Planning checklist
What to include on a wedding website—and what guests can live without
A wedding website should reduce questions, not create another place guests have to decode. Put urgent information first, planning details second and the personal extras last.
Every wedding website needs six essentials: your names and date, a clear RSVP, the venue and map, the schedule, practical travel or dress information, and a way to contact you about genuine problems. Your story, gallery, registry and recommendations are useful additions—not requirements.
The essential wedding website checklist
- 01Your names, date and place. State the city even when the exact venue comes later. It is the information a guest checks most often.
- 02A visible online RSVP. Include the response deadline and collect attendance, party details and planning questions in one form.
- 03Venue address and map. Separate the ceremony and reception clearly when they happen at different locations.
- 04A chronological schedule. Give arrival time, ceremony, reception and any event that invited guests are expected to attend.
- 05Travel and accommodation. Add the advice that changes a booking decision: nearest airport, transport, room block deadline or difficult route.
- 06Dress code and weather reality. Name the level of formality, then explain surfaces, temperature or cultural expectations that affect what guests wear.
- 07A short FAQ. Answer plus-ones, children, parking, photographs, gifts and accessibility only when those questions apply.
Wedding website welcome message examples
The opening does not need to retell the proposal. Two or three sentences can welcome the guest, express excitement and point to the RSVP.
Warm and simple
“We’re so happy to celebrate with you. Everything you need for our wedding day is here—from the schedule and directions to the RSVP. Please reply by 18 May.”
Destination wedding
“We can’t wait to welcome you to Tuscany. Use this page for travel plans, the weekend schedule and updates as the date approaches. Please let us know your plans by 1 April.”
Formal
“Together with our families, we look forward to celebrating our marriage with you. Kindly find the details of the day below and respond by 12 June.”
What to put in the FAQ
Can I bring a plus-one?
Connect the answer to the invitation rather than making guests guess: “Your invitation and RSVP show the people included in your party. Because the venue is limited, we’re unable to add unnamed guests.”
Are children invited?
Be kind and unambiguous. If some children are included and others are not, explain that the RSVP lists every invited guest. Do not use “adults preferred” when the answer is actually no.
What should I wear?
Name the dress code first—black tie, formal, cocktail, smart casual—then add useful specifics: “The ceremony is on grass” or “Evenings by the lake are cool.” A colour mood board is optional and should never make ordinary guests feel they need a new wardrobe.
What about gifts?
If you have a registry or honeymoon fund, place it after the practical details and use low-pressure wording. Never put payment instructions in the opening paragraph or make the registry the main navigation item.
Sections you can leave out
- ✦A long biography of the wedding party when it does not help guests plan or connect.
- ✦A public guest list that exposes names or attendance without permission.
- ✦Recommendations copied from a tourism site. Add only places you would genuinely suggest.
- ✦Details that are not confirmed. “More soon” is better than an airport transfer time that may change.
- ✦Private operational notes. Vendor contacts, door codes and emergency plans belong elsewhere.
Put the information in guest order
Imagine opening the website three times. On the first visit, the guest wants to know the date and whether travel is required. On the second, they are ready to RSVP and book. On the wedding morning, they need the address and start time. Structure the page so all three visits work without searching.
When the content is ready, compare it with a few live wedding website examples, then remove anything that competes with the essential details rather than helping them.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What information should be at the top of a wedding website?+
Put your names, wedding date, city or venue area and a clear RSVP action at the top. A guest opening the link should understand whose wedding it is and what they need to do before scrolling.
Should we put the full venue address online?+
Include the address and map for invited guests, especially when the ceremony and reception differ. Because a unique link can still be forwarded, avoid publishing access codes, room numbers or other sensitive instructions unless they are genuinely necessary.
How do we say the wedding is adults only?+
Use warm, direct wording in the FAQ: “We love your little ones, but our celebration will be adults only. Thank you for helping us keep to the venue's guest limit.” If only named guests are invited, also make that clear in the RSVP.
Do we need an Our Story section?+
No. It is optional. Include it when you enjoy telling the story and many guests know only one of you; skip it when the site already feels complete or you prefer to keep that part private.
When should the wedding website go live?+
Publish the essentials when the save-the-date goes out: names, date, place and any early travel guidance. Add the final schedule, RSVP questions and detailed FAQs with the invitation.
Can we update the website after sending it?+
Yes. A wedding website is useful precisely because details can change. Keep the same link, update the information once and mention only major changes directly to affected guests.