Zola: Your Ultimate Wedding Planner Companion

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but Zola can help make the process a breeze. Zola offers a range of free, user-friendly tools to help you plan your big day, including a wedding website, guest list management, RSVP tracking, and a registry. You can also use Zola to connect with local vendors, create a wedding checklist, and communicate with your guests. With Zola, you can keep all your wedding planning in one place, making it easy to stay organized and on top of the details. From setting your budget and choosing a venue to sending invitations and tracking RSVPs, Zola has you covered. So, will Zola help plan your wedding? Absolutely!

Zola's wedding planning app

The app includes a guest list tool that allows you to track RSVPs, meal selections, plus ones, and more. You can also use the app to create a seating chart, customising table names and the number of seats. Zola's Super Link feature allows you to send a personalised link to guests to collect their contact information and automatically add them to your guest list.

Zola's wedding website feature allows you to provide guests with information about schedules, directions, and hotel blocks. Guests can also use the website to RSVP and access your registry. The app offers a range of website designs and the ability to customise your website to match your wedding invitations.

In addition to these features, Zola's app also includes tools for creating a wedding checklist, connecting with local vendors, and managing your budget. The app provides a collection of real wedding photos for inspiration, allowing you to browse and book vendors.

Budgeting and saving

Zola can help you plan your wedding by providing budgeting advice and saving tips. While setting a budget may not be the most exciting part of planning your wedding, it is essential. Zola can help you avoid financial headaches and tackle confusing questions.

The average wedding budget is $30,000, but there are many ways to reduce costs. Zola recommends that you and your partner each list your top three priorities for the wedding day and then discuss how you will allocate your funds. Zola also suggests opting for a non-traditional wedding venue, such as a restaurant, brewery, public library, museum, or summer camp, which is likely to be more affordable than a hotel lawn or ballroom. If you have the space, consider hosting your wedding at home for a beautifully personal celebration.

The biggest expense in a wedding is typically the venue, but Zola offers ways to save money in this area. Firstly, consider off-peak days and times. Fridays, Sundays, and weekdays are usually cheaper than Saturdays, the most popular day for weddings. Secondly, look for all-inclusive packages, especially for destination weddings. These packages often include food and drink, helping to save costs on significant expenses. Opting for a buffet instead of a sit-down meal and choosing a morning or afternoon wedding can also reduce catering costs.

Zola also provides tips for saving on entertainment, hair and makeup, attire, invitations, and desserts. You can choose between a band and a DJ or ask someone in your network to create a wedding playlist. For hair and makeup, you can do it yourself, enlist a friend's help, or look into beauty schools or mobile stylists. Zola suggests choosing simple styles over elaborate designs. Regarding attire, you can opt for something less traditional, which is likely to be more affordable. Digital invitations and a small wedding cake or alternative dessert, such as cupcakes or doughnuts, are also cost-effective options.

In addition to budgeting and saving advice, Zola offers various other tools to help plan your wedding. These include a wedding website, guest list management, seating charts, vendor recommendations, and a wedding registry. The Zola app is free to use and provides a convenient way to access these features and plan your special day.

Guest list management

Planning a wedding can be a stressful task, especially when it comes to managing the guest list. Zola offers a range of tools to help you effortlessly organize, invite, and manage responses for a stress-free celebration.

To begin, you can create your "guest list draft" by writing down the names of everyone you want to invite, including family, friends, and even coworkers. This will be your mega list, which you can then categorize into A, B, and C lists. The A list comprises your must-invite guests, such as immediate family members, closest friends, and non-negotiable guests. The B list includes important guests who can be the first to invite if your space or budget constraints result in A-list guests unable to attend. The C list is optional and includes distant relatives or friends you haven't seen in a while.

Zola's free guest list manager simplifies the process by allowing you to import a spreadsheet or start from scratch. You can add guests' information, and Zola will handle the rest, including addressing envelopes for free. No more worrying about messy handwriting or hand cramps! You can also track RSVPs, meal selections, plus ones, and more. Additionally, Zola offers a convenient way to send RSVP reminders or updates about hotel blocks, weather, or any other changes.

One of the most challenging aspects of guest list management is collecting guests' contact information and addresses. Zola provides a solution by allowing you to text or email guests a quick link to a form, which, once filled out, will automatically update your guest list with their information. This way, you can ensure that everyone you want is invited, and you won't have to worry about managing multiple lists or manually updating information.

Zola's guest list tool also assists in creating a seating chart and place cards, making it easy to drag and drop guests into different tables for each event at your wedding. You can customize table names and the number of seats, ensuring a seamless experience for your guests. With Zola, you can focus on celebrating your special day with your loved ones, leaving the logistics to their capable hands.

Wedding website design

Zola offers a range of free wedding planning tools, including a wedding website, to help you plan your wedding. The website can be customised with your own photos and text, and you can choose from a variety of design templates. You can also add matching 'save the dates' and invitations, as well as other stationery.

Zola's wedding website allows you to manage your guest list, track RSVPs, meal selections, and plus ones, and create a seating plan by dragging and dropping guests into different tables for each event at your wedding. You can also customise table names and the number of seats.

In addition, Zola's website offers a registry platform, although some couples have noted that they preferred to use Amazon as it hides your mailing address. You can, however, add a link to your Amazon registry page to your Zola website.

While some couples have praised Zola's design and guest management tools, others have opted for alternative platforms such as Squarespace, which offers more control over the look and feel of the website, or WithJoy, which has beautiful templates and RSVP functions. The Knot is another popular option, offering an awesome budget tool, although it is known for site glitches and RSVP issues.

Ultimately, the best wedding website design platform for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities. If you want a simple, user-friendly option with good design customisation, Zola could be a good choice. However, if you want more control over the design or specific features like a budget tool, you may prefer an alternative platform.

Thank you notes

Zola can help you plan your wedding by providing a range of tools to make the process more manageable. One of the most important aspects of wedding planning is managing your guest list and RSVPs. Zola allows you to send out a personalised link to your guests, which they can use to provide their contact information and RSVP. This information is then automatically added to your guest list, saving you time and effort.

Zola also offers a user-friendly wedding app that functions as a wedding planner in your pocket. The app helps you find local vendors, build a wedding registry, and design and order invitations and paper products. You can also manage your guest list, create a wedding checklist, and communicate with your guests through the app.

In addition to these practical tools, Zola also provides inspiration and ideas for your wedding. You can explore "Real Weddings" on Zola, which features hundreds of photos from recent weddings, allowing you to gather ideas for your own big day. You can filter these photos by setting, style, and colour to find ones that match your vision.

Now, onto the thank-you notes. Zola understands the importance of showing gratitude to your guests for their attendance and gifts. They offer a range of thank-you cards that match your invitation suite, making it easy for you to send elegant and cohesive stationery. To make the process even smoother, Zola's Thank You Note Manager helps you keep track of who gave you what, their addresses, and whether a note has been sent. This ensures that you don't accidentally send duplicate notes or miss sending a note altogether.

Zola also provides guidance on the etiquette and wording of thank-you cards. They offer articles with tips on how to address the cards, how to word your messages of gratitude, and how to personalise each note. Zola recommends sending thank-you notes no later than three months after the wedding, and they emphasise the importance of hand-writing a unique message for each gift-giver.

With Zola's assistance, you can navigate the wedding planning process with ease and ensure that you properly thank your guests for their contributions to your special day.

Frequently asked questions