Dholki invitation card: design, wording and who to send it to

A Dholki is the evening, or the string of evenings, before the Mehndi when the family gathers at home, someone takes the dhol, and the girls sing. It is informal by nature, which is exactly why a Dholki invitation card is useful: it tells the close circle which nights, which house, what time, and that it is only them. This guide covers what goes on a Dholki card, design ideas, six wordings in Urdu, Roman Urdu and English, and how to send the card to only the people who should get it. The bigger night is in Mehndi card design.

Dholki kya hai, aur kise bulaya jata hai

• Dholki shadi se pehle ke hafton mein ghar par hone wali mehfil hai: dhol, geet, taaliyan, chai aur mithai. Kai khandan ek nahi, teen chaar Dholki raatein rakhte hain.
• Mehman aksar khawateen aur qareebi log hote hain: cousins, khalaein, phuphiyan, dulhan ya doolha ki saheliyan aur dost.
• Dulhan ki taraf ki Dholki dulhan ke ghar aur doolha ki taraf ki doolha ke ghar hoti hai; kabhi kabhi dono ghar ek hi raat milkar karte hain.
• Yeh rasmi dawat nahi, isliye card bhi halka phulka ho sakta hai; magar waqt aur ghar ka pata likhna utna hi zaroori hai.

What a Dholki card says

• Whose Dholki: the bride's or the groom's, and the name.
• Which night or nights: 'every Friday and Saturday from [date]' or the one date.
• Time, and that it runs late.
• The house: number, street, landmark and a map pin; where to park in the street.
• Ladies only, or families; and if there is dinner or only chai.
• A line that sets the mood: 'bring your voice', 'dhol tumhare baghair nahi bajega'.
• A number to confirm, or the RSVP tap on a digital card.

Dholki card design ideas

• Yellow and pink: brighter and more playful than the Mehndi card, with less gold.
• A dhol as the centre mark, with bangles or ghungroo around it; keep the rest of the card clean.
• Truck-art colours and patterns for a loud, fun Dholki; it photographs well on a phone.
• Fairy lights and a night sky if the Dholki is on the roof.
• Pastel yellow with small florals if elders are invited and the night is calmer.
• Keep it one function: a Dholki card does not need the Baraat and Walima on it.

Dholki invitation wording

1. اردو، رسمی: ڈھولکی — ہماری صاحبزادی [دلہن کا نام] کی شادی کی خوشی میں ڈھولکی کی محفل [دن، تاریخ] کو [وقت] بجے [گھر کا پتہ] پر ہوگی۔ صرف خواتین۔ آپ کی شرکت ہمارے لیے خوشی کا باعث ہوگی۔ منجانب: [خاندان کا نام]

2. اردو، بے تکلف: [دلہن کا نام] کی ڈھولکی ہے! ہر جمعہ اور ہفتہ، [تاریخ] سے، [وقت] بجے، [گھر کا پتہ]۔ دھول، گیت اور چائے ہماری طرف سے، آواز آپ کی طرف سے۔ نقشہ: [لنک]

3. Roman Urdu: [Doolha] ki Dholki hai, [din, tareekh] ko [waqt] baje, [ghar ka pata]. Sirf ghar wale aur qareebi log. Dhol tumhare baghair nahi bajega, aana zaroor. Map: [link]. – [Naam]

4. Roman Urdu, kai raatein: Dholki ki raatein shuru! [Dulhan] ki Dholki [pehli tareekh] se [aakhri tareekh] tak har raat [waqt] baje [ghar] par. Jis raat aa sako, aa jao; [tareekh] wali raat sab ki haazri lazmi. Card: [link]

5. English: You are invited to [Bride]'s Dholki on [Day, Date] at [Time], [House address]. Ladies only, chai and mithai on us, songs on you. Map and details: [link]. – [Name]

6. WhatsApp group: Dholki tonight at [Name]'s place, [Time], [Address]. Bring a dupatta and a song. Map: [link]

Sending it to only the close circle

The Dholki is the clearest case for private guest links. On a digital card you add the Dholki as a function next to the Mehndi, Baraat and Walima, then tick it only for the cousins and friends who should come. Everyone else opens the same card and never sees a Dholki line. If a night is added or moved, you change it once and every link updates. How that works is in what a private guest link is and the packs (30, 120 or unlimited links) are on pricing. The same card can play a dhol clip when it opens; see the Mehndi card page.

Designs that suit a Dholki

• Jashan-e-Bahara: marigold and spring, bright enough for a Dholki; try it free.
• Chandni: lanterns and a night sky for a rooftop Dholki; try it.
• Elegant Wedding in its yellow palette, if the same design will carry the whole week.

Aam sawalat

• Dholki ka alag card zaroori hai? Nahi, magar faida hai: Dholki ki list chhoti hoti hai aur raatein kai; ek function add kar ke sirf un ko tick karein, naya card nahi banta.
• Dholki aur Mehndi mein farq? Dholki ghar ki chhoti mehfilein hain, kai raatein; Mehndi asal function hai, ek raat, zyada mehman. Dono ke card Mehndi invitation message aur yahan hain.
• Mayun bhi hai? Mayun invitation card mein us ka mazmoon aur card hai.
• Dholki ke liye card ki qeemat? Card ek baar Rs. 1,999 mein aata hai aur us par poore hafte ke functions hote hain; Dholki ke liye alag paise nahi.

Add the Dholki as a function, paste a wording from above, tick the close circle, and send. The rest of the week's cards: Mehndi card design, nikah card design and barat card design.