Creating A Wedding Website To Sell Your Special Day

Wedding websites are a great way to keep your guests informed and excited about your big day. They can also be used to sell products and make some extra cash. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to create a profitable wedding website. From choosing a website builder to adding essential pages and features, we'll cover everything you need to know to get your site up and running. So whether you're looking to display your photos, share your registry, or sell products, read on for tips and tricks to create a stunning and functional wedding website.

Choose a website builder

The first step to creating a wedding website is to choose a website builder. This is a quick and easy way to make a website, and many builders come with free plans and trials. There are hundreds of website builders available, but some popular options include:

• Wix: Wix is a strong all-rounder that combines ease of use with creative freedom. It offers a huge amount of creative freedom, meaning you can create a unique website. Wix also has premium plans available if you want a more professional site.
• Squarespace: Squarespace has the best designs on the market, making it perfect for sharing photos and videos. It has a 14-day free trial, after which it costs $16 per month.
• The Knot: The Knot is a specialised wedding website builder that doubles as an online wedding planner. It provides an array of templates and customisation options, as well as registry integrations.
• Hostinger: Hostinger's wedding website builder uses AI to automatically generate a personalised wedding website based on a few simple questions about your wedding. You can then use the intuitive drag-and-drop editor to customise the design.
• Minted: Minted offers elegant, coordinated designs and a free custom wedding website URL.
• WeddingWire: WeddingWire gives couples tools for RSVPs and registry links.
• Zola: Zola offers sleek designs, registry integration, and free, beautiful website templates.

When choosing a website builder, consider your priorities. Do you want a beautiful site, a practical one, creative freedom, or basic control? Make sure the builder you choose provides the things that are most important to you.

It's a good idea to test out a few different website builders before deciding on one. Most builders offer free trials, so take advantage of this to find the one that best suits your needs.

Pick a unique domain name

The domain name is the name of your website that appears in the web address. For example, the domain name for WebsiteBuilderExpert is "websitebuilderexpert.com". When you choose a free plan, the domain name will likely contain the website builder's branding, which can be quite forgettable and unprofessional. For instance, a free Wix domain name could look like this: "www.stacy.wixsite.com/stacyandjohnswedding".

If you want a unique and catchy domain name that is easy for guests to remember, you'll need to get a custom domain. This will cost a little extra, and you can buy it directly from your website builder or through a third-party registrar such as GoDaddy.

• Keep it short and memorable.
• Avoid using numbers and punctuation.
• Using a combination of both your names is a great idea, but if you have a common name, you may find that your desired domain is already taken, so you'll need to get creative!
• JohnAndJaneTiesTheKnot.com
• SmithAndWong.com
• TogetherAtLast.com
• HappilyEverAfter.com

Remember to keep your domain name simple, memorable, and reflective of your website and your wedding.

Choose and personalize a template

When creating a wedding website, the first step is to choose a website builder that you like. There are several great platforms to choose from, each offering its own perks in terms of templates, customization options, and features. Here are some popular options:

• The Knot: Provides a wide range of templates and customization options.
• WeddingWire: Offers tools for RSVPs and registry links.
• Zola: Features sleek designs and convenient registry integration.
• Minted: Boasts elegant, coordinated designs.
• Wix or Squarespace: Allows for highly customized styles.

When selecting a platform, it's important to choose one that coincides with your wedding aesthetic and offers the necessary features for your needs. For example, if you plan on including a lot of photos, you'll want to pick a platform with robust image gallery capabilities.

Once you've chosen a platform, it's time to personalize your template. Most platforms offer a variety of templates in different formats, colours, typefaces, and designs. This is where you can let your creativity shine and truly make the website your own. Consider the overall style or theme of your wedding and try to find a template that aligns with that. For instance, if you're having a botanical-themed wedding, you might choose a template with a botanical border.

As you customize your template, you'll want to create relevant pages that provide guests with all the information they need. While the specific tabs you include will vary depending on your wedding, here are some common pages to consider:

• Home: This is where guests will be directed to when they arrive at your website. It often includes a photo of the couple and details about the ceremony and reception.
• Our Story: A page dedicated to the couple's love story, often filled with photos and personal details.
• Schedule: A breakdown of the wedding itinerary, including times, locations, and any other relevant information.
• Travel and Accommodations: Information about nearby airports, parking, and hotel recommendations or blocks for guests.
• Registry: A page where guests can find links to your online registry or honeymoon fund.
• Things to Do: Recommendations for local landmarks, restaurants, or attractions for guests, especially those travelling from out of town.
• Wedding Party: An optional section outlining the names and titles of the wedding party members.
• RSVP: A page where guests can digitally RSVP, share their meal preferences, and disclose any dietary restrictions.

When personalizing your template, don't be afraid to get creative and inject your personality into the design. Add your engagement photos, play around with different colour schemes, and include any special details that reflect your style as a couple. Remember, your wedding website is a reflection of your love story, so have fun with it and make it unique!

Add essential pages

Once you've chosen your website builder and template, it's time to customise your wedding website by adding relevant pages. The tabs you include will depend on the size, scale, and duration of your wedding, but here are some essential pages to consider:

• Home: The homepage is where guests will be directed to when they visit your site. It often includes a photo of the couple and details about the ceremony and reception.
• Our Story: This section is dedicated to the couple's love story and is often filled with photos. It's a great way to add a personal touch to your website and give guests insight into your relationship.
• Schedule: If the itinerary isn't included on the homepage or if you're holding multiple events, consider creating a separate tab that breaks down all the information. This can include the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, and any other activities you have planned.
• Travel and Accommodations: This page is especially important for destination weddings or if you have guests travelling from out of town. Include information on nearby airports or train stations, parking details, and links to your hotel block or lodging recommendations.
• Registry: Include a page that links to your online registry, making it easy for guests to access and purchase gifts.
• Things to Do: If your wedding is a weekend-long event or in an area with attractions, consider including recommendations for landmarks, restaurants, or other activities guests can enjoy during their stay.
• Wedding Party: An optional page that outlines information about the wedding party, including their names and titles (bridesmaid, maid of honour, etc.).
• RSVP: This tab will take your guests to the digital RSVP form, where they can input their names, share their attendance, and select their meal preferences/disclose any dietary restrictions.

Include an RSVP form

Including an RSVP form on your wedding website is a great way to streamline the planning process and make it easier for your guests to respond. Here are some tips and suggestions for creating an effective RSVP form:

Collect Guest Information:

• On your RSVP form, ask guests to provide their full name and contact information, such as their mailing address, phone number, or email address. This will help you keep track of responses and reach out to guests if needed.
• You may also want to ask for the total number of guests attending, especially if guests are allowed to bring a plus one or additional guests.

Meal Preferences and Dietary Restrictions:

• If you're serving a meal at your wedding, use the RSVP form to collect guests' meal preferences, such as their choice of chicken, beef, or vegetarian.
• It's also a good idea to include a section for guests to indicate any dietary restrictions or food allergies, such as gluten-free, vegan, or nut allergies. This will help you accommodate their needs.

Attendance Status and RSVP Deadline:

• The primary purpose of the RSVP form is to collect attendance information, so be sure to include a section where guests can indicate whether they will be attending or not.
• Set an RSVP deadline, typically around two to four weeks before the wedding date, and clearly communicate this deadline on the form. This will help you finalise details with your vendors.

Additional Information:

• Consider including a section for guests to suggest song requests, offer relationship advice, or share a favourite memory of the couple. This adds a fun and interactive element to the form.
• You can also use the RSVP form to gather information about travel plans, accommodation preferences, or gift registry choices. This helps streamline the planning process and provides guests with a one-stop resource.

Customization and Design:

• Ensure your RSVP form aligns with the overall design and aesthetic of your wedding website. Use similar colours, fonts, and themes to create a cohesive look.
• You can also add personal touches, such as engagement photos or a custom URL, to make the form more engaging and reflective of your style as a couple.

Testing and Functionality:

Before publishing your RSVP form, test it thoroughly to ensure all links and features work correctly. This will help eliminate potential issues and reduce the number of guest queries.

By following these suggestions, you can create an effective and informative RSVP form that simplifies the planning process and enhances the overall guest experience.

Frequently asked questions