Are Wedding Websites Worth It?
By Caitlin Hoare
Thinking about creating a wedding website but not sure if it's worth it? Trust us, it really is! Dive into our article to discover how wedding websites can be a game-changer in simplifying your wedding planning process and keeping everything organized. Let's explore why saying "I do" to a wedding website is a decision you won't regret!
In a nutshell, YES! Wedding websites really are worth it. Not convinced? Well, keep reading for a few reasons why you need to get cracking with a wedding website and how they can be a massive help to you during the wedding planning process. It couldn’t be easier, too; once you’ve locked in your wedding date and wedding venue; you’ll be ready to start creating your wedding website. Let’s go!
Use a wedding website service
Why not choose one of the many free wedding website templates that have been designed to be both useful and pretty? Say I do offers more than 50 different templates for couples who are wedding planning. You’ll be able to locate (at least!) one to fit your theme, whether your style is traditional elegance or boho luxe. Using a template can save you a huge amount of time and provide you with the ideal place to start when adding all the details for your big day as they come together. However, using a wedding website builder will not only help you organise your wedding planning but also help your guests easily access all of your wedding details (without needing to text or call you on every whim).
They are cost-effective
There is no denying that receiving a traditional printed wedding invitation in the mail is exciting, but paper invitations have drawbacks and can come with a hefty price tag. Not only do you need the wedding budget for the cost of the invitations themselves, but you also need to account for printing and shipping expenses. The convenience of sending digital invitations can significantly reduce the cost compared to sending printed invitations. Your wedding website can act as your invitation, or you can send digital invites alongside your website. In fact, your whole wedding invitation suite can be digital and perfectly matched. Free wedding websites not only allow couples to easily and efficiently share important information with their guests but they can do so in a budget-friendly way.
If you're wondering how to get your wedding website out there, simply pop the wedding website URL onto your save-the-date card, even if your website isn't complete. Make sure you've added the essential details, but additional information, such as accommodation, transport, etc., can be added at a later date.
They keep your wedding planning organised
When you’re planning such a monumental event, losing a list can seem like the end of the world! Try a digital wedding planning checklist. You really do get just as much satisfaction from checking things off digitally as you would from ticking them off with a pen and paper. Whether you’re enlisting the help of a wedding planner or not, you will still find this tool very useful. We offer plenty of helpful tasks to add, but you still have the flexibility to include your own. We would always advise you to start early, though, and make a list of everything you can think of because there will probably be a lot of tasks spinning around in your head from the beginning!
Collect RSVPs easily
With digital wedding invitations, guests can RSVP to your invitation with a single click. Whereas, on the other hand, when you receive a traditional printed invitation, it’s all too easy to stick it on the fridge or some other safe place and completely forget to return the RSVP card at all. In fact, it’s really simple to lose those tiny wedding RSVP cards entirely! Inevitably, you’ll end up needing to follow up with those guests, which takes time and can be stressful.
If you find yourself with a few that need chasing up, a wedding website and/or digital invitations make it slightly easier to send a gentle reminder, but they don’t entirely eliminate the need for it. Say I do offer the really handy RSVP tracking option, which makes it simple to keep track of responses, contact guests who are running late, and contain everyone’s information in one place. You can even manage responses for other wedding events, such as your stag and hen do and your rehearsal dinner.
You can also share details that aren’t on your wedding invitations
By sending digital wedding invitations alongside your website, there is no word restriction to adhere to, no printing costs to worry about, and no chance of the invites going missing in the mail. You can put ALL the information your guests will need to know about the upcoming celebration on your wedding website. If you’re hosting a destination wedding, wedding websites are particularly useful. Adding information such as local things to do in the area will be welcomed by your guests, as they will more than likely want to explore the area pre- or post-wedding. Just imagine trying to fit all of this super handy information on printout cards!
Including details about your wedding registry on your invitations can feel a little awkward, so this is where the wedding website really shines. Include a section with links to your gift registry information so that your guests can easily locate the ideal present or contribute to your honeymoon fund.
It helps you organise your guest list
Your guest list is the backbone of your wedding planning process. With a wedding guest list manager, you can stay on top of things, and it can be a simple and easy process. Import your guest list spreadsheet or input them straight into the platform and tweak them along the way. You can group parties into singles, couples, or families, add and delete them from the list in real time, send online invites, and then track all of the responses. You can then use the list to create seating plans on the platform - really cool, huh?
Another benefit is that if guests decline your invitation, you don’t need to remove them from the system. Say I do automatically marks them as ‘not attending’ and puts them in a separate list you can view.
Let you answer FAQs
Before you receive a flood of calls and texts asking the same questions, answering your guests’ enquiries in an FAQ section on your wedding website is the ideal solution. Guests might be interested in knowing if they can bring children, what the dress code is for various events, and what accommodation options are available nearby. With all of your wedding-related questions answered in one place, you’ll have more time to tackle other wedding day duties that are still on your never-ending to-do list.
You can easily communicate last-minute changes
Let's hope our pandemic days are long forgotten, but you never know what's around the corner. We’re sure if you were a happy couple due to get married, but the pandemic scuppered your plans, you'd be very grateful to be able to communicate changes to guests at the click of a button. That's the sheer beauty of having a wedding website. It could be weather conditions that you want to update guests on, travel plans, or literally anything; pop an update on your website for all to see or send everyone a blanket email with just one click. Just think, if you hadn't created a wedding website, how many individual phone calls, texts, or emails you'd have to send out and the replies you'd have to deal with!
It will help you create a greener wedding
Are you attempting to lessen your wedding's carbon footprint? A wedding website is an excellent way for the eco-conscious bride. Just consider how much paper goes into the initial invitation suite. You have the invites themselves, as well as the RSVP card and envelope. When you realise that most of it will probably be tossed in the bin after the event (sad face), it is a lot of paper! An environmentally responsible way to eliminate this wasted paper and lessen your wedding's carbon impact is to have a digital wedding website do the heavy lifting for you!
Get guests excited about your big day
Creating a wedding website will also help to build anticipation for your big day and make it an enjoyable experience for your guests to visit. Why not add more pages to your website and give it a more unique feel by sharing your love story, uploading images of your wedding party and engagement photos, and even adding photos from your honeymoon when the time comes? Depending on the type you’ve chosen, of course, there are no restrictions on how much information you can include on your wedding website and digital invitation. However, it’s crucial to avoid getting too carried away; you want your guests to be able to access the important details about the day with ease.
Of course, it’s your call whether you create a wedding website or not, but we would highly recommend it, and we hope this feature demonstrates how much of a no-brainer they are! Not only will it save you time, money, and a few trees along the way, but it will also help you keep on track while you’re on the wedding planning rollercoaster!