In the past decade, wedding websites have become an essential information hub for the couple and their guests. In a recent survey on our @askarealbride Instagram page, 86% of brides reported that they’ve already built out a website for their upcoming wedding.
If you’re in the 14%, don’t stress–we have you covered!
Over 500 amazing Real Brides weighed in with what they’re sharing online, and I’ve compiled all of their advice into a guide of what’s essential, what’s optional, and what’s better left off-line.
I hope their advice helps you feel confident when you click, “publish” on your URL!
Jump to Section:
III: What’s Better Left Unsaid
Section I: Essential
Registries
Since sharing gift information is taboo on invitations (we want to request our guests’ presence, not their presents), the wedding website is the perfect place for your guest to locate your registries. You can use the RegistryFinder search engine to generate one link for all of your registries and embed that link into your website. Your guests will be so grateful!
Accommodations
If any guests are traveling from out of town, listing a few options for accommodations is helpful. If you’ve arranged for a hotel block or discount code, this is the place to share it!
Parking/Transportation Information
Whether you’re getting married in a big city or a remote locale, giving your guests a heads-up about parking is always helpful! If you’re providing shuttles or any other kind of transportation, make sure to list specific pick-up locations and times.
Weather/Footwear
If the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception will take place outdoors, help your guests prepare for the temperature and give advice about what kind of shoes to choose. No one likes sweating, shivering, or sinking their stilettos into the ground!
Weekend Events
Whether it’s a welcome party, after party, or post-wedding brunch, if all guests are invited, the website is the perfect place to share!
Remember: sharing on the website gives the impression that the event is hosted (i.e., all costs will be covered and guests won’t be presented with a bill of any kind). If your welcome party or after party will have a cash bar, word of mouth is best. Ask your best man and maid of honor to spread the word about meeting up via group text.
Local Favorites
If you have lots of out-of-town guests, chances are they’ll want to check out the area. Share your favorite places to eat, drink, shop, and explore!
Section II: Optional
RSVP
Online RSVPs are popular because they’re economical, easy to track, and they’re environmentally friendly. If your wedding guest list is on the younger side and tech-savvy, creating a space for online RSVPs is convenient for them and you!
“Adults Only Reception”
While it should be clear that an envelope addressed to adults is only for adults, it never fails: someone will ask to bring their kids. A succinct, simple statement like “adults only reception” underneath the reception address can be helpful.
Dress Code and Description
Traditionally, the only dress code that should be printed on the actual invitation is “black tie”–otherwise, guests should be able to infer what to wear from the time of day, venue, and invitation style. However, if you believe your guests may benefit from some further explanation, the website is a good place to go into more dress code detail. We have a whole post on communicating the dress code here.
Section III: Better Left Unsaid
While you may think that a robust FAQ section covering every detail and etiquette question would be helpful, sharing too much can backfire.
As one of our Real Brides shared, “The more I wrote, the less they read.”
Keep it short and sweet, and cut the following from your wedding website:
The Plus One Policy
Recently, a Real Bride reached out to me with this question:
“Under FAQs, what are your thoughts on having, ‘Can I bring a date,’ with the answer being, ‘If your invitation says, ‘and guest,’ then of course! If not, we would prefer it was just you.’ Is this helpful?”
You can watch the reel on this topic and scroll through the comments here, but I’ll sum it up: I totally get the impulse to say this. Every bride dreads having to field questions like, “Can I bring a plus one?” But: addressing plus ones on your FAQ page might lead to more issues. First, you’re revealing that some guests ARE getting plus ones, and others aren’t. This can cause more confusion and hurt feelings. Second, it may come across as a little patronizing: you’re assuming guests don’t know how to read an envelope. And third, anyone who truly does need to be told how to read an envelope either won’t read the website, or won’t be deterred and will ask anyway!
My advice: Skip the explanation. Address the envelopes properly. Wait and see if anyone reaches out with questions, and be ready with a kind yet clear answer: “I think there’s been a misunderstanding! The invitation is just for you. I really hope you can come!”
The same goes for your kids policy. No FAQ and response paragraph necessary!
Tons of Funds
Honeymoon funds and house funds are becoming increasingly popular, but (I say this lovingly) your wedding website should not resemble a GoFundMe. Create one or two traditional registries for more traditional guests who prefer to give physical gifts, and just one fund for anything you wish. That way, every guest has options to suit their style and budget! For more registry do’s and don’ts, check out this post.
Recommended Gift Amount
I’ve seen it, so I’m saying it: brides and grooms should never hint at how much guests should be spending! What to spend on a wedding gift is a personal choice, and all couples can do is offer gifts in every price range.
Alcohol (its presence or absence)
Recently, a Real Bride asked, “What’s the best way to write on our website that the wedding will have a cash bar?”
Let me begin by saying that traditionally, cash bars and/or drink tickets are not considered suitable for events like weddings, which are hosted events. Instead of choosing this type of set-up and struggling to explain it to your guests via the wedding website, select a bar package you can afford to serve all of your guests or elect to have a dry wedding.
Ultimately, what and how you serve your guests is totally up to you: there’s no need to explain or forewarn. If you want guests to feel prepared in this area in any way, word of mouth is best. Share with your bridal party and close family, and they’ll spread the word.
Etiquette Coaching
I lament the loss of etiquette knowledge as much as the next person, but embrace your role as “gracious host” and refrain from training your guests via the wedding website. Posing an etiquette faux pas as a question, like, “Is it ok to wear white?” shouldn’t be necessary and may go unseen or ignored by the person who really needs to read it.
Rest assured that etiquette missteps like this won’t affect anyone else’s experience and, in the end, are a reflection of the guest, not you.
If you have younger guests who may be clueless about traditional etiquette, a mutual family friend or friend can check in to address any concerns. The same goes for guests belonging to different cultures or traditions.
Ready to Write (or Edit) Your Site?
I hope these tips from Real Brides (and one etiquette-minded wedding writer) help you create a website that effectively serves your guests!
Have a Question for our Real Brides?
Let me know what topic you’d like us to tackle next! And if you’re interested in learning more about etiquette, gift-giving, and celebrating in style, be sure to subscribe to the RegistryFinder GiveIt blog for weekly posts on wedding etiquette, bridal showers, wedding trends, and, of course, wedding registry guidelines and tips! And as always, refer your guests to RegistryFinder.com, where they can conveniently locate all your registries in one place!
