Designing Your Wedding Website

Give your wedding an online presence and keep guests informed

By Gwen Wark

Photo by iStockphoto.com

A wedding website is a useful tool for sharing information about your wedding day with guests, friends and family. You can design it yourself using an online template or from scratch using web-design software. Your wedding website can be as simple as a brochure or offer complex functions such as a guest list and reservations.

• What You Need to Know
• Several online companies offer customizable wedding websites with many templates and designs to choose from.
• Write down a list of all the details that you want your wedding website to relay and consider the best way to categorize and present them online.
• Decide on your ideal URL address and check to make sure it's not already taken.

Step 1:

Determine the URL of your website. If you are using a template site, you will need to create an account, which should allow you to search for a unique URL. If you are not using this type of site, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting space for the site.

Step 2:

Plan the website by making a list of the pages you want. If you are a novice web designer, stick to simple pages; if you have some experience in design, you may choose to create password-protected areas or reservation systems. If you are using a template, you may be asked to choose pages and features from a list -- or you may have to use the ones provided. Common pages include "photos," "gift registry," "where to stay," "things to do," and "event schedule." You might also want to include a "virtual response card," in addition to (or instead of) paper response cards included with your invitation.

Step 3:

Choose a color scheme for the website. A color scheme should consist of a primary color, a secondary color, and one or two accent colors. These colors will be used to color the background and design elements.

Step 4:

Choose a font, or typeface. It should be large enough to read easily and in a color that contrasts well with the background.

Step 5:

Create the pages. In a template system this is as simple as adding text and images using the prompts. If you're an intermediate or advanced designer, create your pages in a web-design program or by using the system provided by the web hosting company.

Step 6:

Submit the pages or upload them to the web host. Check all links and images, and you're ready to begin sharing your site.

• Tips & Warnings
• Update your wedding website regularly to keep your guests informed of your progress.
• Include your web address in your "save the date" cards.
• Use ready-made wedding templates to make uploading your information easier.
• Include maps and directions that your guests can easily access as your wedding date approaches.