In this day and age when everyone has a smart phone, Instagram account, and Tik Tok, the wedding website is essential.
It acts as a hub for all things about your big day and can be easily updated (if say a hotel block fills up or a rain plan comes into play), while still allowing couples to be as creative and funny as they want.
If you’re unsure what to include on your website, here’s a list of what to keep in mind when making one.
Do start early. Don’t wait till the last minute.
Your website should be ready to go when your invitations go out. That way, as soon as guests know they’re invited they can start planning their travel, attire, and check out your registry. And, if you’re sending out invitations, that means you’ll already know all the most important information like the venue and start time. If you are sending out paper invitations, be sure to include the website name, or a QR code for easy access. This way guests will know from the get-go to consult your website first before texting a busy member of the wedding party.
Do set up backend features that will make your life easier. Don’t make it just for the guests.
A large part of the wedding website is to make things easier on guests, but it’s also a helpful tool as you’re planning logistics. The biggest point would be the RSVP list. Have your guests answer all your questions in one place, are they attending? Will they be bringing (their invited) plus one? Do they have dietary restrictions? Then set up the forms to compile the answers in one Excel or Google sheet spreadsheet. That way you have all your guest information in one place for your caterer or wedding planner.
Do provide links. Don’t leave it up to chance.
It’s inevitable there will be at least one thing you have to outsource from your website, like hotel block booking, a registry list, a honeymoon fund, song suggestions, etc. Label the tabs these are on clearly and provide instructions with them. The easier the process is, the less you’ll have to field calls from guests wanting to make sure they did it right. But remember to keep this same important information on traditional invitations if you choose to do both.
Do include everything. Don’t assume they still have the invitation card.
The rule of thumb is, if it’s on an invitation, it should be on the website with more details. The wedding website is supposed to be a one-stop shop, so make sure it’s set up that way. There should be a page for your timeline, locations, hotel options, RSVP dates, a detailed dress code, whether the ceremony is unplugged or not, and anything you want guests to know.
Do showcase your love story. Don’t shy away!
This wedding is all about love, so talk about it! Make an “Our Story” page all about your journey from first date to the altar. Include all those cute little facts, like how you met, where your first date was, who said ‘I love you’ first, when your anniversary is, and of course the engagement story. Include lots of pictures—it’s another chance to use your engagement photos—and don’t be afraid of getting sentimental.
Do make it on theme. Don’t let the templates box you in.
You spend a lot of time thinking about color schemes, theming, fonts, and the overall style of your wedding day. So why should your wedding website be exempt? Most wedding websites have pre-made templates that are a good starting point, but you want to take it further to give guests a sneak peek into the aesthetic of your wedding day. It also gives you the chance to see your vision come to life in advance.
Do provide directions. Don’t just give an address.
Since you aren’t limited by space on your wedding website unlike a traditional invitation, providing directions to all guests just got a lot easier. This is especially important if you’re having a destination wedding, out of town guests, or your venue is a little off the beaten path. You can include not just the address but a link to Google Maps and a photo of the venue. That way guests know what to look for as they arrive. This is also where you want to include information about parking, or any transportation arrangements you’ve made for guests to use.
Do give local recommendations. Don’t leave guests hanging.
There’s a high chance you’ll have people traveling for your wedding, and since they’ve never been to your town before they might need a little help knowing where all the good places are. Give restaurants, sightseeing, and other nearby hidden gems a shoutout on your website—maybe even where you had your first date if it’s nearby. These recommendations ensure people feel like they know the town, and you, a little better once they try out local places.
Do remember to keep some things off the website. Don’t assume everything will fly.
Knowing what to not put on a wedding website is just as important as knowing what to put. Primarily, don’t mention any events only a handful of guests will attend, like family brunches or wedding-party only nights out. The same goes for any pictures that you might not want every extended family member to see; some things are best kept as an inside joke.
Do use the website for important updates. Don’t forget about it as you get closer to the big day.
Your website is the perfect tool to get announcements to guests quickly and consistently. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, prepare a little pop-up for the website so that if you have to move inside 24 hours before your ceremony, you can just click a button, and everyone can see the new plan. The same principle applies to any changes in location, start time, or pertinent last minute plans guests might need to know about.
Do look for website builders that work for you. Don’t worry about it being stressful, it can be as easy as you want it.
There are several wedding website builders available, and they range from easy, fill-in-the-blank templates to designing from scratch. Most templates are free, with the option to pay for the domain (aka the ability to make the URL whatever you want). Here are some options and their strengths:
The Knot: These free wedding websites are for people who want the convenience of the website, but as little hassle putting it together as possible. Start out with their templates with themes like floral, rustic, and modern, customize more if you’d like, and you’re done. If you want you can pay extra to own your domain, which basically means you can customize the URL, but it’s completely optional.
WeddingWire: This free service also leans on the simpler side of making websites. Hallmarked for its built-in RSVP tools and registry links. It’s templates are meant to transfer from desktop to phones.
Zola: This free builder comes with a custom URL and houses the entire registry on the website itself. It takes a little more time to set up but puts a focus on matching the design of your website to your invitations to keep everything on theme and aesthetically pleasing.
Minted: This builder lets you access free designs that come with pre-set font and layouts, with you just choosing the color scheme. It has RSVP capabilities and can set a password to protect your site for some added privacy, so only loved ones are able to see the details of your day. It costs to upgrade to a custom URL.
Squarespace: Though a normal website builder this platform also has templates for wedding websites and offers a custom URL for free for up to one year. It can link registries through Zola and create gallery timelines to showcase your love story, but since it is based on a general website builder it’s best to use if you’re already tech inclined.