Are Wedding Websites Worth the Money?
By: Krista Meikle
Personal wedding websites have become a staple of today’s wedding planning offering brides and grooms a way to share and manage wedding day communications online.
A wedding website allows you to post details, provide narratives about the bride and groom, link to registries, list travel information, provide directions, upload photos and more.
There are three types of wedding websites and pros and cons for each. They include static Web pages, templates and self-made custom sites.
Static Web Pages
Static Web pages are commonly offered as an additional wedding planning tool by the large wedding resource companies like The Knot (www.theknot.com). The best part is you can list your wedding information on a static page that is divided by section headers for free.
Proceed cautiously with these types of sites. They can be cluttered with advertisements and don’t allow for a customized look or feel to match your personality. They also don’t offer personalized website addresses (i.e. www.kristaandtodd.com) that can be printed on invitations and save-the-date cards.
Templates
Template wedding websites are offered by companies, like WedStudio (www.WedStudio.com), who are strictly in the business of selling wedding website services. With these sites you can choose your own unique website address and personalize the site with a wide variety of layout and color choices.
By using the tools made available, you can create your site within minutes, make changes at any time, and immediately publish your site. You can even accept RSVPs online, which can save hundreds of dollars in printing and postage.
The costs for template wedding websites range from $40 to $200 for a 6-, 9-, 12- or 18-month subscription.
Self-Made Custom Sites
The great part about a fully custom website is you get exactly what you want, but can cost big bucks. If you hire a company or individual to create your site costs range from $1,000 to $5,000. On the other hand, if you have a tech savvy friend that can whip something together for you, it’s a great option.
Are They Worth It?
Ask yourself these questions:
• Am I willing to spend money on a wedding website?
• How important is it to have the site reflect our personality and theme?
• Do I want my own unique website address?
• Do I have out of town guests that I need to communicate with and provide information to?
• Do I want access to tools that could help save time, hassle and money?
It’s up to the bride and groom to determine which type of site is right based on their needs and budget.
Krista Meikle is co-founder and vice president of marketing and public relations for WedStudio. For more information please contact 1-866-WedStudio (933-7883), ext. 3 or info@wedstudio.com.