# Engagement

Source: https://www.marryloom.com/events/engagement

Publisher: MarryLoom (https://www.marryloom.com)

Updated: 2026-11-05

An Indian engagement is when the two families formally agree to the marriage. They often exchange rings and gifts and fix the wedding date. In Kerala it’s called nischayam, and Christian families hold a manasammatham in church. We plan engagements for anything between 30 and 300 guests, including for couples who live abroad.

Some engagements are a family lunch and some are a full evening party. If you’re planning from abroad, it’s often the first time both families meet. So we keep it relaxed, and we make sure there’s someone to translate when the families don’t share a language.

## At a glance

- Also called: Nischayam (Malayalam), Sagai (Hindi), Manasammatham (Kerala Christian)
- Typical guests: 30–300
- Typical budget: ₹3–25 lakh
- We plan: Venue and décor, Ring and gift exchange ceremony, Food and music, Photography, Invitations

## Questions

### How long before the wedding is the engagement?

It can be a day before or a year before. For a destination wedding, many families hold a small engagement the day before, so guests only have to travel once.