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How to make a marriage biodata in Word (step by step, with fixes)

Many families still make a biodata in Word, usually by editing an old file a relative forwarded. It works well — until the photo jumps to page two or the Hindi text turns into boxes on someone’s phone. Here is how to build one cleanly from a blank page, on a computer or on a phone, and how to fix the problems everyone runs into.

Before you start

The steps below are for Word 2016 or later on Windows; a few menus differ on a Mac. Gather the details first — birth details, education, job, family, one photo and a parent’s phone number — so you are not stopping halfway.

If you would rather edit than build, download the free marriage biodata format in Word, replace the sample text, and jump to Step 5. For what to write in each section, see how to make a marriage biodata.

Step 1: Set the page to A4 with narrow margins

1. Open a blank document. Go to Layout > Size and choose A4. Many computers default to Letter size, which prints badly on A4 paper.
2. Go to Layout > Margins and choose Narrow (1.27 cm on every side).
3. Press Ctrl + A, open Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, set line spacing to 1.0 and remove the space after paragraphs. Word’s default spacing is what pushes most biodatas onto a second page.
4. Pick one body font at 11 pt, such as Calibri or Cambria.

Step 2: Build the layout with a two-column table

Do not line up “Name :” and “Date of birth :” with spaces or tabs — they look straight on your screen and crooked on everyone else’s. A table keeps them aligned.

1. Insert > Table, 2 columns and about 20 rows. Press Tab in the last cell to add more.
2. Drag the middle line so the left (label) column takes about a third of the width.
3. Select the whole table, go to Table Design > Borders and choose No Border. Then turn on Layout > View Gridlines — you will see dotted guides on screen, but they do not print.
4. For each section heading, select both cells of a row, choose Layout > Merge Cells, and type the heading in bold.

Step 3: Add the photo so it stays put

The most reliable layout puts the photo in the top-right cell of the table, beside the name and first few personal details. Merge the right-hand cells of the first five or six rows into one tall cell, click inside it, then:

1. Insert > Pictures > This Device and choose the photo.
2. Leave it as In Line with Text. If it jumps around, right-click it, choose Wrap Text and set it back to In Line with Text.
3. Drag a corner handle until the photo is about 3.5 – 4 cm wide. Corner handles keep the proportions; side handles stretch the face.
4. Use Picture Format > Compress Pictures with a print resolution, so the PDF stays small enough for WhatsApp.

Step 4: Heading, border and fonts

Heading. If your family uses a religious line such as “॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥”, centre it above the table at 12 pt. Put the name below it at 20 – 22 pt, bold.

Border. Go to Design > Page Borders, choose Box, a single or double line, 1½ pt, in a dark colour; Art borders look busy when printed. If a printer cuts one side of the border, click Options and change “Measure from” to Text.

Indian-language fonts. Use a Unicode font that Windows already has:

To type in Hindi or Marathi, add the language in Windows settings (Time & language > Language & region) and choose a phonetic keyboard, then switch with Windows + Space. Avoid old fonts like Kruti Dev and DevLys: the text looks right on your computer but turns into jumbled English letters on any phone that does not have that font.

Step 5: Save as PDF, and keep the Word file

1. Check the date of birth, every name and the phone number.
2. On Windows, go to File > Save As and pick PDF in “Save as type”. Under Options, tick PDF/A compliant — it embeds all the fonts, which matters for Hindi, Marathi and other scripts.
3. On a Mac, use File > Save As, File Format PDF, and choose Best for printing.
4. Name it clearly, for example Neha_Patel_Biodata_2026.pdf, and open it on your phone before sending.

Keep the .docx for later updates, but send the PDF: on a phone, a .docx may open with different fonts and a shifted photo. The guide to sending a biodata on WhatsApp covers the message to send with it.

On a phone: Google Docs or WPS Office

Building a table on a phone is fiddly; editing a ready .docx template is quick. Open it in either of these:

• Google Docs: tap the three dots > Page setup > Paper size A4. To replace the photo, delete it and use + > Image. Export with three dots > Share & export > Save as > PDF document. If you cannot hide table borders in the phone app, open the file once in a browser on a computer: Format > Table > Table properties, border width 0 pt.
• WPS Office: open the .docx, tap Edit, change the text, and use Export to PDF from the Tools or File menu (the position varies by version).

For Hindi or Marathi on a phone, switch Gboard to that language and type; Google Docs shows and exports the text correctly in its default fonts. See also making a biodata on mobile.

Common Word problems and how to fix them

Word, a template, or an app?

Word gives you full control, but a careful biodata takes an hour or more the first time; a ready template cuts that to fifteen minutes. If you would rather skip tables altogether, the Marriage Biodata Maker app for Android lays out the page and exports a print-ready A4 PDF. Its Classic Frame design is free, and Word (.docx) export comes with the paid plans. Either way, send one A4 page as a PDF.

Last updated 22 September 2026 · Biodata for Marriage team