Woman Getting Married
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So much has changed technology-wise over the past few years that it can be hard for wedding websites to keep up! But some new and not-so-new wedding websites have launched and re-launched with some great designs and tools that are way cooler than we could have ever imagined. And while we’re pretty sure we’ll see more and more wedding websites and technologies arrive in the very near future to make not only planning your wedding easier but make the experience fun for guests, we wanted to review what’s currently available so you can pick the best, cheapest, and easiest-to-use wedding website out there.
While we sampled and reviewed over 17 wedding websites, only four (YES, 4!!) made our list of favorites. That seems like a really low number to us, but there were only four that we felt offered the best of design, functionality, and pricing. That’s not to say you shouldn’t check out the other wedding websites we reviewed (also listed below), it’s just we felt like there was some work that needed to be done (either design or price-wise) before we could truly recommend them!
Without further ado, below are the wedding websites that we think are the best options out there today.
1. Appy Couple
Price: $35 for access to all existing designs; $69 for all upcoming ones as well. You can use both of these for an unlimited amount of time.
Features: If there was a wedding website Belle of the Ball, Appy Couple would be it these days. Their themes and designs are hands-down the most gorgeous of all wedding website options, and the fact that your website and app are created together is pretty awesome. Appy Couple has also teamed up with wedding invitation companies like Wedding Paper Divas and Minted to offer you coordinated themes. There are really a ton of features, a few of which I’ll list out below to give you a general idea:
Guestlist management
Guests can RSVP via the app or online
Get real-time alerts when guests RSVP
Guests can take photos from the app and they automatically go to your gallery (the app is free for guests to download
Photo sharing
Instant messaging and e-mail communication with guests
Only invite certain guests to specific events (like the Rehearsal Dinner)
Woman Getting Married Says: I really kinda wish this was around when we got married. I like the one-time pricing model and the features you get with it (as well as design) are really unparalleled right now. I don’t know how often guests are going to download and use the app, but the fact that it’s an option is nice. I would get this just so guests have a way to share their photos without tagging you on Facebook or Instagram! Overall this would have to be my pick for best wedding website on the market today.
2. The Knot
Price: Free. You can opt to buy a custom domain for $19.99/year
Features: There are a ton of great-looking themes to choose from (which you can change at any time), and you can organize your guest lists, add addresses, and track invites and RSVPs. As of today they only offer Details/Photos/Registry pages, but by the end of this month you are supposed to be able to add more.
Woman Getting Married Says: Free is always great, and even the domain price of $19.99 for only one year of use isn’t that bad if you consider everything else you’re getting for free. Yes, that’s more than you would pay for a domain yourself, but having them handle all of that in the backend is always easier. I would expect them to keep adding cool new tools to their websites, so I think this is one of the best wedding website offerings out there right now considering the price (nothing!).
3. eWedding.com
Price: Free or premium version for $7/month.
Features: The “Freemium” version lets you add sections such as “Our Story,” a slideshow, a wall, polls and quizzes, music, a place for guests to RSVP and add requests, and lots more listed below. You can also change the background colors, patterns, and fonts. The premium version is $7/month and in addition to the features below you get to add your own custom domain name (like LindsayandCoryGetMarried.com), RSVP texting, a site without the eWedding logo on top, as well as access to a few more theme options.
Woman Getting Married Says:
They don’t have a TON of themes (which they admit), but they have a well-designed crop to choose from. I think the Avery one is pretty and versatile, and it’s also clean and laid out well so your family and friendly will be able to find out the information they need easily. I also really like that they let you add music. Believe it or not I kind of miss using MySpace and being able to pick out a song for your page…it’s fun to be able to choose a song that kicks off your wedding day early! By the way we used Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World” on our wedding website, and then again as our recessional song. I heart this so much:
4. Weduary
Price: Some themes are free, others are $20. You can also buy a custom domain for $15 that lasts for 1 year from registration (or you can choose to use a domain you already own. They give you easy instructions on how to redirect it if you need help).
Features: You can add your “story,” logistics, custom registry types (like giving to a cause), invite and manage guests, as well as add Facebook and Instagram photos and hashtags. They do not have the ability to add additional pages at this time (like for your Wedding Party, etc.), but that is most likely coming soon.
Woman Getting Married Says: The themes are beautiful and the pricing is pretty good. However, I wish you had an option to sign up without using Facebook. While it’s great because it helps populate your page and communicate with friends, I always hate seeing my friend list automatically pulled into anything (as well as my information). I also really like it when you can try out a demo version or view all existing themes before signing up (even if it’s free)…but those are just small notes overall!
Other wedding websites that didn’t make the list:
While a lot of these have beautiful designs and functionality, in my opinion they either offer too much, too little, are too pricey, or the above options simply have them beat.
Glo: This a cross between Paperless Post and a wedding website, but I don’t love how they’ve designed either one. Their pricing plans are also pretty expensive at $19.99/month, $24.99/month, and $34.99/month. This is a cool concept but it would be great to see enhanced layouts and themes one day.
Mywedding: As you’ll find with Nearlyweds and Wedsimple, below, Mywedding could potentially be awesome because of the tools their website offers, but their themes feel outdated. Which is unfortunate because you have the ability to match a wedding website design with various invitation designs…but alas, I just wish the templates were updated.
Squarespace: While their designs are gorgeous, the lowest plan they offer is $8/month, and you really don’t need all that it has to offer (galleries, blogs, e-commerce). And if you’re anything like me you’ll have this site up for AT LEAST 6 months, which at $48 is expensive for a wedding website that doesn’t offer any wedding-related tools you’ll actually use.
Wedding JoJo: At $14.99/month for their “Full Slice” plan, this is way too expensive in my book. If you build your website a year before your wedding that’s $180. Even though this wedding website offers a “Taster” plan which is free, it doesn’t include privacy, RSVP management, or the ability to change your color options.
Wedding Paper Divas powered by Nearlyweds: I love that this is free and that they offer a suite of features (such as RSVP, music, photo uploads, and password protection), but sadly themes are just not as updated as our other picks above. While I like that you can match an invitation design to a wedding template, it would be great if the functionality and layout of the sites were made more modern.
Wedsimple: In terms of pricing they offer packages ranging from $10/month to $60 for 12 months, $40 for 6 months, and an unlimited package for $80 that lets you use it until 2 months after your wedding. Unfortunately Wedsimple has the same issue as Nearlyweds and Mywedding…their websites’ layouts and themes just can’t stand up to other sites right now. Hopefully they’ll change that soon!
Wedding Window: I actually used this for our wedding website 5 years ago and liked it…but I feel like a lot of their themes/formats haven’t changed all that much since then! I like that you can use a free version of the site, which will get you 13 website pages, limited access to themes, 50 MB photo/content storage as well as a Spotify music button free library images (and tools such as a budget tracker and guest list planner), but you have to upgrade to use other items. A premium version will get you the ability to have guests RSVP, e-mail blasts, as well as more access to themes, pages, and storage for $14.95/month or $79/year, but custom domains will still cost you $19.95/year.
Wedding Wire: They ALMOST made our list. There really are lots of pros to using one of their wedding websites. They’re mobile and table friendly, have a photo-sharing option for guests, and are free (what’s not to love about that). But this is another wedding website that could really benefit from a theme makeover. Sorry Wedding Wire…we want to love you!!
Wedding Woo: While I like the concept of Wedding Woo, I found the backend to be a bit clunky when it was time for me to customize the look and feel of my sample wedding website. They do offer some cool features though, like the addition of SoundCloud so you can play music as well as online RSVP’s and an Instagram import. However, it’s not cheap. Pricing is $49 for one year of $69 for two years.
Still can’t find a wedding website you love? These wedding websites or website builders are also worth checking out:
WordPress.com
Wix.com
Wedbuddy.com
Wedmill.com
Are you figuring out your wedding budget? Be sure to check our guides to How Much Wedding Cakes Cost, How Much Wedding Photographers Cost, and How Much Wedding Flowers Cost.
The Best Wedding Websites
Woman Getting Married.