You’ve all seen them …. the wedding website that was obviously only used to store the details that used to go out on a separate insert in the wedding invite. Can we just say, YAWN! C’mon, this is your big day and you’re spending bucks(!!) to make the day perfect – why not invest some good old-fashioned time on getting your guests in the mood by making your FREE website fun, fresh, and engaging!
There are many free platforms out there (The Knot, Wedding Wire, Joy, Wix, Minted) – and they all walk you through the basics: date, time, location, hotel options, RVSPs, and registry links. But if that’s all you include – the site won’t be a destination of its own and will feel a little unfinished and stale – definitely not the image you want to portray for your special day.
So, what makes your site unique and special?
First and foremost – infuse the site with your personality and let the theme you have chosen for the day set the tone for the site. Going uber-elegant and upscale for your wedding day? – your website style should reflect that level of formality. Looking to create the ultimate Boho event? – each page on your site can be more free-flowing and casual.
Stories, stories, stories. We can’t say it enough – if you are taking the time to create a site, make it one that those visiting will fully enjoy by telling your story. Include embellished and fun details of how you met, your relationship and the fun things you do together, your engagement, your wedding party and why each earned a spot at the front, and even why you chose the registry you did. All those details bring your guests closer to you – especially those that are on the “outer edges” of the invitation list.
Details! Every wedding site includes the venue and address, but guests – especially those traveling a distance – will appreciate additional details such as: Travel. What is the nearest airport and best travel route to your location? People not familiar with the locale may not know that a parallel arterial will move much faster than the freeway. Or that one route includes tolls, but is worth the cost because the alternative is so inconvenient. Or that there is always a back-up for about two miles through downtown, but it’s worth the wait, because any other option is going to be much worse. Whatever tips you have, definitely share them for the out of town guests.
If your venue does not have parking or has only limited spots – include best options so your guests aren’t late because they were looking for an open space or a wallet-friendly lot nearby.
Have you arranged transportation from the hotel to the venue? Details such as shuttle departure times – both to and from the venue – help guests determine if they will want to participate or obtain their own alternative. Distance, parking, and alternate travel options obviously play into whether the shuttle will be a guest go-to or not.
And if your day includes multiple locations – include a map with the hotels and various venues highlighted. Just having that information already pulled into a central location is so helpful for your guests. They will thank you for it!
Discounted options: a hotel block is fairly standard, but did you get a package deal for a shuttle or car rental from the airport? Or have you negotiated for a reduced rate for parking near your venue? Be sure your guests know before they go!
Food Information: If your reception begins at a time generally considered to be associated with a meal time, include information about what you will be serving. Guests that are expecting a meal and then get served only hors d’oeuvres and cake are either going to leave early or leave hangry. On the other hand, if you are having a meat-filled buffet, fair warning for the vegan is simply being courteous. Not sure yet what you’re serving? Any information on the intended level of catering will help guests to be prepared to keep their stomach under control throughout the festivities.
Weather: unless you are going on a true destination wedding, you know your location and what to be prepared for weather-wise. Let your guests in on the local knowledge and how to be prepared. I remember a wedding in the foothills of the Rockies in December – and one distant family member came in open toes heels. She was obviously not aware that – not only was this an outside wedding, but that the venue did not clear the space where guests stand during the ceremony. Standing in 4-inches of fresh snow couldn’t have been enjoyable! And – with our locale in the Pacific NW – we know that bringing an umbrella is an essential – not only for rain, but also for those rare days when the sun beats down relentlessly.
Tourists: if you have several out of town guests, consider including your favorite places to hang – from local must-see’s to best restaurants to favorite coffee shops. All are great additions for those traveling in that will have more free time during the weekend than the wedding party. And if there is a single “don’t miss the opportunity to do/see this while you’re here” – definitely include that information as well.
A last word of caution – the more private information you share on your site, the more you should consider having it password protected. Public sites are great for the generic, but in this day and age, don’t throw caution to the wind. Protect yourself!
Don’t think you have the time to put all this together? Ask your wedding party to help out and write their own brief information – or family members to write various sections – like the local or transportation details. Or better yet, engage your wedding planner. All Tied Up can help pull together much of the information for your site – and then all you need to do is personalize the voice.
Whatever you need to do to build a great site is worth the effort. Your guests will love stopping by and walking through your wedding preparation with you. And speaking of wedding preparation – are you all DIY or do you want to speak your vision and have someone else put it all together? Not sure? … check back when we post, “To DIY or to not DIY”.
