With so much information for wedding guests to know, more engaged couples turn to websites to help their guests stay informed. Many companies offer website services that include page templates and other features. While handy, this may not be right for everyone. For some couples, designing their own website may be a better choice. It can be more cost efficient, more effectively communicate with their guests and be a better reflection of the bride and groom themselves.
When setting up a wedsite, there are two areas of focus: planning and designing. Planning can be divided into the areas of information and budget. The amount of information you wish to include will influence your budget to some degree. Another factor in determining the budget for the site is the type of domain you wish to have for your page. A .com page will vary widely in price depending on where you shop for hosting. Some hosts offer .com pages for as low as ten dollars per year. For greater savings (or if a .com page isn’t available for your desired page), .info and .me pages are economical choices and easier to secure. Once you choose a name and type of domain, it’s time to map out the kind of information you want to display and how you will display it.

To start, devise categories for the type of information you have. Common categories include a biography section to introduce members of the bridal party, the wedding day itinerary, registry links and a form to RSVP online. Sections can be added or subtracted depending on what you choose to include. Be sure not to reveal too much on your site. The page may be created to inform your guests, but not every last detail of your wedding day needs to be included. If you want to show off your wedding attire and ideas online, consider setting up a separate website for those photos.

Designing your own wedsite is both a lot of fun and a lot of work. Because you are not relying on a template, you have a lot more freedom with how the page looks. The downside is that you still have to make those choices, and you’ll have more decisions to make since you will be building the site from the ground up. Be sure to allow a couple months for the design phase. After you figure out what you want to put on your site, the next question is how to display it. The first display factor to consider is how people will navigate the site. If you are using categories, decide whether you want links to them placed on the top, bottom or side of the page. From there, choose your colors and overall mood for the site. It might be tempting to use your wedding colors, but be careful here. Your guests may not be able to read anything on the page if the background and/or font colors are too extreme (too light or too dark). For example, if dark brown and cream are your wedding colors, go for a somewhat lighter shade of brown. Another factor to consider is the formality of the wedding. The wedsite does not need to be as formal as the wedding, but it should have a similar tone. Classic, formal weddings should translate into complete spellings on the page. That gives guests an idea of how to dress. Once these design basics are chosen, you can begin the real fun part: adding your information.

When adding information, keep it simple. After including the four W’s (when, where, who, why), be sure to give relevant details. These include dress code and directions to key sites. Photos can be added as long as they’re relevant and do not increase the amount of time it takes for the site to load. If you aren’t sure where to include them, consider placing them in the biography section and along with venue information. When added in the right amounts, photos can convey a lot of information without you having to type a single sentence. Just make sure they enhance, not overpower, the overall mood of your wedsite.

Creating a wedsite on your own can be a great way to get guests excited about your wedding. It may not require as much planning as the wedding itself, but it still merits a good amount of thought. Balance is they key to an informative yet eye-pleasing page. Finding the balance will not happen overnight. Still, you may find it is worth the effort to do it yourself.

About the Author
Elisa is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers She is getting married in the summer of 2011 and plans to design her own wedsite.