In today’s social media world, a wedding website is a must for any engaged couple. Your wedding website will be your guests go-to on information for the wedding and wedding weekend including travel/accommodation, venue address, wedding events and registry. Couples can choose sites with pre-existing templates such as weddingwire.com, or can create their own using a blog site like wordpress.com. Here are my tips for creating a great wedding website!
1) Create an easy to remember URL
You’ll have to see what is available, especially if you are purchasing a domain. Typically the easiest to remember are short combinations of your name and possibly year, such as: kyleandjohn2014.com or margoanddavewedding.com
2) Keep color/style consistent
Since your website is one of the first wedding impressions your guests will have, it’s great to keep the look of the website in line with your wedding style. Planning a pink and navy, preppy chic bash? Then incorporate those colors in the font and background choices.
3) Have the where/when/how information for your wedding and venue(s)
Give as much information as possible so that your guests can easily find your venue and arrive on time. Here is what should be listed:
- Wedding date
- Ceremony start time, or the time you’d like guests to arrive by
- Venue(s) address, phone number and website
- A map, such as a Google Map of the location
- Directions on walking or driving to the venue, and/or parking at the venue (if applicable)
- Transportation information; i.e. if you are providing shuttles to/from the ceremony or reception and the pick-up/drop-off time
- Any other special instructions or information
4) Accommodations for out of town guests
Here is where you’ll list a hotel block or suggested nearby hotels for guests. If you are doing a hotel block be sure to include:
- Hotel name, address, phone number and website
- Room rate(s)/type
- Dates available for the block
- A cut-off date that indicates the deadline for reserving a room
- Parking information (if applicable)
5) Travel information
In addition to hotel information, it’s a great idea to include travel tips for guests. Information should also include area airports, train station, metro system, etc. This is also where you will include things to do and places to eat while they are in town for the wedding. In DC, we have so many great places to include!
6) Registry
Guests will want to know your registry information to purchase gifts for the shower, engagement party and wedding. Many stores offer direct links to make it super easy for your family and friends.
7) Engagement /Relationship Story
Chances are, not all your guests know the exact proposal story and would love to know how this happened. Many couples will also include stories of how they met and cute bio’s of each other since some family/friends may not know their fiancé.
8) Photos
This is a perfect place to show your engagement photos. After the wedding you can also use this to share wedding and/or honeymoon photos.
9) Wedding Party
For family and friends standing by your side, many like to include brief bios of their attendants. It’s a great way to share stories of your individual friendships and honor those who are standing by your side on the day!
10) Other
The above is really typical, couples can also pick and choose what they feel is most important. For example, if everyone’s local then you don’t need an accommodations page. Here are additional items that you may want to include:
- An electronic RSVP form. While paper is still popular, many are going paperless and asking guests to RSVP online.
- Vendors. If you are especially proud of your vendors and want to share this information with your guests, include a list with links to their sites and a short description of how they made your day so great.
- If your wedding is over a holiday weekend, or a time when there are a lot of big special events happening, information on how to attend the events (if they don’t conflict with your wedding) and how to avoid the events would be very helpful.
