Are you one of those lucky couples tying the knot of holy matrimony soon?
First of all – CONGRATULATIONS!
With the big decision comes a lot of responsibility. From caters, locations, decorations to the guests – the list goes on and on. What if we give you a simple solution that can keep everything organized and streamlined in a single place?
The answer is – A Wedding Website.
A wedding website is not just a formality. It’s a crucial resource that keeps the guests informed while helping them plan their transportation and schedules. It’s a simple and easy source that gets them to the town and shows them where the party is.
From etiquette faux pas that you should avoid to must-have details, here is what you should put on your wedding website, along with website ideas, and what to avoid to make sure that everything goes just as you plan.
Follow our nifty tips, and you will have an organized site that will get the details of your big day across. So let’s begin.
1. Stick With Your Theme
There is no doubt that you put a lot of effort into planning the theme and palette of your wedding. So, why are you not making the most of it?
Be consistent with designing your wedding website as well. Whether it’s a sophisticated black-tie event or country chic, the website should clearly show that.
2. Don’t Mention Invite-Only Events
Everyone who visits your website will be on the wedding guest list. But that’s not always the case. For example, you might be having exclusive events such as bridesmaids-only luncheon or rehearsal dinner, where everyone is not invited. So share that information separately, and don’t mention such events on the website.
Otherwise, it will just make the other guests feel left out and come off as rude, specifically if they are traveling a long distance to attend your wedding.
3. Use A Password
Many wedding websites provide you an option to protect your website with a password. It’s a recommended practice. Wedding websites usually contain confidential information from your wedding date to your venue etc. Therefore, it is essential to secure such information.
Use your access password given by the website forum or upgrade to a custom-made password that will be easier for your guests to remember. It will be better this way, and your guests will quickly see the wedding details.
4. Avoid Digital RSVPs
While this attribute might seem appealing, think of the last time you published an event on Facebook. You must have had many friends show up to the party who didn’t even bother to RSVP, along with friends who did RSVP but didn’t show up.
Yes, this is indeed different, and people know that your wedding is essential and official rather than just gathering for a couple of drinks. But RSVPs are not taken so seriously as compared to paper cards. So it is always good to take a formal route.
Plus, your less tech-savvy and older guests will not be able to RSVP online successfully. So, your replies can be late, or your count might not be correct.
However, you can use online RSVPs for casual gatherings such as morning-after brunch, where you have a limited guest count and informal RSVPs.
5. Include Detailed Travel Information
Whether you have a local or destination wedding, your wedding website builder should also have a feature where detailed travel information can be displayed. It’s ideal if you have guests coming from out of town. It’s an excellent option to provide them the 4-1-1 on accommodations and travel.
Also, provide information about the nearest airport or the shortest way to get to the town. Other than this, include phone numbers, websites, and booking codes for local hotels where you have booked rooms. Don’t forget to mention any discounts that you have gotten for rental cars and airport shuttles.
6. Don’t Forget The Timeline
If you have any other events around your wedding date that all the people are invited to, please give them access to your website. Add the location, time, and dress code for every event so that the guests can pack accordingly and be on time.
However, if you have arranged transport for your guests, be sure to mention it on your website. Let the guests know where they have to catch the shuttle, how frequently and when the shuttle will leave, and when the transport will come back to their lodge.
7. Recommend Local Activities
You will be spending the morning of your wedding being gussied up. But your guests will have free time to kill before they come to the ceremony. Add recommendations for people coming out of town, with a guide to the couple’s favorite location and wedding areas.
You can also add information about the places that mean something to you. For instance, the place you met, had your first date at, got engaged or even kissed for the very first time. Make sure you mention the places which are near to the wedding location. It will be fun to tell your fairytale to the people attending your wedding.
8. Don’t Write A Novel
Wedding websites give a fun peek into the couple’s life, love story, and involvement in the wedding party. But make sure to keep it sweet and short.
Give a quick synopsis of each bridesmaid and groomsman. Tell how you met each of them, and go with the shorter version of how you and your partner were satisfied. Hit the highlights but skip the in-depth details.
9. Include Registry Information
It’s an absolute no to put your registry information on the invitations. But you can provide those details on the website because it can have more information. Provide direct links to the online registries so that guests can click and hit the ‘buy’ button easily.
Are you asking for contributions to the house fund or your honeymoon, or even charitable donations? Just add in a few lines about how you plan to use the money the guests will be given to you so that you all can stay connected on the same page.
With all that explained, we hope you succeed in making the perfect wedding website for yourself.