter version for WhatsApp

The card itself can stay formal while the message that goes with it is short and personal. Something like this works well above a link:

Common mistakes to avoid

• Only one time on the card, with no indication of when dinner is.
• Missing the venue's area or city. There are a lot of halls with similar names.
• Forgetting the Rukhsati time when out-of-town relatives need to plan their drive home.
• Spelling the groom's father's name differently from the Nikah card.
• Not saying who to call when the baraat is running late and guests are asking.

If you are sending digitally, the Baraat can be one function inside a single invitation that also covers the Mehndi, Nikah and Walima, each with its own date, time, venue and map. Guests reply yes or no for the Baraat separately, and you see the confirmed headcount for that night alone. More in the FAQ, or read our guide to getting replies in Pakistan.