Wedding Planning Tips & Inspiration

The wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests get of your celebration — it sets the tone, shares the excitement, and carries the weight of tradition. For generations, printed cards with gold foil and intricate designs have been the standard in Indian weddings. But today, digital invitations are becoming the go-to choice for modern couples. So which one is right for you?

Printed invitations carry a sense of prestige and formality. There's something undeniably special about receiving an ornate card in the mail, complete with a satin ribbon and a faint scent of sandalwood. They work beautifully for intimate weddings and close family members. However, they come with significant costs — printing, envelopes, and postage can add up quickly, especially for large Indian weddings with 500+ guests. Turnaround times are longer, and last-minute guest list changes become a logistical headache.

Digital invitations, on the other hand, offer unmatched convenience. You can customize animated designs, include RSVP tracking, event schedules, maps, and even background music — all shareable instantly via WhatsApp. They're eco-friendly, cost-effective, and allow for real-time updates. Platforms like Invytely let you create stunning, culturally rich digital invitations that feel every bit as special as printed ones. The best approach? Many couples now use digital invitations as their primary method and reserve a small batch of printed cards for elders and VIPs — the best of both worlds.

Planning an Indian wedding is a massive undertaking — multiple ceremonies, hundreds of guests, and traditions that span days. Without a structured timeline, things can quickly spiral out of control. Here's your month-by-month roadmap to keep everything on track.

Six months out, lock in the big decisions: finalize your budget, book the venue, and hire your photographer and caterer. This is also the time to start shortlisting your wedding outfit designers, as lehengas and sherwanis often require 3-4 months for custom work. Begin drafting your guest list — it will change, but having a baseline helps with venue capacity planning. Five to four months before, confirm your decorator, DJ or band, and mehendi artist. Send out save-the-dates (digital ones work great here!) and start planning your sangeet performances.

Three to two months before, finalize your wedding invitation design and send them out. Arrange accommodation for outstation guests, book travel if you're having a destination wedding, and schedule dress fittings. Confirm your pandit or officiant, finalize the menu with your caterer, and create a detailed ceremony timeline. In the final month, do a venue walkthrough, confirm all vendor timings, prepare your trousseau, and delegate day-of responsibilities to trusted family members or a wedding coordinator. The week before, pamper yourself — facials, mehendi trials, and most importantly, take a breath. You've got this.

If you've ever tried managing RSVPs for a large Indian wedding using phone calls and mental notes, you know the chaos that follows. Uncle confirmed for 4 but is now bringing 7. Aunty said yes, then maybe, then wants to know if there's Jain food. Sound familiar? Here's how to tame the madness.

First, go digital with your RSVPs. Platforms like Invytely let guests confirm attendance directly through the invitation link — no more chasing people on calls. You get a real-time dashboard showing confirmed, declined, and pending responses. Set a clear RSVP deadline (ideally 3-4 weeks before the wedding) and send polite reminders at the 2-week and 1-week marks. For plus-ones, be specific in your invitation about who's invited — "Mr. and Mrs. Sharma & Family" vs. "Mr. Rahul Sharma" makes a big difference.

Track dietary preferences upfront. Add a simple dropdown in your RSVP form for vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Jain, and vegan options. This data is gold for your caterer and prevents day-of scrambles. For guests who haven't responded, a personal WhatsApp message works better than a generic reminder. Keep a shared spreadsheet (or use your invitation platform's built-in tools) so multiple family members can update the list without creating conflicting versions. Finally, always plan for 5-10% more guests than confirmed — because in Indian weddings, surprises are guaranteed.

The pre-wedding ceremonies are where the real fun begins. While the wedding itself is steeped in ritual and grandeur, the mehendi, haldi, and sangeet are where families come together to laugh, dance, and create memories. Here's how to plan each one perfectly.

The mehendi ceremony is typically held 1-2 days before the wedding. Traditionally, the bride and close female relatives get intricate henna designs applied while singing folk songs. Modern mehendi parties have evolved into vibrant co-ed affairs with live music, food stations, and even mehendi artists for the groom's side. Pro tip: start the bride's mehendi early — elaborate bridal designs take 4-6 hours. Set up comfortable seating with good lighting, have snacks within arm's reach (since the bride can't use her hands!), and arrange entertainment for guests who are waiting. Include the mehendi ceremony details in your digital invitation with a separate event card and timing.

The haldi ceremony happens on the morning of the wedding. A paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is applied to the bride and groom (separately, at their respective homes) for a natural glow. Keep things casual and fun — wear old clothes in yellow or white, play Bollywood music, and let everyone get messy. The sangeet is the party of the wedding week. Choreographed dance performances, live bands, and lots of food make it a highlight. Start planning performances 2-3 months in advance, hold group rehearsals, and assign a coordinator to manage the sequence on the day. Your digital invitation can include the sangeet playlist, performance schedule, and even a dress code suggestion.

The words on your wedding invitation carry deep meaning — they announce the union of two families, invoke blessings, and set the tone for the celebration. Getting the wording right is an art that balances tradition with personal style.

For traditional Hindu weddings, many families begin with a Sanskrit shloka such as "Shri Ganeshaya Namaha" or "Om Shri Sai Nathaya Namaha" followed by the names of the bride's and groom's parents extending the invitation. The classic format reads: "Mr. and Mrs. [Parent Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride Name] with [Groom Name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Parent Name]." South Indian invitations often include both Tamil or Telugu text alongside English, with references to the families' gotras and nakshatras. For a more contemporary feel, couples are writing their own invitations: "With hearts full of joy, [Bride] and [Groom] invite you to celebrate their love story" — warm, personal, and inclusive.

Bilingual invitations are increasingly popular, especially for families with elders who prefer regional languages. Structure them with the regional language on one side and English on the other. Digital invitations make this easy — you can even have separate language cards within the same invite. Keep your wording concise but complete: include the couple's names, parents' names (if desired), date, time, venue with a map link, and RSVP instructions. Avoid overly flowery language that obscures the essential details. And remember, your invitation wording should reflect who you are as a couple — whether that's deeply traditional, refreshingly modern, or a beautiful blend of both.

WhatsApp is the default communication channel for Indian families, making it the perfect platform to share your digital wedding invitation. But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here's how to share your invitation with grace and efficiency.

Timing matters. Send your invitations 4-6 weeks before the wedding — early enough for guests to plan, but not so early that they forget. Avoid sending late at night or early in the morning. The sweet spot is between 10 AM and 8 PM. When sending to individuals, always include a personal message: "Dear [Name], we would be honored to have you at our wedding. Here's our invitation — please do let us know if you can make it!" This personal touch makes a world of difference compared to a cold, forwarded link. For close family, a phone call followed by the digital invitation is the ideal combo.

For group sharing, create a WhatsApp broadcast list (not a group!) — this sends your message individually to each recipient, avoiding the chaos of group replies. Never mass-forward your invitation without context; it feels impersonal and can end up in spam folders. Use WhatsApp Status to share a beautiful invitation graphic with a "Link in bio" or "DM for details" approach — it's visible for 24 hours and creates excitement without being pushy. If your invitation platform generates a shareable link (like Invytely does), the link preview will automatically show your invitation's thumbnail, making it instantly recognizable. Finally, send a gentle reminder 1-2 weeks before the RSVP deadline to those who haven't responded. Keep it warm: "Just a friendly reminder — we'd love to know if you can join us!"