Wedding Website Myth-Busting & How-To’s
At the beginning of the planning process with our clients, we start by sending a Getting Started email, giving them a list of where to begin. One of our favorite tasks to tackle is the wedding website. It can seem daunting for couples and we find that there are so many assumptions made on how it should be done. We’re going to do a little wedding website myth-busting and offer you some tips on how to make this a smooth and fun process.
Wedding Website Myths
“I have to have my engagement photos done before I start the website.”
Not so! All it takes is a simple photo of the two of you from your iPhone or Instagram. Just add one of your favorites onto the homepage and pop those professional pics in once they come back from your photographer.
“Where do I begin in writing our relationship’s life story for the about us page? This is going to take forever!”
The only people who are visiting your website are your friends and family… and they know you. Even if most of your guests live out of town or your distant relatives haven’t yet met the beau, you only really need to give the Cliff’s Notes version of your life together. Write a short, meaningful paragraph about you two and add on later if you like.
“All of the templates are ugly.”
The selection is bigger than you think. The Knot has been a staple for years, but there are many more choices out there. Joy has some great free templates, as do Minted and Zola. For a more interactive and detailed option, check out Riley & Grey. Though, a little pricey at $35/month, they present stunning templates with really cool features. Think interactive RSVPs that let your guests mention food allergies. Appy Couple is an app-based wedding website, however guests are required to download the app in order to interact with it. Lastly, if you want to go completely custom but aren’t web developers or graphic designers yourselves, Squarespace is a great resource. It offers basic website templates to build on, allowing you to change colors and fonts and even add in your own graphics.
Final Words of Advice & How-To’s
Keep it short and sweet. You can always add on.
Be informative. Add accommodation options, travel info, and weekend events as you gather the info.
Enlist some help. If you’re swamped at work or busy planning most of the actual wedding yourself, have a bridesmaid or friend get it started for you. Many planners also offer this as one of their services, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Don’t stress too much about this. The site is meant to be a communication tool between you and your guests. It doesn’t have to be perfect.