How to Create the Perfect Wedding Website
Sending out a ton of information via mail has gone by the wayside, even for weddings. While sending out a Save the Date card and a formal invitation by snail mail is still popular (who doesn’t love getting these in the mail!?), providing your guests with all of the information they need to feel stress-free about your wedding would take an entire packet – forgo spending money on extra stamps and envelopes and instead, create a wedding website. In the age of technology, there are several different platforms you can use to build your wedding website, some of which are free! Let’s make sure you create a website both stunning and informative for your guests. Here’s what you should include in your wedding website:
The Necessary Info
Directions: Chances are if you include paper directions in the mailings, people will lose them in the hustle and bustle of their daily life or forget to bring them. Include directions or embed a map onto your wedding website for easy understanding of where the events will take place.
Timeline of the Day: Whether your wedding celebration is lasting the entire weekend or just one day, ensuring your guests know where to be and when is imperative to the success of the event! Provide guests with the general itinerary for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner if having one and the full wedding day. Also include if there is a post-wedding brunch being hosted the morning after the wedding.
Shuttle Information: If you’re providing transportation for guests, let them know well in advance on your wedding website so they can plan accordingly. Most guests will take advantage of the shuttle if they know its schedule.
Weather Information: Make sure your guests know exactly what to expect upon arrival at your wedding! Many couples assume their guests have looked up the venue and know it will be an outdoor wedding in October, for example, but guests may automatically assume it’s indoors. Don’t let anything up to chance – your guest’s comfort should be a high priority. Include these details to nip any issues in the bud regarding weather or location:
Estimated Temperature (closer to the date, include a forecast on the site)
Necessary Items (i.e. umbrella, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)
Footwear Information (i.e. Wedges or Flats if walking in grass; warmer shoes if it’s an outdoor spring or fall wedding, etc.)
Extras to Bring (i.e. a cardigan if it’s chilly, etc)
Hotel Information: Instead of mailing out information about the hotel, include it on your wedding website. Information such as room blocking codes, timeline for when room blocks expire, the hotel address, and the amenities of the hotel (bar, restaurant, pool, etc.) should be included.
Gift Registry Information: Make sure guests know where to go in order to buy the gifts you want!
The Fun Information
Proposal and/or Engagement Pictures: Everyone loves looking at photographs, so if you’re comfortable sharing your proposal or engagement photos with your guests, it’s a great idea to include them on your site!
Your Love Story: Some of your guests might not know how you two lovebirds met, and some might not even know you or your partner depending on where they live or how close they are with the family. Sharing a few words about how you met, your hobbies together, and other information is a cute idea to introduce family or friends to your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs!
Bridal Party Intros: In the same vein, most likely many people won’t know everyone in your bridal party. Give a little intro on your site!
Gallery of Baby Photos: Not much is cuter than baby photographs! If your website allows for a gallery, include side-by-side photos of when you each were one, two, and so on. Parents and grandparents especially will adore this addition!
Interesting Information about Your Venue: Many couples are opting to get married at historical locations, such as barns or even family estates. Clue in your guests to where they are going for the wedding by listing some of the history or interesting information about the ceremony or reception location.
Menu for the Day: Share a sneak peek of your menu or share the whole thing! Foodies will love to see what you’re serving up at your wedding, and it will get your guests even more excited for your special day.
Virtual Guest Book: Create a section on your site where people can write notes. This section is perfect for those who might not be able to attend the wedding.
To create your wedding website, check out the following sites where you can build a wedding website for free or at minimal costs:
Wix Squarespace The Knot Weebly WeddingWoo Wedding Paper Divas