Three Easy Ways to Create a Wedding Website

If you don't already have a wedding website, you are missing out on a fantastic (and in some cases free) wedding resource. A website allows you to have one convenient place where all of your wedding details can be found.

So, instead of stuffing your invitation with maps, driving directions, and other relevant information, you can simply include a small card that instructs your guests to visit your website where they can find all your wedding details.

What's more, websites can add a bit of fun to an otherwise dry wedding planning process. The newest tools allow you to create wedding websites that include guest books, photo albums, trivia quizzes, and the ability to RSVP online. The best part is that with some of the new services found online, even non-techies can quickly and easily create a professional-looking website. Below are a few options you should consider before creating your site:

"Old School" Do-It-Yourself

If you are the technical type, and have some extra time on your hands, you can look into the traditional way of building a website from scratch. This involves finding a "host" for you website, and creating html pages to put on the host site. If you are not a programmer, creating your own website may seem a little scary, but with some time and patience, most people can pick up enough knowledge to create a few basic html pages.

Although most companies that host websites will charge you a monthly fee of about $10 to $20 per month, there are still a few freebies out there. The most popular free hosting sites are Geocites and Tripod. Of course, these sites have to make money somehow, so in exchange for free site hosting, these services will automatically insert advertising into your web pages in the form of banner advertisements or pop-up adds.

Wedding Website Services

For most people, the easiest way to create a web site is to use one of the various wedding website services that are available on the internet. Most of these services work by allowing you to type your wedding details into a series of questionnaires. You can also choose the "theme" of your site from several pre-made styles. Each theme will change the look of your site by changing the graphics, text, and colors. The best part about these services is that by checking a box, you can instantly add features such as a guest book, photo album, maps, or online RSVPs.

Another advantage of these services is that usually the end product looks the same as a professional custom designed site, while being much less costly.

Two popular online services are WiredWedding.com, and Web-Wedding. The prices for these services range from about $5 to $10 per month. Both WiredWedding and Web-Wedding allow you to try their services for free, and do not put advertisements on your site. They also allow you to pick a custom web address, such as, "BobAndSandy.WiredWedding.com".

Professional Web Site Designers

If you want a site that is completely unique, you may want to look into having a professional web site designer create your site. A site designer can usually completely customize your site to meet your every wish. As you may have guessed, all this customization does not come for free. Most custom sites start at $300 and go into the thousands, plus the cost of hosting. If you are interested in a custom wedding web site, it is usually best to find a local web designer that you can meet with in person to hammer out the details of your site. This will also allow you to get the most personal level of service.

No matter which option you choose, you will find that creating a wedding web site can be exciting and fun for both you and your wedding guests.

Wedding Gazette