Is a Wedding Website Really Necessary?

With so much technology available to help simplify the wedding planning process, it is often a foregone conclusion that every couple will create a wedding website. However, not everyone wants to publish their nuptial details for everyone to read. We dive into the issue and weigh in on whether or not you need to create a wedding website and what to consider.

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The primary purpose of the wedding website is to give guests a central hub where they may find information about your big day. Queries about the location, dress code, registry, travel plans, even your social media hashtag can all be found on the average wedding website, and some also allow guests to share their well-wishes for the happy couple. The wedding website can serve as a wonderful networking tool for guests, and allow the couple to post important notifications regarding the event. If privacy is the main factor causing concern, we get it. Who wants their wedding date and location or personal photos visible to anyone with a search engine? The good news is that many sites allow you to change the privacy settings and even password protect the information. So only people who know the password can access your full wedding website.

However, there is no need to create a wedding website if you feel strongly opposed to the idea. If properly composed, your save-the-date card and wedding invitation should provide guests with the essential information they need for your wedding. If any unexpected amendments to the initial plan must be announced, or the bride and groom feel the need to brief their guests on pertinent information without the aid of a wedding website, a concise group email is equally effective. But, the existence of a website can help streamline the process with just one simple update for everyone, instead of addressing each guest individually or adding them one by one to a mass text or group email.

When considering whether a wedding website is the right fit for you and your celebration, it's important to think about who would be using it. What is the demographic breakdown of your guest list? Millennials, Gen-Z, and even the preceding generation X are fully indoctrinated into the digital sphere and will expect the convenience of easily accessing the information across their devices as the need arises. Let's be frank, that is the biggest draw of having a website at all. Traditional snail mail, though an appreciated touch, may be a strange choice in communication to this group if not also backed up online. However, if your guest list heavily skews towards the more conventional generations of old then putting in the effort to create a website that probably won't be of much use may just be a waste of your precious time.

Fashioning a wedding website is a handy tool for many modern couples, but the practice is by no means a necessary component of wedding planning. If you feel that a dedicated website is not essential for your own big day, by all means skip it.