A UAE wedding usually needs two kinds of calligraphy: favours made before the day, and names written for the day itself. The favours (dates boxes, jars, napkin holders, a box with the couple's names) are made to order and need weeks; the place cards and favour tags carry each guest's name and are written by hand, from the guest list before the doors open or live at a writing table during the reception. This list puts both on one timeline, so nothing is ordered too late.
1. Decide what is made and what is written
- Made beforehand, the same design for every guest: the Ahlan wa Sahlan box, AED 95, a napkin holder for the tables, AED 60, or for the family table the dates box with the couple's names in Thuluth on the lid, AED 215. Our wedding favours page lists all seven pieces planners order by the dozen, with the volume prices.
- Written by hand, a different name on every card: place cards, the tag on each favour, envelopes and thank-you cards. A wedding calligrapher writes them with a reed pen in Arabic letters.
2. Work back from the wedding date
- About four weeks before: order the favours. Ten pieces or more are made in 10–14 working days from payment, then delivered to one address in the UAE.
- Two weeks before: book the calligrapher. A written quote comes within one working day; the date is held once it is paid.
- One week before: send the final guest list. The place cards and tags are written before the day and arranged by table.
- On the day: the calligrapher writes live for the booked hours, for late guests, added names and anyone who wants to watch.
3. Choose the words
On a favour: the couple's names and the date, a short blessing, or a line of poetry. Keep Quranic verses off pieces that are handled, thrown away or left on tables; a verse belongs on a framed piece that hangs on a wall. On a place card: the guest's name only, spelled as the guest writes it.
4. Choose the script
Diwani is the script of celebration, rounded and flowing, and suits the couple's names and cards written in advance; a long name takes two to three minutes. Thuluth is upright and ceremonial, for the top table. Ruq'ah and Naskh are quick and clear, about a minute a name, and keep a live queue moving. You can see your names in each script for free in Mashq Studio before you decide.
5. Plan the non-Arabic names
Many UAE weddings have guests from several countries. The calligrapher writes Arabic letters only: a name from another language is spelled in Arabic so it reads as it sounds. Send the list as the names are spelled in their own language and the Arabic spellings are prepared with you before the day; at the live table, each spelling is checked with the guest before the pen touches the card.
6. Budget the two parts separately
Favours are priced per piece at the store's prices, with a volume discount per item line in a written quote: 10% from 10 pieces, 12.5% from 25 and 15% from 50 (the codes MASHQ-VOL10, MASHQ-VOL12 and MASHQ-VOL15 apply them at checkout). Delivery to one address in the UAE is AED 25 for décor. The calligrapher is quoted per wedding from the hours (2 to 8), the number of guests, the venue and its travel, and the materials; there is no price list for the live service.
Where to go next
The wedding gifts collection has the pieces for the couple themselves; our planner's guide to live calligraphy works out names per hour; and choosing a wedding gift in the UAE helps the guests who are buying for the couple.