What to Include on Your Wedding Website
You’re engaged. You have a planner, a venue, and perhaps a few other vendors sorted out. Now you’re ready to get the word out to your humans. Where do you start? Kate the Planner here to answer your questions about how to create a wedding website and what information to include. My focus and my intention is to make sure your guests are set up for success to attend your event and be self-sufficient in their own planning process so that YOU have more time to focus on the festivities! Let’s get started.
FAVORITE WEBSITE PLATFORM?
A: My favorite all-in-one website service is Zola. They combine wedding website templates, stationary services, and a registry all in one place so that it’s easy to navigate for guests. Minted has back-end templates for collecting guest information that easily exports back-and-forth between Excel. They also have helpful features, like the ability to directly message your guests, which offers different communication modalities for different needs.
If you want the ease of a template to meet a more modern aesthetic, then you might consider WithJoy or Bliss + Bone. WithJoy’s templates are one-page scroll sites with a postcard-style feel and lots of design options. Bliss + Bone’s templates have a more luxury feel and block-based designs. Both offer guest management tools that sync to Excel or Notion databases, guest communication tools and customizations, and coordinated paper products. They also have tools to easily sync your third-party registries, hotel blocks, and travel information.
Minted Weddings has been on the scene for quite some time and is fairly comparable to Zola. They have lots of templates to choose from your website that also coordinate with print items. Their templates are created by independent artists, which is something I can totally get behind, and offers free or paid version to unlock more features (often up to $90 for a year). The website UI is a little clunkier than Zola, and for that reason, we don’t often recommend it. They often have discount codes on their website for first time users; the one I most commonly see is 20-25% off printed items.
Every couple and event is different and has varying communication needs when it comes to their event. Here are a couple other options I’ve seen my couples use in the past…
Squarespace: This one is for the creatives! This platform has templates for all kinds of purposes—business, blogging, events, you name it—so the world is your oyster. Expect to spend more time customizing your template for the purposes of your wedding, as Squarespace has many more templates available for businesses. However, this platform offers many different integrations, like Zola for your registry, that complement a wedding website. This platform does not integrate with paper invitations, so you’ll have to address that piece of the puzzle through another avenue.
Paperless Post: This one is for the minimalist! Paperless Post allows you to send direct email mailers straight to your guests’ inboxes. They have templates for organizing your event information so that, when guests open the e-vite, they are directed to the information on line. Make sure that your guests are internet-literate so that they receive your invitation using this method, otherwise you may find yourself playing telephone with your event details.
Appy Couple: If you're looking for a service that allows you to create a personalized app for your wedding, Appy Couple provides the same major benefits of most wedding website platforms, with a guest management tool, PLUS a custom app for about the same price as annual wedding website subscriptions. Make sure your venue has service before you sign up to take advantage of this interactive feature.
THE HECK DO I PUT ON IT?
A: The question of all questions! And there is no better format for an answer than in list format so you can follow along as you build. Here are the pages I recommend as MUST HAVES on your wedding website.
Our Story — This is where you describe your shared history in as many or as few words as you like. It gives an introduction to your partner for anyone who hasn't met or had the pleasure of sharing quality time with them. I also recommend including some fun photos of the two of you, your adventures, and any relevant fur babies.
Travel — Provide background on the area in which people are staying and the options to get there. Include best ways to access the area for locals and for those flying in from out of town. I recommend adding in information about what to expect weather-wise and how to best pack for it, as well as the dress code for your wedding (e.g. bring your sandals to dance in the grass!).
A great way to feature options for activities, stays, and event locations is to create a Google Map List. Here is a link on how to build one. Currently, lists cannot be embedded onto your site, but individual destinations can, as seen below:
3. Accommodations — List options for finding accommodations, including towns and areas to search on AirBnB/VRBO; local hotels or the city’s Chamber of Commerce website; and any hotel blocks you make. I often break this down into sub-sections so that people can stay the way that feels best for their needs: Rentals, Resorts + Hotels, Campsites.
4. Registry — Whether you are registering for gifts, creating a honey-fund, or collecting donations for your favorite charities, make sure you include a link to contribute to something on your website. The tradition of gifting at a wedding is one that spans generations and people will feel lost for how to contribute unless you provide direction for their goodwill efforts. My favorite site for a traditional gift registry is Zola. It integrates with Minted's website templates and has the option to add honey-fund-style items that your guests can contribute to (can anyone say roof-rack and Tepui tent with me?!). Zola has the option to select when you want items shipped (e.g. when they are purchased or after you get married) and has the option to trade in the value of items purchased should you change your mind.
5. RSVP — Can they come? If so, what do you need to know? Things to consider collecting on this form are:
Name(s)
Attending/Not attending
Address and/or email, if not already collected for mailing an invitation and thank you note
Headcount, as indicated on their invitation
Dietary restrictions
Attending additional events? (e.g. Welcome Party, Rehearsal Dinner)
Opt in for a shuttle or organized transportation to/from the venue site
Optional: Comments box
OTHER PIECES OF HELPFUL INFO?
A: The following pages are optional; add these if they move you.
Weekend Events — This is where you can make information about formal and informal weekend events available. For example, you may include details for on site accommodation Check-In and -Out, Welcome Reception, Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner, etc. Include the location, date, time, and a short description. You don't need to have these all figured out in advance; you can add them as you solidify the timeline with your planner.
Explore the Area: I also love including options for activities to do off site for guests who are staying the weekend. This can include some of you favorite activities and recommendations in the area (outdoor activities, food and drink, tourism, etc.). Option to research these in advance when you do your site visit or vacation in the area ahead of your celebration. ;)
Wedding Party — Layer in details of who is by your side to start the "getting to know you" process between your guests and your wedding party before the event. It gives your family and coworkers an opportunity to connect to the people closest to you and an inroad to starting conversations when they arrive. Overall, this information can help different groups of people at your wedding meld together early on so that they can get their party on in a comfortable manner.
WHEN ARE WE READY TO LAUNCH?
A: This is a big moment! And so cool. This website is the online representation of your wedding for all to see and interact with. Prioritize writing your story, basic event information, and the RSVP form. Once that’s ready, your website can go live! It’s okay to fill in information regarding travel, accommodations, registry, affiliated events, and your wedding party as you go. I recommend having these details complete 6 months prior to your wedding so that guests have ample time to plan their travel (increase to 9 months for international travel destinations). Your planner will have a timeline to help you figure out what information and tasks need to be tackled in which order, so trust in your planner, go forth, and conquer the interwebs with your love!
— Kate, Tapestry Creative Director