Planning a wedding is no easy feat. Fortunately, creating a wedding website can be if you know where to start.
Better yet, a wedding website itself can help to reduce stress, serving as a valuable resource for your guests and including everything from an RSVP form to an FAQs section.
Whatever you intend to do with your website, you want it to be just as perfect as the wedding you’re planning. In the following post, you’ll find an easy-to-follow guide on how to create a wedding website.
Benefits of having a wedding website (that you may not have thought about)
As you begin your research on how to plan a wedding, think about all the things you need to communicate with your guests—and how your event website can help (as well as picking the best wedding website builder). Below are a few advantages of having a wedding website that you’ll want to consider as you plot out your site.
Digital invites can’t be lost. You won’t have to worry about invites getting lost in the mail or Uncle So-and-So accidentally tossing out the save-the-date with all the junk mail he gets. If anyone claims to have lost the link to the wedding website, just text or email it to them again.
Simplify communication with your guests. Rather than emailing, calling or having to chase down dozens or hundreds of people whenever you have a wedding-related update, you can post any important wedding details to your website. If things change, send out an email to all of your guests using the contact information that they provide via your site. It’s as simple as that.
Answer everyone’s questions once. The second you start mailing out those save-the-dates, you know your inbox will be inundated with questions. Even until the last minute, you’ll have guests calling to ask for directions to the location and wondering if the venue will keep everyone dry on a rainy day. A wedding website will field all of those questions on your behalf.
Get an accurate head (and cost) count. Digital RSVP systems make it easy for guests to let you know that they’re attending. They’re also useful for collecting information on plus-ones, food preferences and any other special needs they may have. The easier you make it for guests to RSVP, the more accurate your head count will be.
Coordinate with the wedding party. While a wedding website is typically where you announce the event and get RSVPs, you can also create private pages for you and your wedding party. You can publish their event schedule, like dress shopping, rehearsal dinner, makeup and hair prep, etc. You can additionally invite your maid of honor or bridesmaids to help you keep things updated on the website.
How to make a wedding website in 9 steps
Once you know how you want to use your site, you’ll want to follow the below steps when building your website from scratch.
01. Choose the right website builder and template
A user-friendly website builder can help you figure out how to make a site in a matter of minutes. For example, Wix is a popular choice because it includes a drag-and-drop editor as well as step-by-step instructions so you can get started, with any type of website, even if you don’t know how to code.
Wix will recommend the best templates and features to use from the get-go. This ensures that your site not only looks good, but also includes essential capabilities like:
An events’s page with info on your wedding’s time and location
The ability to add a detailed wedding day schedule
Built-in tools for sending email invitations and managing guests
Live streaming tools that allow guests who can’t physically attend the wedding to tune in from home
At the same time, you can browse a variety of wedding website templates and choose one that matches your aesthetic. For instance, if you’re looking for a soft, whimsical website template, you might fancy this one.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a more modern, photography-based template.
Spend some time looking at other wedding website examples for inspiration. You may be surprised at how creative couples have gotten with their websites.
02. Personalize the look of your site
Any Wix wedding website template will includes relevant pages like:
Home
Our Story
The Wedding (details page)
Location/Getting There
RSVP
Registry
But you can customize your pages however you’d like: Remove pages that you don’t need. Add new pages, forms and sections. Swap out colors in addition to fonts to match your wedding style (i.e., pick the perfect classic serif, romantic cursive or funky modern font for your text).
Tip: If you’ve already created your printed save-the-date or invitations, use the same fonts and colors from there on your site.
With a website builder, you won’t have to make these changes one at a time. Find the theme that generally suits your style, and customize the color palette and text theme from the editor.
03. Replace the images
Go through your website page by page and replace any stock photos with your own. You can use built-in photo editing tools to quickly resize, animate or add a filter to a photo or video. The key here is to achieve a consistent look across your site, no matter which page your wedding guest is on.
Tip: Use your site to show off your engagement photos. Add your photos to a page specifically dedicated to your engagement shoot and/or use them for background or header photos across your site.
If the style of your engagement photos don’t reflect the general theme or vibe of your wedding, you can use stock photography, colored backgrounds and/or illustrations to fill out your site. For example, this combination of background imagery and illustrative elements achieves a nature-inspired look.
You can additionally incorporate photos from or around your venue. This is especially appropriate if you’re planning a destination wedding; locale-specific photos can help set the mood and increase anticipation.
04. Add your wedding details
It goes without saying that your wedding website needs to include pertinent details about your ceremony, reception and any travel accommodations.
To that end, your website should include the following:
Your story. While some guests may know the two of you as a couple, others may only know one half of your dynamic duo. So, take the time to introduce yourselves. You can keep it brief or share more details about your relationship on an “Our Story” page.
Wedding date and start time. If you have events planned for the entire day or weekend, you can add those details to the site when they become available (if they’re meant for your wedding guests). If you want to include an itinerary for the wedding party, just make sure to password-protect that page so only they have access to it.
Dress code. Once you’ve decided on a look or theme for your nuptials, add general guidelines for your guests—with some specific examples or recommendations—so that guests come appropriately dressed.
Location information. Include the names and addresses for the ceremony and reception locations. Embed a Google map alongside each so that guests can easily map out directions on the day of the event. If a shuttle or other transportation will be available to take guests to and from the venues, include that information as well. Let them know about parking, the shuttle pickup and dropoff areas.
Travel and accommodations. For out-of-town guests, include information on the nearest airport and accommodation options. If you’re reserving a block of rooms at a discounted fee, include those details too and let guests know how to take advantage of the deal.
When writing the content for your site, include as much detail as you can, but keep it brief enough so that it’s easy for guests to find and remember. Also, be sure to check and double-check your content for any spelling errors.
05. Answer your guests’ questions
Depending on the size of your wedding and the complexity of the affair, you might benefit from providing additional information for guests.
Create an FAQs page that provides guests with friendly guidance and tips. Answers questions like:
What’s the best way to get to the venue?
Is there plenty of parking available?
Will there be a shuttle available?
Is the venue indoors or outdoors?
Will the wedding be postponed if there’s inclement weather?
How late will the wedding run?
What’s the RSVP deadline?
Can I bring a plus-one?
Can I bring my kids?
Can I take pictures during the ceremony?
Will there be an open bar at the reception?
Who do I tell about my dietary restrictions or food allergies?
Where can I find your registry?
I’m coming into town a day early. Is there anything fun to do or see in the area?
Where’s the best place to get coffee and breakfast in town?
06. Add an RSVP form
This is one of the biggest benefits of creating a digital wedding invitation (i.e., your website). Instead of having to manage RSVPs the old-fashioned way or fear letters getting lost in the mail, you can provide an RSVP form online and easily keep track of responses.
Use your form to collect basic details about who’s coming and who’s not, as well as:
Their contact information
Who their plus-one will be
If they’re bringing any kids
What their meal preferences are
Drink preferences
If they require additional assistance getting to or into the venue
Fun info, such as advice for the soon-to-be-married couple or song requests for the reception
07. Include registry information
Your wedding registry may come in various forms. For instance, you may have an online registry with links to multiple stores. Or, you may be looking to start a honeymoon fund where guests contribute towards your luxury getaway. As another option: you could have guests donate to an important or contribute to any other cash fund that you’d like.
Regardless of what you’re asking for, you’ll want to make it easy to find your registry on your site. That way, guests won’t have to track down that one message with registry details or ask you for it.
Tip: It’s not a bad idea to add this information in several areas on your site. Consider linking to your registry from the homepage as well as your FAQs page. Then, create a dedicated Registry/Honeymoon Fund/Donations page.
08. Pick a custom domain name and publish
If you’re building a basic save-the-date website and are trying to save money, you may choose to stick with the free branded domain name that comes with your website builder.
However, if you’re looking to give your website a unique name that makes it easier for guests to remember, consider buying a custom domain. In some cases, you may even get it for free with your website builder subscription.
When choosing a name, keep it short, simple and easy to remember. Guests should be able to easily recall your domain name.
Here’s a simple formula: Combine your first names and add .com to the end (e.g,. jennieandmarc.com or jennieandmarcwedding.com). Or, use Wix’s free domain name generator for inspiration.
09. Share the website with your guests
Once you’ve secured your domain, it’s time to publish and share your website with your guests.
The first thing to decide is whether you want to make the wedding website public or private. A public website can be seen by anyone online. By contrast, a private website can only be viewed by people who have a password or were invited as site members.
The next thing to decide is how you’re going to share your website with guests. If you’re sending printed invitations in the mail, you can include the URL at the bottom or on the back of the card.
Or, send an online invitation via email. The invitation can be a brief announcement of your wedding with a link to the website for more information on your nuptials.
If most of your social media followers are friends or family, you can also share your website link on social media. This gives you an opportunity to create and promote a wedding hashtag, which guests can then use to share any pre-wedding or day-of posts. You could additionally use this hashtag to power a custom Instagram feed on your website. When guests visit your site, they’ll be able to see what you and your wedding party are up to.
Wedding website FAQ
Is it worth it to make a wedding website?
Our answer: a resounding yes. A wedding website is not only cost-effective, but can also save you from the stress of repeating (or resending) information to all of your guests. You can additionally benefit from having all RSVPs and guest information in one place—plus, make your guests’ lives easier by providing one location to find all wedding-related information. That said, in specific instances, a wedding website could end up being more work than it’s worth. For instance, if you’re having a small, private affair with a few loved ones at the local courthouse, you might not want to make a big announcement or have to coordinate with that many guests. Whichever direction you're leaning, make sure to understand how to make a website and what steps to expect before committing.
What is the best wedding website platform to use?
The answer to this depends on what your budget is and what type of website you’re looking to create. For instance, Wix comes with built-in tools that let you effectively promote an event—e.g., email capabilities and guest list management.
Wix is also an ideal solution if you’re looking for a website builder that includes designer-made templates, but still allows you to customize any aspect of your site. When you make a Wix website, you’ll be able to add photo galleries, edit images on the spot, add a custom calendar, add a wedding playlist and more.
How much does it cost to create a wedding website?
With Wix, you can make a wedding website for free. However, if you’d like to give your website a custom domain name or benefit from other advanced features, you can sign up for a premium plan. Our plans start at $16 a month.
How far in advance should you make your wedding website?
It’s never too early to create a website for your wedding. Once your date is set, use your website as a digital save-the-date card. As more details get finalized, build it out so that guests can conveniently access all the details about your nuptials, can submit their RSVP and buy something from your gift registry.
What information should you include on your wedding website?
The size and theme of your wedding will dictate how much information you put on your website. That said, you’ll most likely want to include info on:
Your story
Wedding start time
Wedding schedule
Dress code
Plus-ones and kids
Ceremony and reception location with Google map
Travel info (whether for local or destination wedding)
Accommodation recommendations
RSVP and cutoff date
Registry link
What’s the best way to share your wedding website with others?
There are various ways to share the URL with guests. If you’re sending out paper save-the-dates and wedding invitations, include your URL somewhere on the card. If you have the email addresses of your guests, you can send out a mass invitation with the link. Another option is to create a private Instagram page for your wedding, include a link to your site at the top (as well as your custom hashtag) and then invite guests to that page.
Should your wedding website be public or private?
In most cases, you’ll likely be fine keeping your website public and simply monitoring how your URL is distributed. However, if you want to ensure that your wedding (and the details around it) remains a private affair, then it’s a good idea to make your whole website private. You can do this by password-protecting it. Just remember to include the password when sending out the link to your website. Alternatively, you can make some pages of your site public, while keeping others private. For example, you can make it so that certain pages are only visible to your wedding party.
Should you delete the wedding website after you’re married?
If you’re paying for a website subscription, then you may decide that your site isn’t worth the ongoing cost. However, you may decide to hold onto your site for sentimental reasons, e.g., you and your guests can upload photos from your wedding to the site. Your site could serve as a digital storage for your engagement and wedding photos and/or provide a place to share updates from your honeymoon.