A Bollywood invitation you tune like a radio
The Radio Talkies design opens in a dark room with the radio switched off. The guest presses the round ivory power switch: the pilot lamp lights, the valves warm up, and the needle swings onto the first station. From there the guest tunes through the wedding. Between stations the speaker shows static and the green magic-eye tube flickers; on a station it closes and the next poster rises, marked "Now showing".
- Tuning: drag the knob round, drag the needle along the glass, tap a station name, or press the two ivory keys under the grille. The knob is heavy: it coasts and drops into each notch with a click.
- Music: a baraat track with dhol, brass band and shehnai plays "on the radio" after the opening tap. You can pick another track.
- Maps and calendar: each ceremony has ticket-stub buttons for directions and add to calendar.
- Countdown to the pheras, on a "Grand premiere in" board.
- Photos and a film as tilted prints, in a faded 1970s colour grade.
- RSVP on WhatsApp: a "Housefull!" stamp lands when a guest says yes.
On a laptop the radio stands on a teak sideboard against 70s wallpaper, and the poster goes up in a wooden hoarding frame on the wall, with the previous and next posters pinned beside it.
One film poster for each ceremony
The sample is a Punjabi wedding in Bombay. Each station is a chapter: Namaste (the Ganesh shloka, "the Sahni and Bhatia families proudly present", the names and dates), The Cast (starring the bride and groom, their parents and elders), then one poster per ceremony:
- Sagai: rings on the terrace, in disco pastels.
- Haldi: marigolds and a transistor playing old songs.
- Mehendi: henna, a dholki and Punjabi boliyan.
- Sangeet: in an Art Deco cinema hall, with a disco ball and a long antakshari.
- Baraat: a white ghodi, a brass band and pink safas.
- Pheras: the mandap by the sea, with the muhurat time.
- Reception: a ballroom dinner with a live band.
Every poster lists its venue, show time and "costume" (the dress code, with colour swatches), so a retro dress code like "70s filmi glamour: sequins, flares, big collars" reads like the film's credits. After the ceremonies come the Trailer (photos), the Interval (stay, travel, weather, food), the Farmaish (RSVP) and Shubh Raatri.
Filmi wording to copy
Use these on the invitation or in the WhatsApp message you send with the link. Change the highlighted names.
|| Shree Ganeshay Namah || The Sahni & Bhatia families proudly present Nikhil weds Meera Now showing in Bombay, 10 to 15 February 2027. With the blessings of our elders, we request the pleasure of your company.
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥ साहनी एवं भाटिया परिवार गर्व से प्रस्तुत करते हैं निखिल संग मीरा आप सपरिवार सादर आमंत्रित हैं।
Picture abhi baaki hai! Our wedding is releasing on 14 February. Tune in to the invitation, and send your farmaish (RSVP) by 25 January.
For more lines, see WhatsApp wedding invitation messages. For a louder, cartoon look, see the cartoon wedding invitation, with the Pop Comic Storybook design.
Get Radio Talkies made for your wedding
Radio Talkies is one of our More designs: our studio builds it for you, with your names, your families, every ceremony and venue, your photos and the languages you want. You check it and ask for changes before you send it.
- Message us on WhatsApp with the design's name and your wedding dates.
- Send the names, families and each ceremony with its date, time and venue.
- We send you your invitation link to check. Then you share it on WhatsApp.
Before you write, tune the live Radio Talkies sample yourself.