Free Wedding Websites: Monetization Strategies Explained

Wedding websites are a great way to keep guests informed about the details of your wedding. While printed invitations are traditional, most guests don't use them for information anymore. Wedding websites can include travel and accommodation information, fun facts about the bridal party, and the couple's story. They are also a convenient way to send updates to guests without having to spend more on printing and postage.

Creating a wedding website can be free, but some platforms charge a fee for additional features, such as custom domains and premium designs. So, how do free wedding websites make money? One way is through advertisements. Some free websites are lead generation strategies for businesses that pay to advertise to their users. Another way is by offering premium features and add-ons for a fee, such as custom domains, extra security, and design options.

Advertising

Some sites, like The Knot, offer solid wedding website designs but stand out for their noteworthy and extensive set of wedding planning tools. Sites like The Knot allow couples to customize their website from hundreds of templates to fit their specific theme and style, and a custom domain costs an additional fee. The templates, which can be matched to paper suites, range from classic to floral and even include styles designed by Vera Wang. Website design is secondary to The Knot's comprehensive planning tools, which include a budgeter, interactive checklist, RSVP management system, registry, and vendor marketplace.

Minted is another example of a site that offers a free wedding website builder but makes money through its other services. While invitations are Minted's specialty, the site also has an easy-to-use wedding website builder that can match a desired theme to all wedding stationery, like invitations, save-the-dates, and thank-you cards. The site's designs are specifically created by independent artists, and templates are categorized by season, location themes (beach or city-specific), design themes (geometric, rustic, etc.), and even heritage. Building a website is simple with the site's style quiz, and once a theme is found, couples can get discounted matching stationery.

Zola is another example of a site that offers free wedding websites but makes money through other services. Zola originally launched as a registry site but has since grown to include services like wedding websites, invitations, and planning. The website is completely free to use but will cost couples a fee for custom domains. Zola has many themes, including bohemian, water, vintage, elegant, and more, and once a theme is picked, there are over 600 customizable options, like color, text, and layout, to personalize the website. From there, couples can utilize the site's many planning tools, like the guest list manager, invitation maker, and vendor marketplace, to make the process a breeze.

What sets Zola apart from competitors, though, is its comprehensive registry. Zola partners with over 1,000 brands like KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Crate & Barrel, SONOS, Lenox, YETI, and more. Creating a registry is simple and can be done right on the Zola website; and as couples build their list of desired gifts, they also get access to exclusive Zola curated collections. The registry is user-friendly for guests, as the site does not link out when a product is bought. One of Zola's greatest features is the option to control when registry gifts are shipped—gifts can be shipped now, later, or even converted to credit. Though there is a fee for cash gifts, guests can save a percentage on items left on the registry after the wedding day. Plus, shipping and returns are free.

Premium customisation options

• Custom domain names. For example, lukeandloreliwedding.com.
• The ability to add personal touches, such as engagement photos, or photos from the early days of the relationship.
• Customisable layouts, fonts, and colour palettes.
• The option to add a wedding logo or monogram.
• The ability to create private events and password-protected pages.
• The ability to add custom RSVP questions, such as meal choices and dietary requirements.
• Matching stationery, such as invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank-you cards.

Registry partnerships

Ads on Wedding Registries

While it is common for websites to have ads, some "free" wedding registry platforms overload their pages with ads and then charge couples to remove them. This defeats the purpose of a free platform as couples will likely feel compelled to pay to make their registry look clean and user-friendly for their guests.

Department Store Registries

Department store registries are often free but limiting in terms of product selection. They typically only carry physical products, and if the store doesn't carry a particular item, it can't be added to the registry. This may force couples to create multiple registries at different stores, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming. Additionally, department stores may not offer online specialty or eco-friendly brands, limiting the couple's options.

Universal Wedding Registries

Universal wedding registries, such as MyRegistry and Blueprint Registry, offer couples the convenience of keeping their wish lists in one place. These platforms are usually free and allow couples to add items from various stores, creating a master wish list. They may also offer additional features such as wedding websites, RSVP tracking, and notification systems for purchased gifts. However, these platforms typically charge a transaction fee for cash-registry gifts, which can range from 2.5% to 5% per transaction.

Honeymoon Registries

Some wedding websites partner with honeymoon registries, such as Hitchd and Honeyfund, allowing couples to receive cash contributions and gifted experiences for their honeymoon. These registries enable loved ones to contribute directly to specific aspects of the couple's honeymoon, such as flights, accommodation, or guided tours. While Honeyfund has no transaction or setup fees, Hitchd charges a one-time fee for their service.

Retailer Rewards

Some wedding websites have partnerships with specific retailers, such as Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, and Sur La Table. Couples who register with these retailers may receive bonus gifts, discounts, or other incentives. For example, Crate and Barrel offers a 15% discount on all items in-store and online for three months after the wedding, while Williams-Sonoma provides free bonus gifts from brands like All-Clad and De'Longhi when certain products are purchased.

Vendor recommendations

One of the most common reasons couples opt for a wedding website is to help their guests find all the information they need to prepare for the big day. This includes vendor recommendations.

Vendor marketplaces are a great way for wedding websites to monetise their services. WeddingWire, for example, has an extensive vendor marketplace, which helps couples manage their seating chart and find vendors in their directory. The Knot also has a vendor marketplace, which is integrated with their website-building services.

Some wedding websites, such as Zola, started as a registry site and have since expanded to include wedding website services. Their website now includes a vendor marketplace, too.

Other wedding websites, such as Riley & Grey, offer vendor recommendations as part of their premium service.

Planning tools

The Knot

The Knot's wedding planning tools include a vendor marketplace, a budget advisor, a wedding website builder, a guest list and RSVP manager, a wedding checklist, a wedding style quiz, a wedding binder, real wedding albums, and a social media presence. The site also offers a wedding planner app, invitations and paper products, and a budget-friendly free wedding planning resource.

WeddingWire

WeddingWire offers a range of free planning tools, including a wedding checklist, a budget tracker, a wedding vendor manager, a wedding website, a seating chart, and an app. The site also provides a guest list and RSVP manager, as well as tools to help find vendors and create a seating chart.

Riley & Grey

Riley & Grey is a wedding website that offers a unique, interactive way to collect guest information and manage RSVPs. The site also provides a guest-oriented information section and a mobile-friendly wedding website.

Zola

Zola offers a comprehensive registry with over 1,000 brands, as well as a wedding website, invitations, and planning. The site allows users to integrate their registry with their website and control when registry gifts are shipped.

Minted

Minted is a website that offers a wedding website builder and a guest manager tool. The site also has a style quiz to help users find their perfect theme and offers discounted matching stationery.

Other Planning Tools

Other planning tools available on the market include The Venue Report, WeddingHappy, Pantone Studio, Amazon, Allseated, Postable, UberEVENTS, WebWed, Facebook Recommendations, Burner, Loverly, and more. These tools offer a range of features, such as venue search, wedding planning, colour coordination, registry, invitations, thank-you notes, transportation, streaming, recommendations, and temporary phone numbers.

Frequently asked questions