A wedding website is an inexpensive and efficient way to keep your guests informed of all your important wedding day/weekend details. It also creates a sense of anticipation as to what to look forward to. When you’re creating your wedding website, think about who is on your guest list, what type of information would they need, and what important details you need your guests to have.
At Akal Elegance, we’ve seen dozens of wedding websites and know a thing or two about making them work for couples and their guests. Here are some of the most important details to include on your wedding website:
- Date and time of your wedding ceremony – This information should be on your first page or very close to it. You won’t believe the number of guests that misplace their invitations and turn to the couples’ website for the day-of information.
- Local names, address and phone numbers for ceremony and reception locations – This is particularly important if your ceremony and reception locations aren’t easy to find.
- Directions to ceremony and reception – Most wedding websites offer map features that’ll show guests a visual of the event location(s). Alternatively, you can add specific directions if the usual GPS directions aren’t 100% accurate. This is usually the case for venues located in remote areas where GPS will stop working after a certain point.
- Local airport (s), airlines that serve the region and car rental companies – Expecting out of town guests? Let them know the closest airport and rental car companies so they can plan for their travel to your wedding with ease.
- Address and contact information for nearby accommodations and their distance from the ceremony/reception – If you’re providing accommodation for guests, be sure to include their addresses and contact information (the hotel name, website and phone number would suffice) so guests can book their stays. A lot of guests like to know how far away they’ll be from the main event location so, feel free to include the distance as well if you have that information.
- Links to gift registry – If you’re sharing a registry with your guests don’t forget to include a link to it on your website. Before linking to it, make sure you visit the registry site and confirm that your registry isn’t set to private so your guests can access it. Your website and bridal shower invitation are the only places you should be linking to your wedding registry.
- Option to RSVP –Another new and efficient tool from wedding websites is the ability for your guests to RSVP online. Not only is this a great option for budget-conscious couples, it also helps to keep things organized for sharing headcounts and meal selections with vendors later in your wedding planning process. I’ve had several couples give me access to their wedding websites to handle their RSVPs and I can’t tell you how much easier it made the final weeks of planning for both of us! Make sure you let your guests know on your invitation that they can RSVP online, too.
- Dress code – If you’d like your guests to dress a certain way for your wedding make sure you put the dress code on your website. Most couples include this detail on their wedding details page or their FAQ page. If your chosen dress code isn’t obvious, feel free to include photos or link to a Pinterest board with inspiration ideas.
- Any religious/cultural etiquette that should be observed – Does your wedding include cultural or religious activities that may not be known to your guests? Let them know what to expect and whether they should be following any specific rules on your website to avoid any issues during the wedding.
- Schedule of events: time and addresses for events surrounding the weddings that are open to all guests – If you’re the type of couple who wants to make sure people know where to be and what’s happening at all times, include a schedule of events on your website. This doesn’t have to be very detailed and can just provide a high-level view of the main events and their times.
- Transportation schedule – If you’re providing transportation for your guests, your wedding website is the perfect place to share the schedule of pick-up and drop-off times so guests can plan accordingly. The last thing you want to deal with while getting ready for your special day are calls from guests who didn’t know what time their shuttles were leaving for your venue.
- Things to do in the area – If your wedding is out of town or in another country, including a things to do page is a no-brainer. If the destination city holds special meaning for you, get personal with this page and include some of your favorite spots and activities you did as a couple there. If this is the first time you’ll be in this destination, look to a local or travel expert for that destination to provide recommendations on things to do.
While it can be time consuming, creating your wedding website doesn’t need to be stressful. Your wedding planner should be able to help you prioritize what pages you need and assist with setting up your website if you’re not tech-savvy. Your guests will be grateful they have somewhere that they can get answers to their burning questions about your big day, and you’ll feel relieved that you have somewhere to point them to for wedding information. Still trying to find the right wedding planner? Contact our team to get a free consultation.
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