How long should a marriage biodata be?

One page is enough for most people. Two pages only if you have a longer education or career history worth listing in full.

Should I write in first person?

Biodatas are usually written as short labelled fields, or in third person, not as a first-person letter. If you add a personal note, first person is fine for that part.

Is a photo required in a marriage biodata?

It is not compulsory, but most families include one recent, clear photo. Skip group photos and heavily filtered ones.

Should I include my salary?

Many biodatas mention profession and employer type instead of an exact figure. Add an income range only if your family is comfortable sharing it.

What to Write in a Marriage Biodata

A marriage biodata works best when it is complete but not cluttered. The family reading it wants a quick, accurate picture of who you are and who your family is. This guide covers what to include in each section and how to word it. For the details that apply only in some situations, see the guides on a second marriage, NRI biodatas and horoscope details.

Personal details

Write your full name as it appears on your ID, not a nickname. Then:

Date of birth, in full (day, month and year), so no one confuses date formats
Height in one unit only (5'6" or 168 cm, not both)
Religion, community and mother tongue, if relevant to your family
Current city and marital status

Family background

Describe your family in plain, factual terms:

Father: Suresh Patel, Business Owner Mother: Anita Patel, Homemaker Siblings: One younger sister, married

Add family type (nuclear or joint) and native place if your family usually does. Avoid lines like "a very cultured family"; the facts say more.

Education

List your highest qualification first, then work backwards only if earlier degrees matter:

B.Tech in Computer Science, XYZ University, 2019

Skip school-level details unless you are early in your career and have little else to show.

Career

State your role, employer type and city in one line:

Software Engineer, IT company, Bengaluru. 5 years' experience.

If you have changed jobs often, give your current role and total years of experience instead of a full history. A biodata is not a résumé; see biodata vs résumé.

Hobbies and interests

Two or three real interests tell a reader more than a long list. "Reading, trekking, cooking" says more than "travelling, music, movies, sports, reading". More ideas are in hobbies to mention in a marriage biodata.

A short personal note (optional)

Keep it to two or three sentences and make it specific:

Enjoys quiet weekends and treks equally. Looking for someone grounded and family-oriented.

Replace claims with facts. "I help my father run our shop on Saturdays" tells a family more than "I am caring". Avoid "homely", "perfect" and long wish lists.

Contact details

Use a parent's or guardian's phone number, and your city rather than your full address. See how to share your marriage biodata safely.

What to leave out

Skip your home address, ID numbers, exact salary and anything you would not want forwarded beyond the intended family. A biodata is often shared further than you expect.

Weak and strong wording

Section	Weak	Strong
Family	"A very cultured family"	"Father: business owner. Mother: homemaker. One younger sister."
Career	"Working in a reputed MNC"	"Software engineer, Bengaluru, 5 years' experience"
Interests	"Travelling, music, movies, sports"	"Trekking, cooking, reading history"
Personal note	"Caring and understanding"	"I help my father run our shop on Saturdays"

A simple order to follow

Photo and name
Personal details
Family details
Education and career
Contact details

This matches how most families read a biodata: who you are, who your family is, what you do, how to reach you. When your lines are ready, the biodata builder lays them out in a clean, print-ready design.