
Zola is a female-led e-commerce company that offers wedding planning services, including free wedding websites, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and customizable checklists. The company also allows couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores. Zola was founded in New York City in 2013 and has since expanded its services to include wedding planning tools and a marketplace for purchasing products and experiences. The company has been recognised for its innovative approach to wedding planning and its comprehensive suite of tools and services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of company | Online wedding registry, wedding planner, and retailer |
| Founding year | 2013 |
| Founders | Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi |
| Business model | Monetization through sales of products on its website, and partnerships with various vendors |
| Features | Personalized wedding websites, universal registry, guest management, product and vendor marketplace |
| Other features | Zero-fee cash funds, gift exchange, drag-and-drop guest list management, RSVP tracking, customizable checklists |
| Awards and recognition | Recognized as one of the fastest-growing wedding registries, No. 7 in Fast Company's 2024 Most Innovative Companies in North America |
| Recent developments | Launch of Zola Weddings, expansion into physical retail with a pop-up shop in NYC, introduction of Zola Baby (a baby registry) |
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What You'll Learn
- Zola is a wedding planning and registry experience
- It's a free, centralised platform for all things wedding-related
- Couples can create a wedding website, compile a registry and access planning tools
- Zola generates revenue through the sale of products and commissions from vendor partnerships
- The company has been recognised for its innovation and inclusiveness

Zola is a wedding planning and registry experience
Zola is a free online wedding planning and registry service that combines technology and a customer-first mindset to redefine the wedding planning industry. The platform is free to use for couples, where they can create a wedding website, compile a registry, and access planning tools.
Zola's registry service allows couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores. Zola has partnerships with various vendors, and couples can purchase products and services directly through the Zola platform. The company generates revenue by selling wedding gifts and wedding-related items, as well as through commissions from vendor partnerships.
Zola's wedding planning service includes free wedding websites, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and customizable checklists. The company also offers customized wedding invitations and save-the-date cards. Zola's innovative approach to wedding planning provides a one-stop shop for couples and their guests, making the process easier and more enjoyable.
Zola also offers a unique feature for cash giving, allowing users to set up funds of their choice. The company's universal registry allows couples to include items from any store in the world, offering flexibility and customization. Zola's guest management tools help with managing guest lists, tracking RSVPs, meal selections, plus ones, and even seating arrangements.
Zola is known for its compassionate customer service and modern tools, supporting couples from engagement to wedding and beyond. The company has been recognized for its innovative approach to wedding planning and is poised to become a dominating player in the wedding industry.
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It's a free, centralised platform for all things wedding-related
Zola is an innovative online wedding company that acts as a centralised platform for all things wedding-related. It was founded in 2013 by Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi, with the aim of simplifying wedding planning and making the process more enjoyable for couples.
The platform is free to use for couples, who can create a personalised wedding website, compile a registry, and access planning tools. Zola's registry is universal, allowing couples to include items from any store worldwide. This flexibility means couples can curate a list that truly reflects their needs and preferences, from physical gifts to experiences and cash funds.
Zola also offers guest management tools, enabling couples to manage guest lists, track RSVPs, meal selections, plus ones, and even seating arrangements. The platform's drag-and-drop function allows couples to easily customise table names and the number of seats.
In addition to its online services, Zola has expanded into physical retail. In 2018, the company partnered with home decor retailer Crate & Barrel, allowing users to register for over 3,500 Crate & Barrel products. In 2019, Zola opened its first brick-and-mortar location, a pop-up shop in New York City's Flatiron District.
Zola generates revenue by selling wedding gifts and wedding-related items, as well as through partnerships with various vendors. The company has received $140 million in funding, with $100 million of that coming in 2018. With its innovative approach and focus on customer experience, Zola is disrupting the traditional wedding industry and is recognised as one of the fastest-growing wedding registries today.
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Couples can create a wedding website, compile a registry and access planning tools
Zola is a free online wedding registry, wedding planner, and retailer. Couples can create a wedding website, compile a registry, and access planning tools. The platform is free to use for couples, and they can create a wedding website that reflects their unique style. Zola's registry allows couples to include items from any store worldwide, offering flexibility to curate a list that suits their needs and preferences.
Couples can register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores. They can also choose when their gifts ship and exchange gifts for credit before they ship. Zola's website allows couples to track RSVPs, meal selections, plus ones, and more. It also offers guest management tools to manage guest lists, track RSVPs, and organize seating arrangements.
Zola has expanded its services to include wedding planning through Zola Weddings, which includes free wedding websites, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and customizable checklists. The company also introduced customized wedding invitations and save-the-date cards. Zola's innovative approach combines technology and a customer-first mindset to redefine the wedding industry, providing a one-stop shop for couples and their guests.
Zola generates revenue by selling products on its website and through partnerships with various vendors. While the platform is free for couples, Zola receives a portion of the sale when a guest purchases a gift from the couple's registry. The company has disrupted the traditional wedding industry by centralizing the wedding planning process on one platform.
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Zola generates revenue through the sale of products and commissions from vendor partnerships
Zola is an online wedding registry, wedding planner, and retailer. The company was founded in New York City in 2013 by Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi. It was launched as an online wedding registry that, for the first time, allowed couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores, all in one place.
Zola's business model revolves around acting as a centralized platform for all wedding-related needs. The platform is free to use for couples, where they can create a wedding website, compile a registry, and access planning tools.
Zola's innovative approach to wedding planning combines technology and a customer-first mindset to redefine the industry. The company has received $140 million in funding, with the most recent round of funding in 2018 raising $100 million. As of February 2019, Zola was valued at $600 million and is on the path to becoming a unicorn, a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion.
In addition to its wedding planning services, Zola has expanded its offerings to include a baby registry, Zola Baby, launched due to popular demand from its users.
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The company has been recognised for its innovation and inclusiveness
Zola is an online wedding registry, wedding planner, and retailer. It is a female-led e-commerce company that allows couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores. The company has been recognised for its innovation and inclusiveness.
Zola was founded in New York City in 2013 by Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi. It was launched as an online wedding registry that allowed couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores, all in one place. The company has received $140 million in funding, with the most recent funding round of $100 million in 2018.
Zola has been recognised for its innovation and inclusiveness in the wedding industry. In 2024, Fast Company recognised Zola as one of the Most Innovative Companies in North America. This recognition highlights Zola's unique approach to wedding planning, combining technology and a customer-first mindset to redefine the industry. Zola's business model revolves around acting as a centralised platform for all things wedding-related, including wedding websites, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and customisable checklists.
Zola's innovative approach to wedding planning has disrupted the traditional wedding industry by providing a one-stop shop for couples and their guests. The company's suite of tools and services is tailored for modern couples, offering a comprehensive and stress-free experience. Zola's universal registry allows couples to include items from any store in the world, providing flexibility and curating a list that reflects their unique needs and preferences.
In addition to its innovation, Zola has also been recognised for its inclusiveness. In 2019, the company announced that it would remove wedding locations that once were slave plantations from its listings. This decision was made in response to the civil rights advocacy group Color of Change, who raised concerns about the use and marketing of these sites as wedding venues. Zola worked with the organisation to ensure their policies promoted inclusiveness and respected the history of these locations.
Zola has also featured same-sex couples in its advertising campaigns, showcasing their commitment to inclusiveness and representation. The company faced some backlash from conservative groups, but stood by their values and reinstated the pulled ads. Zola's inclusiveness extends beyond their wedding planning services, as they have also introduced a baby registry, Zola Baby, in response to requests from their couples.
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Frequently asked questions
Zola is a wedding planning and registry experience company.
Zola provides a range of services, including wedding websites, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and customizable checklists. Couples can also register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds, as well as add gifts from other stores.
Zola combines different business models to generate revenue. When a guest purchases a gift from a couple's registry, Zola receives a portion of the sale. The company also has partnerships with various vendors and earns a commission when couples use these vendors for their wedding services.
Zola is known for its innovative approach to wedding planning, combining technology and a customer-first mindset. The company offers a centralized platform for all things wedding-related, making it a one-stop shop for couples and their guests.











































