The Importance of Creating a Wedding Website

You’re getting ready to plan the wedding of your dreams, but you’re wondering about the importance of creating a wedding website. Maui Love Weddings is a full-service wedding planning company that specializes in design and coordination. Furthermore, we plan destination weddings in Maui and the surrounding islands. So, many of our couples often ask us about the importance of creating a wedding website during the planning process. We wanted to share our insights on the importance of creating, maintaining, and using a wedding website to create an unforgettable destination wedding experience!

Are wedding websites still a thing?

Yes, they are absolutely still a thing, especially for couples planning a destination wedding in Maui! We love seeing our couples use wedding websites for three main purposes; wedding details, organization, and communication. Of course, we’ll break down each of these components a bit more and explain how to make your wedding website work for you.

Use your wedding website to communicate wedding details

We are sure that you’ve invested in selecting a beautiful wedding invitation suite. An invitation suite infused with the tone and style of your event, so that your guests have an idea of what to expect when your wedding weekend arrives. But what your guests actually do with that invitation suite, is entirely up to them. They might stick a magnet on it and put it on their fridge, display it in a shadow box, frame, or scrapbook (especially those doting family members), or worse yet – lose it or accidentally throw it away.

Having a wedding website gives your guests a digital space to access the details of your wedding. This is especially important if they’ll be traveling for your wedding! Your guests will need quick & easy access to your wedding website to be reminded of the specifics of like day, time, and location. Additionally, your guests will also need the information for all of your pre and post-wedding events like your welcome party, after-party, or morning-after-brunch! What about providing your guests with contact information for the people who are your ‘in case of emergency’? Your guests will need to know the names and contact details of your wedding party as well. Having all of this information clear and present on your wedding website is a simplified way to keep your guests informed while planning your destination wedding in Maui.

Maintaining Organization Through Your Wedding Website

File this one under the “importance of creating a wedding website” – organization! Now that we are past the details such as day, time, and location, let’s take things a step further. What about your RSVPs? We know firsthand how difficult it can be to get your guests to comply with sending in those RSVPs, completely filled out and on time. Having a way for your guests to RSVP online, takes the guesswork out of keeping a constant tally for your final headcount.

Another layer of wedding planning organization that presents itself when you are in the final stages of planning is menus and dietary restrictions. Some of your guests may have food allergies or dietary needs which they need to communicate with you beyond a menu selection card included in their invitation suite. Your wedding website will allow them to communicate any needs with you, directly, so that your venue or caterer can ensure your guests still have a phenomenal food & beverage experience when your wedding events arrive.

Communication

Last-minute changes, no matter how unwanted they may be, can still happen. The weather cannot always be controlled and neither can unforeseen circumstances such as parking, delays, or construction. Your wedding website will serve as a home base for you and your guests where you can quickly and easily communicate needs and expectations. You might want to tell your guests to skip the heels due to sand or an event lawn. Or, you might want to give them a heads-up to pack an umbrella for the forecasted drizzle heading your way. You may also need to remind them that the dress code for the night of your wedding welcome party is cocktail chic or that your farewell brunch has been moved from the inside restaurant to poolside. Either way, your wedding website is the perfect way to communicate any nuanced details directly with your guests.

Your Wedding Registry or Honeymoon Fund

Are you forgoing a wedding shower because you are planning a destination wedding? Trust us, even if that’s the case, your guests will still be asking how they can honor you with a gift for your upcoming union. Adding your registry or honeymoon fund to your wedding website is a straightforward way to field phone calls and texts about what to gift the happy couple. This will give your guests the flexibility to select a gift at a price point they are comfortable with, all while having it delivered right to your door with little to no fuss.

How far in advance should I make a wedding website?

Your wedding website can be created once the details of your wedding have been fully confirmed. This typically happens once your venue deposit has been made. Additionally, your first line of wedding vendors (planner, photographer, and florals) have all been booked and all the members of your wedding party have said yes.

Whether or not you decide to launch your wedding website before your invitations go out, is entirely up to you. However, we will say that if you are planning a destination wedding, it’s always best to send a save the date to your guests along with the details on where they can find your wedding website. This will allow your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and accommodations in order to be present at your wedding.

How long should your story be on your wedding website?

As much as you’re comfortable with! Remember, all of your guests will have access to your wedding website. That includes parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and any respected elders. Sharing your story is a fun way to pull them further into your wedding experience. But it should also be done in a way that is comfortable for both you and your partner. We say, make a fun date night out of it! Grab your favorite takeout and fill your cup. Spend the night together pouring over the details of how you met, and decide which details will make the cut of your wedding website. It’s a fun way to unwind while reminiscing on how it all began.

How many photos do you need for a wedding website?

There is no definitive number of photos that make or break an amazing wedding website. However, there may be a maximum number of photos to include depending on the platform you sign up with. When selecting photos for your wedding website, your aim should be less of a number and more of a glimpse into your story over the years. It might be photos from trips you’ve taken together or events you’ve attended. The goal is to create a selection of photos that draw your guests into your story in an immersive way. Once you’ve selected a handful of photos that give your guests a glimpse into your love story, you’ll want to top it off with your engagement photos.

Our top wedding website recommendations

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you of the importance of creating a wedding website, especially if you’re planning a beautiful destination wedding in Maui! You might be wondering which platform is best for communicating all of the above details we’ve mentioned with your guests. However, the platform you decide to create your wedding website with is really just a matter of preference on what works best for you and your partner. Personally, we love The Knot, Wedding Wire, Zola, Joy, and Minted.