Mehndi, Mayun and Dholki invitation wording (with dress code lines)
Playful and traditional wording for Dholki, Mayun and Mehndi invitations in English and Urdu, plus dress code and timing lines that guests actually follow.
· 5 min read
Wording
Mehndi, Mayun and Dholki invitation wording
In this article
The Nikah card is formal; the Mehndi card gets to smile. Dholki, Mayun and Mehndi are the warm, noisy, musical part of a Pakistani wedding, and their invitations can say so. They also carry more practical information than any other card: who it is for, what to wear, and roughly when the fun really starts.
Here is how the three differ, what each invitation should cover, and sample wording in English and Urdu.
Dholki, Mayun and Mehndi: what's the difference?
| Function | What happens | Usual tone | Who's invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dholki | Evenings of songs around the dholak in the weeks before the wedding | Casual, homely | Close family, cousins, neighbours, friends |
| Mayun | The bride (or groom) is anointed with ubtan and haldi; she then stays in for the days before the wedding | Traditional, intimate | Close family and the bride's friends, often ladies only |
| Mehndi | Henna, dances, rasm with the other family; one each for bride and groom, or a joint one | Festive, colourful | Wider family and friends from both sides |
Families mix these freely. Some combine Mayun and Mehndi into one evening; some skip Mayun altogether. Write the invitation for the function you are actually holding, rather than the one tradition says you should.
What a Mehndi invitation should include
- Whose Mehndi it is: the bride's, the groom's or a joint one. Guests often get two Mehndi invitations in the same week.
- Who is hosting: the family name, so guests know which side they are going to.
- Date, a realistic start time and the venue: home, rooftop, lawn or hall.
- A dress code line, if you have one.
- Ladies only? Say so clearly, kindly and up front.
- A contact number for directions on the night.
Dholki wording
Dholki invitations are usually sent on WhatsApp a week or two ahead, often for several evenings at once. Keep them short and friendly.
Dholak, songs and chai! Join us for Ayesha's Dholki nights Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December 2026, from 8 pm Siddiqui House, Model Town, Lahore Bring your voices, we'll bring the tapay. The Siddiqui family
ڈھولک، گیت اور چائے! عائشہ کی ڈھولکی میں ضرور تشریف لائیں ہفتہ ۵ دسمبر سے منگل ۸ دسمبر ۲۰۲۶ء تک، رات ۸ بجے سے بمقام: صدیقی ہاؤس، ماڈل ٹاؤن، لاہور آپ آواز لائیں، ٹپے ہم سنائیں گے۔ منجانب: صدیقی خاندان
Mayun wording
Mayun is intimate and traditional, so the wording can be a little more formal. Mention the yellow if you want guests to wear it, and make it clear if the evening is for ladies.
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem With love, we invite you to the Mayun of our daughter Ayesha Wednesday, 9 December 2026, 6 pm Siddiqui House, Model Town, Lahore Dress code: shades of yellow and green This is a ladies-only gathering. Your company will make our happiness complete. The Siddiqui family
بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم ہم محبت کے ساتھ آپ کو اپنی بیٹی عائشہ کی رسمِ مایوں میں مدعو کرتے ہیں۔ بروز بدھ، ۹ دسمبر ۲۰۲۶ء، شام ۶ بجے بمقام: صدیقی ہاؤس، ماڈل ٹاؤن، لاہور لباس: پیلے اور سبز رنگ یہ تقریب صرف خواتین کے لیے ہے۔ آپ کی آمد ہماری خوشیوں کو دوبالا کر دے گی۔ منجانب: صدیقی خاندان
Mehndi wording: bride's side and groom's side
The bride's Mehndi is hosted by her family; the groom's family usually arrives with mehndi thaals and plenty of noise. The groom's family may hold their own Mehndi too. Each side words its own invitation.
The Siddiqui family invites you to an evening of henna, music and dance Ayesha's Mehndi Thursday, 10 December 2026 Guests from 7:30 pm · Arrival of the groom's family 8:30 pm · Dinner 10 pm The Lawn, Siddiqui House, Model Town, Lahore Dress code: bright colours, festive desi Come ready to dance!
صدیقی خاندان آپ کو مہندی، موسیقی اور رقص کی ایک شام میں مدعو کرتا ہے عائشہ کی مہندی بروز جمعرات، ۱۰ دسمبر ۲۰۲۶ء مہمانوں کی آمد: شام ساڑھے سات بجے · دولہا والوں کی آمد: ساڑھے آٹھ بجے · طعام: رات دس بجے بمقام: صدیقی ہاؤس کا لان، ماڈل ٹاؤن، لاہور لباس: شوخ رنگ، روایتی دیسی رقص کے لیے تیار ہو کر آئیں!
Dholak, mehndi and masti! The Qureshi family invites you to Hamza's Mehndi Wednesday, 9 December 2026, from 8 pm Qureshi Residence, DHA Phase 5, Lahore Dress code: whites with a splash of colour We can't wait to celebrate with you.
ڈھولک، مہندی اور خوب رونق! قریشی خاندان آپ کو حمزہ کی مہندی میں مدعو کرتا ہے بروز بدھ، ۹ دسمبر ۲۰۲۶ء، رات ۸ بجے سے بمقام: قریشی ہاؤس، ڈی ایچ اے فیز ۵، لاہور لباس: سفید، کسی شوخ رنگ کے ساتھ آپ کے ساتھ خوشیاں منانے کا بے صبری سے انتظار ہے۔
Dress code and timing lines that work
A dress code works best as a gentle colour suggestion rather than a rule. “Shades of yellow and green” is easy to follow; “mustard with emerald accents” sends aunties shopping. For timing, honesty helps: if the dholak won't really start until 9, say “from 8:30 pm” rather than “7 pm sharp”. Splitting guest arrival, the groom's family's arrival and dinner, as in the bride's Mehndi above, tells people exactly what they will miss if they come late.
Dress code: shades of yellow and green Dress code: bright colours, festive desi Ladies only, please Dinner will be served at 10 pm Parking available inside the venue
لباس: پیلے اور سبز رنگ لباس: شوخ رنگ، روایتی دیسی یہ تقریب صرف خواتین کے لیے ہے طعام رات دس بجے پیش کیا جائے گا پارکنگ کی سہولت تقریب گاہ کے اندر موجود ہے
Sending it
Mehndi invitations live on WhatsApp, and a short video does far better there than a still image. On InviteGala every function you tick (Dholki, Mayun, Mehndi and the rest) gets its own scene, its own video with music and its own card, all from one invitation. You can build and preview everything free before deciding; see how it works.
Make the Mehndi invitation as colourful as the night
Pick an animated design, add your functions and dress codes, and preview it free.
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