Engagement invitations for the first step toward the wedding

Engagement vs. milka: what's the difference?

The engagement (khutba) is the beginning: the groom's family asks for the bride's hand, the two families agree, and in many homes they recite Al-Fatiha and present the shabka or gifts. It's an agreement and an announcement of joy, not yet a contract.

The milka is the marriage-contract night, when the couple become husband and wife. That's why an engagement is usually simpler and smaller: both families and the closest relatives, sometimes just a sitting at the bride's family home. Some families combine the engagement and milka in one evening; if that's you, our milka page is the closer fit.

That difference shapes the invitation itself: shorter text, fewer guests, and timing closer to the day.

When to send an engagement invitation

Since an engagement is a family gathering that's often arranged quickly, sending the invitation five days to a week ahead is enough. If some relatives live in another city, send it a little earlier so they can plan the trip.

On the day, or the day before, send a short reminder chosen from the ready-made message library with the time and place. Once the excitement settles, a simple thank-you to everyone who came finishes things off nicely.

Designs that suit an engagement

Dawati's ready-made designs were made for every stage of a marriage celebration, and many fit an engagement perfectly: lilac florals, calm olive branches, marble with ink accents, and clean line art for understated elegance. Add the names, date and place, adjust colors and fonts, all for free.

The invitation can be in Arabic, English or both, and the Hijri date (Umm al-Qura) can appear next to the Gregorian one.

Engagement invitation wording

Three wordings to copy as they are or tweak inside the brackets: one from the family for relatives, a friendly one for friends, and a very short one for small gatherings. If you'd like to attach a message in your own words, that's available on Pro and Max.

A short guest list, clear answers

At a small gathering every guest counts: you want to know exactly who's coming so the majlis and hospitality are just right. Each guest replies with Accept or Decline inside WhatsApp, no app or account needed, and next to every name you see whether the invitation was delivered, read, and how they answered.

You decide whether companions are allowed and the maximum per guest. If the men and women sit in separate majlis, in different homes or at different times, say so plainly in the invitation text, since all guests read the same details. Congratulations guests write back are gathered in your in-app inbox.

For older relatives who don't use WhatsApp, send their personal invitation link directly; they reply from it like everyone else.

Standard fits most engagements

Designing is free and you pay once, only when you send, with no subscription. Most engagement guest lists are short, so Standard's 50- or 100-guest tier usually covers it. Standard starts at 69 SAR and includes WhatsApp invitations and live RSVP.

If your engagement is a larger event in a hall that needs QR entry at the door, or you'd like a photo album collecting your guests' shots, Pro and Max are there, and the album is also a flat 150 SAR add-on. Buying in the iPhone app costs about 15% more because payment goes through Apple, and you get a full refund before the first invitation is sent.