Personalized wedding websites have become extremely popular with young couples who are planning their upcoming weddings. It’s not surprising, really. As a culture we have become increasingly tech savvy, and the world wide web has redefined what it is to be socially connected. So it was only natural that at some point the information revolution would start to shape and inform modern wedding plans.
Creating a personalized wedding website is easier than ever, and you don’t have to be a professional web developer to design a beautiful a wedding website. There are plenty of online services to help you create your website, and we’ll talk more about them in a moment. But first, there are a few things to consider before you begin building your wedding website.
Do You Really Need a Wedding Website?
This is the first question you should ask yourselves. Sure, creating a wedding website can be fun, but it is also time consuming. If you are planning a small wedding, with a predominantly localized guest list, you probably don’t need one. However, if you are planning a large wedding, with guests flying in from around the country, a personalized website can be invaluable for you and your guests. It will help you spread the news of your upcoming wedding, stay connected with friends and family, and will give your guests all the information they need to prepare themselves for the big day.
Building Your Wedding Website
Once you have decided that a personalized wedding website is right for you, you’ll need to build it. Now, unless you are a professional web designer you’ll probably need some help creating your website. Fortunately, there are a number of online services that will help you to create your website, and will act as it’s online host. You’ll probably want to explore a few options before deciding on the one that best suits your taste and budget. Here are a few of the more popular wedding website builders to help get you started.
- Wedding JoJo – Wedding JoJo offers both free and premium packages. They provide website templates, as well as well as detailed planning kits that will walk you through the process of creating your wedding website.
- Ewedding – eWedding is a feature rich wedding website builder for couples on a budget. They offer a two month free trial period, after which the cost is a very reasonable $14.95 per month.
- Nearlyweds – Nearlyweds is a full featured wedding design site that offers a variety of website templates and design kits that are perfect for the less tech savvy among us. Services start at $14.99 per month or $99.00 per year.
- Wix – Wix is a free wedding website design service. They offer free design templates, and free hosting. The service is limited, but it is perfect for couples on a tight budget.
- Glo – Glo is a premium wedding website builder, with prices ranging from $19.99 to $34.99 per month. It is a feature rich service, offering a wide variety of advanced options like guest list management, RSVP apps, and online wedding invitations.
What to Include In Your Wedding Website
Once you have chosen a wedding website builder, you need to know what to include on your site to make it truly effective. Remember, your wedding website is not only an announcement, it is a planning tool for you and your guests. While you should feel free to include photos and stories of your first date and engagement, you also need to provide some important information. So in addition to your bio, and pictures of yourselves, be sure to include the following:
- Directions to the Ceremony – This should include detailed directions, and even a mapquest link, to the wedding and reception venues.
- A Travel Guide – This is important for out of town guests. Links to local hotels and car rental services are always helpful. If you have a large number of out of town guests, you may even be able to arrange bulk discounts with local hoteliers and car services.
- The Wedding Day Itinerary – Provide a detailed itinerary for the day of the ceremony.
- Reception Details – Time and location. Menu selections. Cash bar or open bar.
- Dress Code – This doesn’t need to be too restrictive, after all your guests no they are going to a wedding. However, giving your guests a rough of idea of what to wear can be helpful, particularly if you are holding your wedding in an unusual location or you have planned a your wedding around a distinct theme.
- Your Gift Registry – You’re not being mercenary here. Providing information on your gift registries is an aid to your guests. Don’t be greedy, but don’t be shy either.
- RSVP – Include an RSVP section. This will help you to better manage your guest list, and plan for the ceremony and reception.
Personalized wedding websites are a great way to connect with friends and family. They allow you to keep your guests up to date with your wedding plans, all while providing a bit of fun and excitement for everyone involved. As with any aspect of wedding planning, the key is to start early. The sooner you get your site up and running, the sooner you and your guests can reap the benefits.
