10 Wedding Website Essentials

Couples today have such a great resource available to them that can make wedding planning so much easier: their wedding website. Most Most wedding website options are free, or you can have a custom site built. Your planner may even offer this service.

That said, there are some wedding website essentials you'll want to make sure are on your website, whether you create it yourself, or your planner does it for you.

Date & Ceremony Start Time

While it may seem obvious that you'd want to include this, you need to be very clear; because some people really do believe the ceremony will wait for them, if they're late. Give your guests a suggested arrival time, too. Make sure this is in a prominent place on your wedding website.

If you know you have guests that are habitually punctuality challenged, do not tell them an earlier time. Simply make sure they know that the ceremony will not wait for them, and if it's in an enclosed space, that your coordinator or planner will not let them enter during the ceremony, once it has started. (It's literally our job to protect your wedding ceremony; and I'll die on that hill.) :)

Address(es) Are an Absolute Wedding Website Essential

This one may also seem obvious, but for some it isn't. You may know exactly where a certain venue is, or maybe you're getting married in Grandma's backyard and have never needed to know the physical address. But your guests may not know where the venue is. Even with mapping options on our phones, there could be more than one location with the same name; or an online search may give the business or mailing address rather than the actual venue entrance. If your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are not all in the same location, make sure you've included the address and/or room number or name (hotels often have names for each different ballroom) for each.

A Simple Schedule

Don't worry about creating a full timeline. This is just the basics. Welcome dinner, if you're having one; rehearsal; rehearsal dinner; ceremony time; cocktail hour time; reception time; and what time the wedding day is likely to end. If you're having a wedding brunch the following day, include that too.

Include the events that particular guest needs to know about: welcome dinner, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for those involved, ceremony time, cocktail hour, reception, and approximately when the celebration will end. If your website can’t show different schedules to different guests, share rehearsal dinners and other private events separately.

Dress Code

Make sure your guests know what your dress code is, by first making sure you know what it is; and that the reception you're envisioning supports that level of dress code. Your requested attire should fit the setting, season, and guest experience.

Once you know what your dress code is, you can provide it, and an example picture. This would also be where you can mention colors you'd love guests to wear, while keeping those requests reasonable. And yes, it's completely reasonable for a bride wearing white to ask guests not to wear white dresses.

Parking and Transportation

Let your guests know whether there is ample parking at all your venues, or whether transportation will be provided for them, and what that transportation is, and where and when they can expect pickup and returns. Also make sure you supply the last shuttle departure time, so no one gets stuck without a ride back to their car at the end of the night.

Accessibility Information

Many modern venues will be fully accessible, but if you're getting married in a historical location, or outside at a private estate or residence, accessibility may be a challenge. It can still be a challenge even in some more modern venues. Let your guests know about any potential challenges, and whether there is a work-around in place to address them. Potential challenges include stairs, uneven ground, accessible parking and entrances, and who to contact about accessibility options. For outdoor weddings, this is also a good place to let guests know what kind of terrain to expect, whether shade or shelter is available, and anything they may need to know about typical weather conditions.

Venue Guidelines

Let your guests know about any rules the venue has that may impact them. For instance, some don't allow throwing of confetti, rice, or flowers; or they may not allow certain footwear (stiletto heels on grass- usually for safety reasons). Common ones include no outside alcohol, and many do not allow smoking of any kind. While that may seem obvious, it's quite common for people to bring their own alcohol, thinking they can get away with it, and it can cost you your venue deposit if it doesn't get you kicked out. So always make sure it's clear what those guidelines and restrictions are.

Lodging

If you have reserved room blocks for your out of town guests, be sure to include the names of the hotel(s) where you have done so, a link to book, and the deadline for doing so. Even if you have reserved room blocks, giving them nearby hotel options too, is always appreciated. Check with your planner to see if they have any partnerships or affiliations with local hotels or booking platforms. Many certified wedding planners do.

RSVP Details

Give your guests a link and/or instructions on how to RSVP, the deadline for doing so, and how to indicate meal choices, and dietary restrictions your caterer needs to know about, especially serious or life-threatening food allergies. The latter matters even if you send paper invitations. Sidenote: make sure you check with your caterer about how life threatening allergies will be handled, to ensure safe service for your guests. Using the RSVP link alone does not guarantee a safe meal.

Registry Information

If you want gifts, provide registry link(s) for guests to use, to help ensure you get items you'll actually use. If you don't want any physical gifts, you could link to a honeymoon fund. And if you don't want any gifts at all, for those guests that are insistent on buying something (and it seems there's always at least one) provide a link to your favorite charity or cause.

As a Bonus, Add an FAQ

Some of these FAQs might answer: “Are children allowed?” “Will a babysitter or nanny be provided?” if children are invited; “May I bring a plus one?” “Are the ceremony and reception indoors or outdoors?” Yes, even if it's already on the invitation. And, “Whom should guests contact with questions?”

For that last one, give them a designated person, especially for the wedding day. Your planner, coordinator, or a trusted family member should be the point of contact. Please don't call the couple on their wedding day. They have enough going on without helping Uncle Bob figure out where he parked.