E-invite with music: what works on WhatsApp

On WhatsApp, music works most reliably inside a video file: the guest taps play and hears it. A link-based e-invite can have music too, but phone browsers don't play sound until the guest taps once, so a good e-invite asks for that tap at the start. Choose music that suits the family, keep it short, and make sure the names and date are readable even with the sound off.

Why doesn't the music start by itself?

Phone browsers, including the one inside WhatsApp, block web pages from playing sound until the person taps something. It's there so pages can't blast audio unexpectedly. An e-invite link that tries to start music on its own stays silent, and the guest may never know there was music. The fix is a clear "tap to open" or "sound on" at the start, which counts as the tap.

Video with music, or link with music?

	Video file with music	Link e-invite with music
Sound	Plays when the guest taps play	Plays after one tap on the page
Can change after sending	No	Yes, every guest sees the update
Replies	No	Yes, if it has RSVP
Watched offline	Yes, once downloaded	Needs internet
Size on the phone	Takes storage	Nothing to download

Many families send both: a short video for the feeling, and a link for the timings, maps and replies.

How to choose the music

For elders and family: shehnai, dhol, a Ganesh vandana or a soft folk tune. Avoid music that sounds like a film trailer.
For friends: something upbeat, a party track or a fun duet.
Keep it in the background under the names, not so loud the voice-over or text gets lost.
Film songs belong to their labels. Original or licensed music avoids that question.

Make it work with the sound off

Many people open WhatsApp in a meeting, at night or on a bus with the sound off. The names, date, city and the ask to reply should all be readable without the music. Music adds feeling; it shouldn't carry information.

A song made for your wedding

ShaadiMode's Gaana Invite takes music further: a song sung for your wedding with your names, both families and every function, set to a short vertical film. Each guest's copy calls them by name in the break after the first verse, and shows only their functions. It's sent as a link that opens in WhatsApp, with a tap to start. Plus (₹2,999) includes 1 song and Signature (₹6,999) includes 3; otherwise a song is ₹499. ShaadiMode's other invitations also open with a "Sound on" tap for their music.

How long should the music be?

As long as the invitation, and no longer. For a video, the music should end with the last frame; a track that cuts mid-phrase feels unfinished. For a link e-invite, a short piece that loops quietly while the guest reads is better than a long song they scroll past halfway.

Music for each kind of invitation

A save the date: 15 to 40 seconds of something light and bright.
A family invitation: shubh music, such as shehnai or a Ganesh vandana at the start, then something warm.
A friends' invitation or a sangeet: upbeat, a party track or a fun duet.
A Nikah or a Christian wedding: music in that tradition, such as a soft qawwali or a choir piece.

Questions people also ask

Do guests need an app to hear the music?

No. A video plays in WhatsApp itself, and a link e-invite opens in WhatsApp's own browser; one tap starts the sound.

Should the e-invite music be loud?

Gentle is better. Many guests open it in public or late at night, and a soft start invites them to turn it up rather than mute it.

Why is there no sound when guests open my e-invite?

Phone browsers block sound until the guest taps. Make sure the invitation starts with a tap, such as "Open" or "Sound on".

Can I put a Bollywood song in my e-invite?

Film songs are owned by music labels. Original music, or a song made for your wedding, avoids the question.