Personal wedding website

Personal Wedding Websites are tradition in which engaged couples employ the use of a website to aid in planning and communication for their wedding. Each wedding website is different and as unique features, a couple has to pick what is best for them.^[1] The websites can be free but sometimes can come with a fee.^[1] However, most couples will find that the website fee is much less costly than hiring a wedding planner, as wedding planners can cost as much as 15% of the total wedding cost. ^[2]

Purpose

Personal wedding websites are used for a variety of purposes including communication with guests, sharing wedding photos and videos with those who were unable to attend, and providing maps, hotel and destination information, bridal party and couple biographies, and profiling vendors. Increasingly the sites are being used as tools for wedding planning. Many do-it-yourself sites offer features like online RSVP, blogs, registry management, and budget management tools to aid couples through the complex process^[3].

File:Wedsite Logos.jpg

For example, Wedding Wire offers a way to choose stores to include in the registry and simply clicking a button that transfers the customer to the store so that they can begin choosing the items they desire.

As wedding couples see the importance of wedding websites there has been a growth in worldwide wedding website suppliers. Led by many of the large US based operators, wedding website suppliers now operate in many worldwide locations, many creating specific functionality and tools for their own national identities, customs and faiths. Examples of such websites include WedSite, Wedding Window, Wedding Wire, The Knot, Wedding Tracker, and My Wedding.

A recent development in wedding websites has been the addition of Flash. Some sites offer 100% Flash wedding websites using innovative templates that provide animation and enhanced visitor interaction. Examples of these websites are WedMeDo and WeddingOrg

Depending on the specific site, some will host the personal "wedpage" for 6 months, to 12, and some forever. Price is a strong correlation between factors such as, domain name, advertisements appearing on the page, number of pages available, and different amounts/types of media available.^[1]

Comparisons

Wedding Websites	Services	Cost	Page Set-up
WedMeDo	One wedding website package offered including a free .com domain name, free hosting, unlimited updates 24-7 and a Flash wedding website offering: Homepage, Welcome Page, Our Story, Wedding Events, Wedding Party, Online RSVP, Wedding Registry, Photo Albums, Directions, Guest Book, Password protection, Background music, Visitor counter, Wedding countdown and all in Flash.	$59/yr	Multiple Flash templates that can be customized
Ewedding	Tools and features availability vary among the different packages. The website offers pages and tools such as: Homepage, From Us, Stories, Polls, Quizzes, Events, Wedding Party, Registry, Wish List, Photo Albums, RSVP, Audio & Video, Mailing List, Directions, Family & Friends, Honeymoon, Newlyweds, Thank You Notes, Our Vendors, Guest Book, Contact Us, Custom domain name, Password protection, Background music, Visitor counter, Wedding countdown, Flash intro, and a Keepsake of your site.	Free Trial 1 year (includes 2 weeks of the Gold Package) Silver Package $4.95 or $49.95/yr Gold Package $9.95 or $99.95/yr Platinum Package $14.95 or $149.95/yr	Offers 25 basic themes for the website with personalization options listed under services offered.
My Wedding	Multitude of features and options consisting of, Music Playlist, Photo Galleries, Guestbook, Our Story Page, Wedding Party Page, Accommodations, Attractions, Wedding Events, Designer Templates, Personal Wedding Blog, Send group Emails, Multiple RSVPs, Local Wedding Guides, Wedding Show Calendar, Budget, Checklist, Vendors, Local Coupons, and an Inspiration Board for new/possible ideas.	Free	Categorizes layouts (which there are hundreds of). The categories are: Destination, Green Wedding, Non-Traditional, Outdoors, Inspirational, and Traditional. The site also has another section of layouts sorted by their content partners, Offbeat Bride, Nouveau, the Yentas Wedding, Brooklyn Bride, Green Bride Guide, Karen Kingsbury, and Maharani Weddings.
The Knot	Focuses more on the planning tools for the wedding with a website as a tool. Features and tools are as follows: Free of Cost, About Us Page, His Proposal, Limited Photo Album, Ceremony Page, Reception Page, Wedding Party, Guest Information, Guest Book, Customizable Templates, Matching Save-The-Dates, Checklist, Budget, Guest List Manager, Favorites, Vendors, Inspiration, Save-the-Dates, Central Registry, and Seating Charts.	Free	Allows for personal web address on TheKnot. The site also provides a variety of unique designs.
Wedding Window	Free planning tools, keepsake CD, unlimited features/ apps such as a way to track visitors to website and 42 pages to organize information ex. page for photo album, guest book, RSVP, etc., site wizard, site security, and support in customer's success.	10 day free trial 10.99 a month with 25 MB video and audio space $59 for 6 months with 50 MB video and audio space $79 for a year with 75 MB video and audio space $99 for 18 months $119 for 2 years with included hidden copyright	Several themes to choose from with an option of theme photos of the couple to be married, an introductory slide, theme embellishments, and custom page/ button names.
Wedding Wire	Customizable URL, designer templates, flash introductions to add excitement to website, music, online RSVP's, registries, unlimited pages, and 100 MB of storage. Apps such as Blog, Car Rental, Carbon Calculator, Night Life, Photo Album, RSVP, Registry, and Wedding Profile.	Free	Customers can choose a theme from 120+ different designer options
Wedsite	A way to collect RSVP's and track how many people visit website, customizable website name and pages, directions to site of wedding events using google maps, guest book, music, pages free of unwanted advertisement, privacy options, unlimited photos, videos, and wedding countdown.	7 day free trial $39 for 6 months $49 for 1 year $69 for 2 years	Several beautiful backgrounds and designs. Customers can add, delete, or hide however many pages as they wish.
Wedding Tracker	Flash Animated Templates, Music Upload, Video Upload, Unlimited Photo Album, Online RSVP, Events & Accommodations Page, Customized Section Names, Registry, Wedding Party Page (Includes Pictures), Maps for Events and Accommodations, Visitor Counter, Guest Book, Option to Turn into post-wedding, family, or baby website, Guest List Manager, Invitation Tracker, Guest Search, E-mail Guest List, RSVP cards ( with Dinner Selections), Event Manager, Statistics & Reports, Gift Tracker, Returns & Exchanges, Thank You Notes, and Seating Chart.This site also offers a keepsake CD-ROM of your "Wedsite" for $19.99.	$60 for Website and Planning software for 12 months. $45 Renewal of Domain Name and planning software. If renewing separately $15.00 for the software $24.95 for the domain name. If someone already owns a domain name, they can link the site to that for free.	This site not only allows for a personalized domain name but offers a variety of professional layouts with customizable colors outlined in their 12-step process.

Comparing and contrasting the price of wedding planner with price of website

While personal wedding websites are mostly to give the guests information on the wedding such as the date, time and location, the websites can also include things such as blogs and planning bibliographies in which viewers of the wedding website can interact with the bride and see her vision for the wedding.^[4] Weddings brought to life from personal wedding websites may lack in creativity and originality as many of them suggest traditional weddings and encourage brides to look at celebrity weddings for inspiration.^[4] Most brides see personal wedding website, particularly free ones, as a more cost efficient way of planning and informing friends and family about their wedding, however, some of these website promote expensive wedding products and ideas as opposed to less expensive and more realistic items.^[4]. With free or fee-based websites, the user receives their own domain name for the website^[1]. It is also important to note that wedding planners are for the purpose of helping the bride while the wedding website is more helpful to the guest. ^[4] Most wedding websites are used for both planning purposes and can have your personal page on them. ^[2] For example www.theknot.com provides the bride with tools such as budget management, but also has a page for just her guests to look with information tailored just to them. ^[2]

According to White Weddings: Romancing Heterosexuality in Popular Culture wedding planners are typically 15% of the weddings total cost^[2]. The average wedding costs $28,000 and depending on what percent the planner takes they usually make between $2,880 and $4,320 for every wedding they plan.^[5] Wedding planners can charge an hourly wage, ranging from $40-$100, depending on what part of the country they conduct their services in.^[5] The rate also depends on how much experience the wedding planner has had; those with more experience are paid more than those just starting out.^[5]

Criticism of Wedding Websites

Some criticism of wedding websites includes the process of sending out invitations via email rather than by mail. In a recent survey, 37% of voters said that Evites should "never" be sent out, while 49% said it "depended on the wedding," and 14% said "anytime."^[6] Most wedding planning books give the brides ways to find cheaper wedding invitations and typically do not suggest evites.^{[7] [8]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Sabino, Catherine (2009). Stylish Weddings for Less: How to Plan Your Dream Wedding on a Budget. New York, New York: Filipacchi Publishing. pp. 183-184. ISBN 978-1933231655. http://books.google.com/books?id=3a2x7SblPUwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=stylish+weddings+for+less&hl=en&ei=-O66TriSCqjg0QGk7LDeCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Ingraham, Chrys (2008). White Weddings: romancing Heterosexuality in Popular Culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 90. http://books.google.com/books?id=sIGVWGljsycC&pg=PA90&dq=average+price+for+wedding+planner&hl=en&ei=Rt1_TuSbD-bj0QHFqoTsDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CGUQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
3. ^ Melendez, Jason and Crystal (2007). E-Plan Your Wedding: How to Save Time and Money With Today's Best Online Resources. Mediasoft Press. pp. 480. http://books.google.com/books?id=7wYPNc0jTD4C&dq=features+of+personal+wedding+websites&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Daws, Laura Beth (2009). "Happily Ever After.com: The Construction of Identity on Wedding Websites". University of Kentucky. http://books.google.com/books?id=DSfqSAAACAAJ&dq=%22Happily+Ever+After.com:+The+Construction+of+Identity+on+Wedding+Websites&hl=en&ei=3nXBTtKrEuf50gGcnbiuBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Camenson, Blythe (2002). Opportunities in Event Planning Careers. McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 160. http://books.google.com/books?id=cL1xaj7AxqUC&dq=average+income+of+a+wedding+planner&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
6. ^ Manjoo, Farhad; Emily Yofee. "Digital Manners: Do Evites Cheapen a Wedding?". Slate. http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/manners_for_the_digital_age/2011/09/do_evites_cheapen_a_wedding.html. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
7. ^ Bain, Susan (2011). Cheap Chic Weddings: Cheap Weddings that look like a Million Bucks. AuthorHouse. pp. 53. http://books.google.com/books?id=KMTlZcUPMW0C&dq=Do+Evites+Cheapen+a+Wedding&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
8. ^ Ingram, Leah (2007). Tie the Knot on a Shoestring. Penguin. http://books.google.com/books?id=pqKCH-MB-NUC&dq=Do+Evites+Cheapen+a+Wedding&source=gbs_navlinks_s.