For hundreds of years, couples relied solely on wedding invitations to communicate important wedding information to their guests. But we’re living in the digital age! If you’re not already using a wedding website for your big day, you’re missing out!
Wedding websites are an incredibly practical and efficient way to keep your guests informed about your wedding plans, while also helping you avoid stress and streamline the wedding planning process.
The best part? You don’t have to be tech-savvy to create one of these sites! There are plenty of tools available to help you make a simple, yet elegant site that has everything you and your guests need.
Read on for our tips on how to make your wedding website and why they’re so useful.
Zola is one of the most popular sites for building your wedding website.
What Is a Wedding Website?
Your wedding website is a dedicated and personalized site created to provide pertinent information and details about the upcoming wedding to all of your invited guests.
It’s a digital hub for all things wedding—from the time and place, lodging and transportation, and even your love story!
Some wedding websites offer the option to collect RSVPs and details from your wedding guests, and information about your wedding registry.
Do You Need a Wedding Website If You Are Sending Physical Invitations?
It’s not a requirement to create a wedding website if you are planning on sending out physical invitations. However, a wedding website is a wonderful supplement to these traditional invites. For example, your invitations typically include the basic information on where the wedding will be held. On your wedding website, you can go into detail about the venue location(s), how to get there, and accommodation options nearby.
Sending a physical invitation is still expected as a formality. Invitations also make a lovely keepsake and have sentimental value after the wedding. Some couples are forgoing the traditional RSVP cards that go along with the formal invitations in favor of a digital RSVP on their wedding website.
As the wedding day gets closer, many guests find it more convenient to refer to the wedding website for information, rather than searching for a paper wedding invitation.
Keep in mind that younger guests are more comfortable with information provided digitally, while older guests may be more familiar with receiving wedding details via a mailed invitation.
When Should You Create Your Wedding Website?
Starting your wedding website is often one of the first things on your wedding planning checklist after booking the venue and the date. You can start gathering the initial information on your love story, the wedding location, and plans surrounding the wedding day, and adding it to the site before it goes live.
You’ll want to have your wedding website URL ready to include on your digital or paper Save-the-Dates. These are typically sent 6 to 8 months before the wedding for those celebrating close to home, and 8 to 12 months in advance for those planning a destination wedding.
You don’t have to wait until the website is completed, or Save-the-Dates are sent out to share the wedding website with some of your wedding guests. Some people may request information on the date and location of your wedding earlier to start planning time off and travel. You can add additional information about the wedding party, your love story, and your wedding registry as the wedding gets closer.
Any time you make a pertinent update to the site—such as information on reserving hotel rooms and transportation info—you’ll want to send your guests a text and/or email that the site has been updated.
When it comes time to send your formal wedding invitations, you can include an insert with the website so people are reminded to check out the details. By the time you send your formal invitations, your website should be fully completed with all pertinent information, giving your guests ample time to make arrangements.
Use the website to send reminders to your guests about RSVPing on time and booking their hotel rooms. When you get closer to the big day, it’s also helpful to send updates about the weather, dress code reminders, and more.
Finally, many couples choose to send a final update after the wedding or honeymoon thanking all of their guests for being part of their love story. This doesn’t take the place of a formal “thank you” card for gifts received, but it is a nice gesture.
How to Create a Wedding Website
The best part about wedding websites is how easy they are to create. Here are a few of the top sites for creating a wedding website:
Many of these sites offer free options for creating your site. You might need to upgrade to use a custom URL, but this may be worth the extra charge to make it easier for your guests to remember and shorter when it comes time to include the link on your paper invitations.
Once you select the platform for your wedding website, the next step is to design the look and feel of the site. Most of the sites above come with easy-to-customize templates to get you started. Choose the colors, theme, and styles that speak to you the most.
Next, you’ll want to personalize your wedding website with all of the details of your event, photos, and information about the couple and bridal party. (See more details about what to include on your wedding website in the section below.)
Be sure to use any tools your template offers, such as enabling notifications. This will make it much easier for you to stay in touch with your guests. You can also add your wedding registry, an RSVP form, and more!
Lastly, you’ll want to proofread the site and make a plan for sharing the website with your guests. If you are working with a wedding planner, this can be a great place for them to assist you!
What Should You Include on Your Wedding Website?
When guests open the site, the first thing you want them to see is a photo of you and your fiancé and a brief message welcoming them to the site. While your invitations are typically more formal, your wedding website is a great place to be personal in your message.
Below is a full list of all of the other items every wedding website should include:
- A list of all the wedding weekend activities, along with the dates, times, and locations of each. It’s helpful to provide a suggested arrival time for the wedding itself and travel times to and from the main locations for the weekend, local airports, and hotels.
- The suggested attire for each event. You can also include your color scheme and weather details to help guests decide what to wear. Some couples even go a step further to create a style guide and add outfit inspiration photos.
- The suggested travel arrangements and accommodations should be prominent. List the closest airport(s) and the best way to get to the wedding location. Ask your venue or wedding planner for tips from previous weddings about the best way to get from place to place. It’s also nice to make recommendations about renting a car or using rideshares. Let your guests know if you’ve reserved a block of rooms at a nearby hotel and any deadlines when they need to reserve their room.
- Your registry. Wedding websites have really made wedding registries so much easier! Link your registry prominently to make it even easier for guests to get you exactly what you want.
- An RSVP portal. Forget all the stamps and waiting until formal invitations are sent out. Having guests RSVP through your website will make wedding planning so much easier for you. Remember to ask for meal selections and any dietary restrictions with RSVPs as well.
- Your love story. Tell your guests how you met, how you got engaged, some of your favorite moments together, what you’re most excited about for the future, and more.
- Photos of the two of you. This is a great place to show off your formal engagement photos, and any fun pictures from throughout your relationship.
- A wedding countdown. When guests revisit the site, they’ll get a reminder that they need to book rooms or purchase a gift. Plus, it’s a great reminder for you to send updates closer to the big day, like additional details, time changes, and more.
- A Q&A. Guests will have questions, so try to get ahead of that by answering some of the most common ones—whether or not kids are allowed, what the wedding party is wearing (so a guest doesn’t wear the same thing), and things to do in between wedding events.
- Wedding party information. Introduce your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and important family members, and highlight why you’ve chosen them to be part of your wedding.
The wedding website only needs to include information pertaining to the wedding weekend. Since not everyone will be invited to the bridal shower or bachelor party, there’s no need to share that information.
From a Perfect Wedding Website to a Perfect Wedding
Crafting your wedding website is a labor of love that adds a modern and personal touch to your big day. Your guests will thank you for all the easily accessible details, and you’ll be grateful for fewer last-minute questions and the seamless RSVP process!
The Treasury on the Plaza is a stunning, historic wedding venue in St. Augustine, Florida. If you’re still looking for the perfect venue to show off on your wedding website, we’d love to share more information about our beautiful spaces and package options. We can’t wait to welcome you and your guests!
