Muslim (Nikah) wedding checklist

The engagement, with an exchange of rings or tokens and sweets.

Why it's done. Mangni is the engagement, when the two families formally agree to the marriage. The couple often exchange rings and the families share sweets and good wishes. It is a family custom; the marriage itself happens at the nikah.

• Fix the date and place for the mangni

  Often hosted by the bride's family at home or in a small hall. Agree a close-family guest list.

  3 weeks beforeBoth familiesBooking
• Buy the rings or tokens

  Allow 3–6 weeks if the rings are made to order.

  3 weeks beforeBoth familiesGifts
• Order sweets and food for guests

  A small caterer is enough. Confirm the count two days before.

  7 days beforeBoth familiesFood
• Ask an elder or imam to make dua optional

  Many families begin with a short dua for the couple.

  7 days beforeBoth familiesRitual

Turmeric and sandalwood paste is applied to the bride, who wears yellow. In Hyderabad it can run over several days.

Why it's done. Manjha is a turmeric ceremony at home, where the women of the family apply turmeric paste to the bride for a bridal glow, with songs and fun. In some families the bride traditionally does not leave the house after manjha until the wedding day. It is a regional family custom rather than a religious requirement.

• Plan yellow outfits

  The bride and close family often wear yellow. Pick something that can take a turmeric stain.

  4 weeks beforeBride's familyClothes & jewellery
• Arrange a dholak and women's songs

  Ask the aunts who lead the songs, and keep a dholak at home.

  2 weeks beforeBride's familyMusic
• Get turmeric, sandalwood and chiksa ready

  Ask the elder women what your family uses. Keep old towels and clothes that can take a stain.

  5 days beforeBride's familyRitual
• Arrange snacks and tea for relatives

  Plan for neighbours and relatives who drop in through the day.

  5 days beforeBride's familyFood

The same haldi-like ritual at the groom's home.

Why it's done. The groom's family holds its own manjha at home, applying turmeric paste with songs and fun. It is a regional family custom rather than a religious requirement.

• Plan yellow outfits for family

  Choose clothes that can take a stain.

  4 weeks beforeGroom's familyClothes & jewellery
• Arrange a dholak for the songs optional

  A dholak and a few songs make it lively.

  2 weeks beforeGroom's familyMusic
• Get turmeric and sandalwood paste ready

  Keep old clothes for the groom and a few towels.

  5 days beforeGroom's familyRitual
• Arrange tea and snacks for relatives

  Plan for neighbours and relatives who drop in.

  5 days beforeGroom's familyFood

An evening when the bride's hands and feet are decorated with mehendi, with songs and food.

Why it's done. An evening when the bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna while her loved ones sing and celebrate. Often the groom's initials are hidden in the design. It is a cultural custom, and families shape it as they like.

• Book the mehendi artist

  Book 3–4 months ahead for peak dates. Ask how many helpers they bring for guests' hands.

  4 months beforeBride's familyBridal ₹5k–50k+; guests ₹150–700 per handBeauty
• Plan outfits for the mehendi

  Green is a popular choice. The bride needs something comfortable she will not change while the mehendi dries.

  6 weeks beforeBride's familyClothes & jewellery
• Do a henna patch test

  Test the artist's cone on a small patch of skin to rule out a reaction.

  4 weeks beforeBride's familyBeauty
• Order food for the evening

  Confirm the count a week before.

  3 weeks beforeBride's familyFood
• Keep the bride fed

  Mehendi takes hours. Put one cousin in charge of feeding the bride and giving her water.

  1 day beforeBride's familyFood

The groom's family visits the bride's home, often bringing her outfit and accessories for the nikah. In Hyderabad it is also a dinner.

Why it's done. In Hyderabadi and Deccani tradition, the groom's family visits the bride's home a day or two before the wedding, bringing her outfit for the nikah along with other gifts. It is a warm gesture of welcome and care towards the bride.

• Prepare the bride's nikah outfit, if your family gives it optional

  In many families the groom's side brings the bride's nikah outfit, accessories and perfume. It is a custom, not a must.

  2 months beforeGroom's familyGifts
• Fix the visit with the bride's family

  Agree the time and how many people will come so the bride's family can plan the dinner.

  2 weeks beforeGroom's familyGuests
• Plan the dinner for the visiting family

  The bride's family usually hosts. Keep it simple; the big feasts are still to come.

  2 weeks beforeBride's familyFood
• Bring sweets and dry fruits

  Order a few days ahead so they are fresh.

  3 days beforeGroom's familyFood

The groom and his family arrive at the nikah venue and are welcomed by the bride's family.

Why it's done. The groom arrives at the nikah venue with his family and friends, and the bride's family welcomes them, often with sherbet and rose water. It is a joyful custom around the nikah, not part of the contract itself.

• Order the groom's sherwani

  Allow 3–4 months for a custom piece and plan two fittings.

  4 months beforeGroom's family₹8k–25k mid-marketClothes & jewellery
• Decide on music for the procession optional

  Some families have a band, others prefer no music. Agree within the family first.

  2 months beforeGroom's familyMusic
• Arrange the safa or sehra and cap

  Decide early whether the groom will wear a sehra, a safa or a cap.

  4 weeks beforeGroom's familyClothes & jewellery
• Arrange transport for the baraat

  Count the baraatis and book cars or buses. Share the pick-up time a day before.

  4 weeks beforeGroom's familyTravel
• Plan the welcome at the venue

  Keep sherbet, garlands and a few people ready to greet the baraat.

  7 days beforeBride's familyGuests
• Name a baraat coordinator

  One person keeps time so the nikah starts as planned.

  7 days beforeGroom's familyLogistics

The marriage contract, with offer and acceptance before witnesses, led by a qazi, and signed in the nikahnama.

Why it's done. The nikah is the marriage contract. The bride and groom each give their consent through offer and acceptance (ijab and qubul) in one sitting, before witnesses; who qualifies as a witness differs between schools of thought. The mehr is part of this contract: it is the bride's right and her own property, which her husband owes to her, to keep, spend or give away as she chooses. Everything is recorded in the nikahnama.

• Order the bride's nikah outfit

  Sharara, gharara, lehenga or a khada dupatta. Couture takes months; plan fittings 6–12 weeks before.

  6 months beforeBride's family₹50k–1.5L middle-class rangeClothes & jewellery
• Decide on a masjid, home or hall for the nikah

  Ask the masjid about timings, seating for women and any rules, if you plan to hold it there.

  4 months beforeBoth familiesBooking
• Book the qazi or qazi office

  The bride's family usually arranges this. In peak months, book early and ask about the fee.

  3 months beforeBride's family₹5k–15k (Hyderabad estimate)Booking
• Agree the mehr and record it in the nikahnama

  The mehr is owed by the groom to the bride. Agree it clearly, and whether it is prompt or deferred, so nothing is left vague on the day.

  2 months beforeBoth familiesLegal
• Choose the wakil and two witnesses

  Sunni practice needs two adult male witnesses, or one man and two women. Shia rules differ, so confirm with your qazi. Witnesses must bring ID.

  4 weeks beforeBoth familiesLegal
• Collect ID, age proof and photos for the nikahnama

  Bring Aadhaar or passport and photos for both. The qazi may ask for more, so check.

  4 weeks beforeBoth familiesLegal
• Plan separate seating if your family prefers it optional

  Many families seat men and women separately. Tell the decorator and the venue early.

  2 weeks beforeBoth familiesLogistics
• Arrange the mirror and Quran for arsi mushaf optional

  Where your family keeps this custom, keep a mirror and Quran ready for the couple.

  3 days beforeBoth familiesRitual
• Buy chhuare and sweets to distribute

  Dried dates and sweets are shared after the nikah. Count enough for all guests.

  3 days beforeBoth familiesFood
• Check every spelling and date against ID

  Before signing, check names, parents' names, dates and the mehr in the nikahnama match the ID exactly. Mismatches cause visa and registration trouble later.

  On the dayBoth familiesLegal

The bride's farewell from her family after the nikah and dinner.

Why it's done. Rukhsati is the bride's emotional farewell to her family after the nikah. In many families the groom's mother welcomes her at her new home and gives her the Holy Quran as a blessing for her new life.

• Book and decorate the car

  Confirm the driver's timing and keep a backup number.

  2 weeks beforeBride's familyTravel
• Decide which elders will escort the bride

  Usually a brother or close relative goes with her to the groom's home.

  7 days beforeBride's familyGuests
• Pack the bride's bag

  Pack a change of clothes, medicines, phone charger and essentials for the next day.

  3 days beforeBride's familyLogistics
• Keep a Quran to hold over the bride, if customary optional

  Many families hold a Quran over the bride's head as she leaves.

  1 day beforeBride's familyRitual

The feast hosted by the groom's family, on the same day or one to two days after the nikah.

Why it's done. The walima is a feast hosted by the groom after the marriage, and is a confirmed Sunnah: the Prophet Muhammad held one and encouraged others to. It shares the couple's happiness with family and community and announces the marriage publicly.

• Book the walima venue

  Book 8–12 months ahead for peak dates. Ask about power backup and parking.

  8 months beforeGroom's family₹1–5L mid-rangeBooking
• Book a halal caterer and check their sourcing

  Ask where the meat comes from and see their certification. Taste the biryani, korma and desserts before signing.

  6 months beforeGroom's family₹500–2,500 per plateFood
• Book the stage decor

  Get a written list of what is included.

  6 months beforeGroom's family₹50k–2L basicDecor
• Make the walima guest list

  Keep the walima budget separate from the nikah. Each side usually pays for the event it hosts.

  4 months beforeGroom's familyGuests
• Finalise the menu

  Biryani, korma, kebabs and sheer khurma are common. Hyderabadi families often add marag and qubani ka meetha.

  3 months beforeGroom's familyFood
• Confirm the final plate count

  Give the caterer the final number a week before.

  7 days beforeGroom's familyFood

A family visit and meal after the wedding. In Hyderabad the jumagi is held on the Friday after.

Why it's done. In some families the couple visit the bride's parents a few days after the wedding (traditionally the fourth day, or in Hyderabad the Friday after) for a meal together. It keeps both families close as the couple settle into married life.

• Fix the day with both families

  Hyderabadi families often hold the jumagi on the first Friday after the wedding.

  2 weeks beforeBride's familyGuests
• Plan a family lunch

  Keep it small and relaxed; everyone will be tired.

  7 days beforeBride's familyFood
• Keep a small gift for the couple, if you wish optional

  Entirely optional and up to the family.

  7 days beforeBride's familyGifts
• Plan the couple's visit to the bride's home

  Agree who travels with the couple and the time, so the bride's family can be ready.

  3 days beforeBride's familyTravel

• Fix the nikah date with both families

  The nikah can be on the same day as the rukhsati or days earlier. Decide this first, then book venues.

  8 months beforeBoth familiesBooking
• Agree who hosts and pays for each event

  Usually the bride's side hosts the nikah and the groom's side the walima. Write it down to avoid confusion later.

  7 months beforeBoth familiesMoney
• Get extra copies of the signed nikahnama

  Ask the qazi for copies for each side and keep a scanned copy. You will need it for registration, passports and visas.

  On the dayBoth familiesLegal
• Get an English translation of the nikahnama optional

  If it is in Urdu, offices like Mumbai's registrar ask for an English translation along with Form D.

  On the dayBoth familiesLegal
• Register the marriage with the state registrar

  Do this in the weeks after the nikah with the nikahnama, ID, age and address proof and photos. Rules differ by state; in Assam only licensed registrars can register a nikah.

  On the dayBoth families₹100–1,000 plus copiesLegal
• Check the qazi's register entry

  Make sure the nikah is entered in the qazi's register and note the entry number.

  On the dayBride's familyLegal