Bilingual Wedding Invitations: How to Word an English & Hindi Invitation
Published on · 3 min read
For many families — in India and abroad — a wedding brings together grandparents who read Hindi and friends who read English. A bilingual invitation lets everyone feel addressed without sending two different cards.
Three layout options
| Layout | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Side by side | Hindi on one side, English on the other | Printed cards |
| Stacked | Hindi first, English beneath each section | Phones and digital invitations |
| Language switch | Guests tap to switch language | Digital invitations with long details |
What to translate — and what not to
Translate the invitation line, event names and practical details (dates, times, venues). Keep names, shlokas and religious invocations in their original script. Don't translate word for word: "सादर आमंत्रण" becomes "You are cordially invited", not a literal rendering.
Ready-to-use bilingual wording
"॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥ शुभ विवाह · Wedding Invitation"
"आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं। You and your family are cordially invited."
"सौ. कां. [Bride] संग चि. [Groom] [Bride] weds [Groom]"
"आपकी गरिमामयी उपस्थिति प्रार्थनीय है। Your gracious presence is requested."
Tips for families abroad
Proof-read the Hindi on a phone screen — some fonts break conjunct letters. Show times with the time zone if guests join from overseas, and call elders before sending the link. For full Hindi card wording, see our Hindi wedding card matter guide.
A digital invitation can show both languages in one place, so grandparents and friends receive the same link.
Translating event names
| Hindi | English on the card |
|---|---|
| हल्दी (Haldi) | Haldi — turmeric ceremony |
| मेहंदी (Mehendi) | Mehendi — henna evening |
| संगीत (Sangeet) | Sangeet — music and dance night |
| बारात (Baraat) | Baraat — the groom's procession |
| फेरे (Pheras) | Wedding ceremony — the seven vows |
| प्रीतिभोज (Pritibhoj) | Reception dinner |
Fonts and printing
Choose a Devanagari font designed to pair with your English font, and check conjunct letters on the final proof — some fonts render combinations like "प्र" or "र्थ" incorrectly. Ask your printer for a printed proof rather than approving on screen.
Messages to send with a bilingual invitation
"नमस्ते 🙏 हमारी सुपुत्री [Bride] का शुभ विवाह [date] को [city] में है। आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं। निमंत्रण: [link]"
"We're delighted to invite you to [Bride] and [Groom]'s wedding on [date] in [city]. All the details and RSVP: [link]"
When to choose separate invitations instead
If your guest lists for different events are very different — for example, a traditional ceremony for family and a reception for friends — separate invitations in each language can be clearer than one bilingual card.
Wedding Hashtag Generator
Find a hashtag that works in both languages.