Tamil wedding invitation wording, in Tamil and English
Most Tamil invitations follow the same order the printed patrikai has used for generations: a blessing, the parents inviting, the couple's names, the muhurtham, the request to come, then the functions. Keep that order and the elders will read it without stopping. Below are lines you can copy, with the English beside each one.
1. The blessing at the top
One line, centred, before anything else. Use your family's own.
சிவமயம்ஸ்ரீ கணேசாய நம:ஸ்ரீ மீனாட்சி சுந்தரேஷ்வரர் துணை2. Who is inviting
Tamil invitations come from the parents, not from the couple.
திரு. க. ராமசாமி – திருமதி. ரா. லட்சுமி தம்பதியரின் அன்பு மகள் சௌ. காவ்யா
திரு. சு. முருகன் – திருமதி. மு. மீனா தம்பதியரின் அன்பு மகன் சி. அருண்சௌ. (Sowbhagyavathi) goes before the bride's name and சி. (Chiranjeevi) before the groom's. Each parent's initial comes before their name, as it's written in Tamil: க. ராமசாமி is K. Ramasamy.
3. The muhurtham
The traditional line gives the Tamil year, month and date, then the time window. Fill in the brackets from your family's almanac (panchangam).
நிகழும் மங்களகரமான [ஆண்டு]-ஆம் ஆண்டு [மாதம்]-ஆம் மாதம் [தேதி]-ஆம் தேதி (13.12.2026) ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை காலை 6.30 மணிக்கு மேல் 7.30 மணிக்குள் நடைபெறும் சுபமுகூர்த்தத்தில்4. The request
தாங்கள் தங்கள் சுற்றமும் நட்பும் சூழ வருகை தந்து மணமக்களை ஆசீர்வதிக்குமாறு அன்புடன் வேண்டுகிறோம்.5. The functions
List each one with its own day, time and place.
- நிச்சயதார்த்தம் · Engagement
- மாப்பிள்ளை அழைப்பு · Welcoming the groom
- முகூர்த்தம் · Muhurtham
- வரவேற்பு · Reception
6. The sign-off
தங்கள் நல்வரவை விரும்பும், [family names]The names under the sign-off are the family members who invite with the parents: grandparents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters.
What does "thangal nalvaravai virumbum" mean?
தங்கள் நல்வரவை விரும்பும் (thangal nalvaravai virumbum) means "wishing for your good arrival": we look forward to your presence. Thangal is a respectful "your", nalvaravu is a welcome arrival, and virumbum means "who wish for". It's the sign-off, so the names of the inviting family follow it. The English side of a Tamil card usually prints it as "With best compliments from", or more literally "Awaiting your gracious presence".
Common words on a Tamil invitation, and what they mean
| Tamil | Said as | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| திருமண அழைப்பிதழ் | Thirumana azhaippithazh | Wedding invitation |
| சிவமயம் | Sivamayam | "All is Shiva": a blessing line many Shaivite families put at the top |
| ஸ்ரீ கணேசாய நம: | Shree Ganeshaya Namaha | Salutations to Lord Ganesha |
| அன்பு மகள் / அன்பு மகன் | Anbu magal / anbu magan | Beloved daughter / beloved son |
| தம்பதியரின் | Thambathiyarin | Of the couple (the parents who invite) |
| சௌ. (சௌபாக்கியவதி) | Sow. (Sowbhagyavathi) | Before the bride's name: one blessed with good fortune |
| சி. (சிரஞ்சீவி) | Chi. (Chiranjeevi) | Before the groom's name: one blessed with a long life |
| சுபமுகூர்த்தம் | Subha muhurtham | The auspicious time of the wedding |
| மணமக்கள் | Manamakkal | The bride and groom |
| சுற்றமும் நட்பும் சூழ | Sutramum natpum soozha | With your relatives and friends around you |
| ஆசீர்வதிக்குமாறு அன்புடன் வேண்டுகிறோம் | Aaseervathikkumaaru anbudan vendugirom | We lovingly request you to bless them |
| தங்கள் நல்வரவை விரும்பும் | Thangal nalvaravai virumbum | Looking forward to your presence (the sign-off) |
| நிச்சயதார்த்தம் | Nichayathartham | Engagement |
| மாப்பிள்ளை அழைப்பு | Maappillai azhaippu | Welcoming the groom |
| வரவேற்பு | Varaverpu | Reception |
The same invitation in English
For the English side of a bilingual card, or for friends who don't read Tamil, keep the same order:
With the blessings of the Almighty Mr. K. Ramasamy and Mrs. R. Lakshmi request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Kavya with Arun son of Mr. S. Murugan and Mrs. M. Meena on Sunday, 13 December 2026, between 6:30 and 7:30 am at [hall], [city]. Please come with your family and friends and bless the couple. With best compliments from [family names]
Need it as a PDF or for the printer?
Copy the lines above into your printer's proof or a document, fill in the brackets, and save it as a PDF. Ask an elder who knows your family's customs to read the Tamil once before it's printed: the blessing line and the order of the names differ from family to family.
Tamil, English, or both?
Many families use Tamil for the blessing, the parents' line and the muhurtham, and English for the times and places, so friends from other states can still find the hall. An online invitation can carry both. On InviteNest you type Tamil into any field, and it shows in the phone's own Tamil font. See Tamil wedding invitations.