Wedding Websites – why you need one

Most people shy away from creating a wedding website because the idea of building a site from scratch feels intimidating. But, you do not have to be a web-designer to create a beautiful site that makes communicating with guests a breeze. There are dozens of pages online that offer website building options for free, and a number of them cater directly to weddings. Sites like: Wedding Paper Divas, Wedding Window, Wedding Wire, EWedding, and AppyCouple are just a handful.

In order to be able to narrow down which application will work best for you, the easiest way to approach it is just to dive right in. Sit down with your fiance, pour some wine, and start fiddling with the sites. Once you find one that is intuitive to you, it is time to get started.

Keep in mind who your “target audience” is. These are going to be your guests who are from out of town. Since those closest to you will likely be in the loop about details, try to think like an out of town guest. What would you want to know if you were visiting an unfamiliar place? Some great information to include in this regard is: hotel accommodations, restaurant options, entertainment options, directions from the airport, rental car services, etc. Guests will appreciate even the most elementary information, since traveling is energy-consuming enough.

The next thing you might want to think about is how personal you want to make the site. If you are having a really big wedding, it is possible that some of your guests (for example, plus-one’s) will not know how you met your fiance or what your favorite activities are. This is a great opportunity to make those guests feel more included. Consider making a tab that is “Our Love Story” or, something less cheesy if you prefer. Writing a little narrative about your relationships can actually be a fun activity to do together and it is something you could save for years to come.

Websites are a great tool because they help you interact with your guests. One of the best uses of this interaction is trailing RSVP’s. If you are traditional, then you might opt for the mail-in RSVP, but many modern couples are doing away with postage and relying strictly on their site to help them monitor the number of guests. There are a lot of advantages to this option, like the fact that you get real-time updates to your guest list and do not have to wait 3-5 business days.

Creating a website is a valuable way to make sure all guests have access to important information. The sooner you do it, the more “wait, where is the wedding, again?” phone calls you can avoid. Not to mention, building it can be a fun couple’s activity.

Photo Credit: http://www.emformarvelous.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-website-using-blogger/