Music box: wind it up and watch the bride and groom waltz
The Music box ties a wedding card to an old kind of gift. A polished wooden box sits on a marble window ledge at night, with gold corner caps and a butterfly-shaped winding key on its right side. As the recipient draws two circles around the key with a finger, the key turns and clicks like a real mechanism. When it's fully wound, the lid opens, a small gold platform rises and a bride and groom, hand in hand, begin to turn. A plate inside the mirrored lid shows the couple's names. The tune is a short wedding waltz written for this template.
Send it to a friend, a sibling or a colleague who is getting married. It works well if you can't attend, on the morning of the wedding or the day after. We suggest putting both names in the name field, such as 'Emma & Alex', since the text addresses the couple. Share the link by WhatsApp or copy and paste it; they open it in a phone browser without installing anything, and can watch it together.
What does the recipient experience?
- The screen says the sender 'sent you a music box. Your waltz is inside.' The recipient turns the sound on and taps 'Take the box'.
- The couple's names are written out with the line 'Wind it up and let the lid open'.
- The camera turns towards the key at the side of the box and a ring appears around it. The recipient draws two circles around the key with a finger (or the mouse); the ring fills and the key turns with a ticking sound. A 'Hold to wind it up' button can do the winding instead.
- The lid opens, the platform rises and the bride and groom start to waltz. The couple's names appear on the plate inside the lid and rose petals drift down.
- After 'A lifetime of happiness', the sender's message opens on a card. The recipient can send an emoji back with 'Say thanks' or wind the box again with 'Again'.
What can you choose?
The sender writes the couple's names, their own name and an optional message, and picks the box finish: walnut, white lacquer or rosewood. The gold corners, velvet lining and dancing couple stay the same in every finish. If no message is written, a ready-made line beginning 'Congratulations on your wedding!' appears, and there are suggestions to choose from while creating it.
When to send it
The Music box is Wishwiff's template for weddings. Send it when the invitation arrives, on the day of the ceremony or when you can't be there in person; for a wedding anniversary, Join the hearts is the better fit. If drawing circles around the key feels fiddly, holding the button is enough, and winding takes only a few seconds.
Common questions
How exactly do I wind the key?
Move your finger round the key along the ring that appears, for two full turns. Either direction works, and you'll see the ring fill up as you go.
What is written on the plate?
The plate inside the lid shows whatever you typed in the name field, usually both names of the couple. Your own message appears at the end on a separate card.
What is the waltz?
It isn't a famous piece; it's a short waltz written for Wishwiff, played with a music-box sound right on the phone.