How to Make a Wedding Website (Free, Step by Step)

What a wedding website is for

A wedding website is one link that answers every question guests would otherwise text or email you: when and where each event is, what to wear, where to stay, how to get there, where you are registered, and how to RSVP. Instead of repeating yourself a hundred times, you send one address and let the site do the talking.

The best wedding websites do two jobs at once — they inform and they collect. Informing is the schedule, travel, and FAQ. Collecting is the RSVP: a good site captures your headcount, meal choices, and song requests in the same place guests go to read the details. Keep both jobs in mind as you build and you will not have to bolt on a separate RSVP tool later.

Step 1: Pick a builder and claim a custom address

Start by choosing a wedding website builder rather than a general website tool — a wedding builder already knows about schedules, RSVPs, registries, and guest lists, so you are filling in blanks instead of designing from scratch. Look for one that is free, includes RSVP, and does not lock the good features behind a subscription.

Then claim your web address. Most builders give you a custom URL like yournames.thebuilder.com or a personalized path you choose — pick something short and memorable, usually your first names or your wedding hashtag, because this is what goes on your save-the-dates and invitations. With Duva you get a free site on a custom address with no domain to buy or renew.

Step 2: Add the pages guests actually need

A wedding website works best as a few focused pages, not one long scroll. Build out the essentials and skip anything that is just filler. At minimum, cover the schedule, travel, registry, an FAQ, and your RSVP.

• Home. Your names, the date, the location, and a clear button to RSVP.
• Schedule. Every event with time, place, and dress code — and an add-to-calendar link.
• Travel. Nearest airport, hotel room block and cutoff date, and directions to the venue.
• Registry. Where you are registered, or a link to your cash-fund and gift pages.
• FAQ. Kids, plus-ones, parking, weather plans, and anything you keep getting asked.
• RSVP. A form that captures who is coming, meal choices, and any per-event headcounts.

Step 3: Choose a design and add photos

Pick a template that matches the feel of your invitations — the fonts and colors on your website should echo your paper suite so the whole thing feels like one wedding. Most builders let you start from a template and adjust the palette, so you are not designing from a blank page.

Add a handful of photos, not an album. A strong cover image on the home page and a small gallery is plenty; guests come for logistics, not a photo dump. Keep text short and scannable, use real event names and times, and make sure the RSVP button is impossible to miss. Check the site on your phone before you share it, since most guests will open it there.

Step 4: Turn on RSVP and connect your guest list

The RSVP is where a wedding website earns its keep. Decide how guests will respond: a name-lookup form on the site, a reply by text, or both. Name lookup means guests find themselves on your list and confirm — no password to remember. A text-based RSVP means an invite lands in their messages and they simply reply, which gets the highest response rate because there is nothing to download.

Connect your guest list so responses map to real people instead of anonymous form entries. If you have multiple events, set up a separate RSVP and headcount for each one. Duva keeps a single master guest list, offers both name-lookup and SMS-verified RSVP, supports party or household responses, and sends automatic reminders to anyone who has not replied — so you are not chasing stragglers by hand.

Step 5: Share by link or QR — and password-protect if you want

Once the site is live, share it three ways: the link on your save-the-dates and invitations, a QR code guests can scan from a printed card, and directly in a message. A QR code on your save-the-date is the easiest path for older relatives — they point their camera and land on the site.

If you would rather keep the site off public search, turn on password protection so only guests with the passcode can view it. Duva gives you a shareable link, a QR code, and optional password protection out of the box, so you control exactly who sees your details.

Common mistakes and how long it takes

The most common mistakes are burying the RSVP, leaving the schedule vague, and forgetting to mobile-check the site. Guests should be able to RSVP within one tap of landing, see exact times and addresses, and read everything comfortably on a phone. Another frequent miss is not sharing the link early enough — the site only helps if guests actually have it.

As for time: a focused wedding website takes about an hour to build if your details are decided, and you can keep editing it right up to the wedding as plans firm up. Start with the home page, schedule, and RSVP, then add travel, registry, and FAQ over a few sittings. With a free builder there is no reason to wait — get the address claimed and the RSVP live, and fill in the rest as you go.