Looking for the best wedding websites that are private? You’ll find four of them here! We’ve tested them all to make sure you’re getting the top picks for what you need: ease of use, premium features, app, privacy, free, and so much more. Subscribe for the latest to your inbox!
You’re planning your wedding and you want an easy-to-use website to keep guests in the know. Should be easy enough, right? WRONG! Unfortunately, there are many wedding website builders on the market with too many options, premium upgrades, and features you may never need or use. And most of all, you probably want wedding websites that are private. Who wants someone not on the guest list lurking around? Not you, that’s for sure!
When it comes to showing up on search engines, having your photos leaked to the world, and accidentally sharing your private wedding details with the public (oops!), you need to limit your search to wedding websites that are private with password enabling features and the ability to hide content from search engines.
To help, we’re rounding up the best wedding websites 2024 has to offer, all with private features enabled! Now you don’t have to choose between stylish designs or passwords: you get the best of both worlds, all private from prying eyes on the web. :) From 100% free options to premium upgrades that are totally worth it, we’re outlining four of the best places to build a wedding website that will wow guests. And since no website is perfect for every couple, we’re identifying the top pros and cons of each. We’re also sharing the pricing and some examples so you can make an informed decision.
Wedding Websites That Are Private
1. Minted
Minted offers many wedding planning tips and features, including stationery pieces that coordinate from start to fabulous finish. One of their major offerings is their wedding website, which is completely free to use and you can upgrade for premium features. To top it off, you can find a beautiful website that matches your invitations perfectly, so you will have a completely cohesive look without doing any of the hard listings!
They make it easy to enter your details and publish.
Pricing
• $0 for a free website that includes the following features:
► Matching wedding stationery
► Privacy with a password protection
► Multiple layout options
► RSVP for multiple events
► Custom pages
► Hundreds of unique wedding website designs
► Easy address collection
► Smartphone friendly
► Change your design without losing information
► Universal guest list
► NOW: offers password protection free
► NOW: offers photo and video gallery
• $15 for an upgraded website which includes the features above PLUS:
► Upgrade to a custom URL for $15
Pros
They are experts in stationery and websites, making them blend together seamlessly. With many designs from which to choose, there is a wedding website style you’ll love no matter the season, color, theme, or style you’re after. In addition, they make it the easiest to log in and get started by inputting your details into their customizer. You can even upload your guest list and offer digital RSVPs for your guests.
In addition, their customer service is AWESOME. If you’re confused about where to start, a complimentary meeting will take care of any questions you have, FREE! You can schedule a 30-minute complimentary session with a wedding expert on their team to guide you exactly where you need to go.
Cons
The free version is great and offers everything you need at no cost including password protection, so your wedding website is private. That used to cost an upgrade (and now it’s free!) I think they realized how many couples wanted their website to have privacy enabled with a password.
One con is that many couples want to create a custom URL, which will require an upgrade. The good news is, the fee is only $15 is worth it if you want an easy-to-remember link.
Overall Opinion
Minted is one of the top places to build free wedding websites that are private and include many premium features for only $15. It is the best place to build a wedding website when you want a completely cohesive, coordinated website that matches your stationery seamlessly. Plus, you get a $50 credit TOWARD your stationery simply by using a wedding website. Love that! No code is needed, just sign up here.
Minted is a great place to get a free wedding website to match your invitations. It is, however, not password protected and thus, you will want to upgrade for $15 to get the premium version if privacy is of a concern to you. I also love the feature of making an easy-to-remember custom URL, well worth the upgrade if you ask me. In my opinion, they are the easiest wedding website builder to use and have the most features in their free plan.
► Make your website here!
2. Zola
If you want a complete wedding registry and wedding website in one, your best bet is Zola. They offer wedding planning tools, too, but we think their registry is the best feature of their website. You can register for anything from anywhere, so guests don’t have to go from one store to the next to shop your registry.
Setting up your Zola wedding website is easy and they even have basic templates from which to work so you don’t have to start from scratch. Similar to the others, there are plenty of styles to choose from so it suits every wedding style and theme seamlessly.
You can add a video to greet guests, accept online RSVPs, change colors, fonts, and so much more.
Pricing
$0 for Zola’s free wedding websites
Choose a custom design from their hundreds of templates, fill out your information easily, and create a registry at your fingertips
Pros
With an integrated registry, your guests will quickly become comfortable with using the site for everything in one place. We find that to be extremely convenient. From a design standpoint, they offer many beautiful designs to build your free wedding website with lots of features.
Cons
Their free version is good and easy to use, but you’ll need to upgrade for premium features including a custom URL for around $15. It’s hard to get any idea of how it works without signing up, which may be inconvenient for some. I wish there was a preview option without having to create an account.
Overall Opinion
Zola is one of the best wedding website makers for couples who want their registry and website in the same place.
3. AppyCouple
AppyCouple is a complete wedding suite. They offer a wedding website maker and are totally modern in their design. One thing that sets them apart from the others is their website is really an app, so guests download your app and use it on their Smartphone device.
Is AppyCouple Private?
Yes! Your app/wedding website is kept private from prying eyes thanks to a few available features. You can set a password for all guests to use, or enable guest list match by name or email. You can also set private passwords on multiple events, which is a unique feature I haven’t seen before.
They specialize in wedding designs and invites to match, plus an app for your guests to use. It is not free, but many couples find the benefits outweigh the costs.
This is not free but you have two plan options: either $50 for 1 year or monthly for less than $15 per month.
Pros
They offer an app, which is perfect for tech-savvy couples who want the latest features. In addition, you can send alerts to your guests through the app, which is a unique feature we don’t find in the others. You can even send out matching save the dates that are digital, so you can skip sending the paper ones by mail.
Cons
I’m not sure how often you’ll send a mass notification to guests, or how many guests want to download an app, but that’s entirely up to your preference. Some find the app extremely easy to use, while others worry guests would rather navigate to a link rather than download an app. There is no free version, so you can’t get familiar with the layout before you purchase.
Overall Opinion
If you want an app, this is the best option for a wedding website that has an app your guests can download. It is also the top wedding website for couples who want to easily contact guests through the app.
► Make yours here.
4. eWedding
eWedding is a terrific place to plan your wedding and is a powerful website creation platform.
Pricing
• $0 for the free plan which includes:
► premium builder
► standard website themes
► 10 text notifications
► basic tool functions
► open RSVP
• $9 per month for the following features:
► premium builder
► custom domain name
► premium website themes
► 125 text notifications
► unlimited photos and albums
► my Guests tool
► open or closed RSVP
► unlimited RSVPs
► unlimited email blasts
► advanced Evite options
► seat guests immediately*
► website rollback
► ad-free
► priority support
• $27 per month includes:
– all of the features included above PLUS
+ SSL security ($99)
+ Email forwarding ($89)
+ White label ($99)
+ SEO ($59)
+ Any extension ($59)
You can start with free and add upgraded features as you go.
Pros
You get many features included in their free option, which is convenient. The upgrade isn’t much — under $10 — and you get so many premium features. I like the ability to have ad-free, which I think is important from a wedding guest standpoint. In addition, the ability to have unlimited photos and albums on your wedding website is a nice plus.
Cons
It isn’t as flashy as the other options and might not be as suited for modern couples who want special designs, app features, or tech-savvy designs. However, it is extremely simple and easy to use, which is great if your guests aren’t as tech-advanced (i.e. if they do not want to download an app).
If you want your wedding website to be private, you will need to upgrade to the premium plan or you’ll have open RSVP, which you likely don’t want if private is the type of wedding website you’re after.
All in all, eWedding is a fantastic place to create a wedding website that tells your story. I do like how the page is all-in-one, so guests can scroll and find out everything in one place. You can get yours now.
► Build yours here!
Now that you know where to make a website, let’s talk about some additional frequently asked questions on the topic, like when you should build yours.
When should you make a wedding website?
The best time to make a website is when you get engaged. Even if you don’t have the details yet, you can add them in as you go. There’s no need to publicize the link just yet; you can keep the URL and details to yourself until you’re ready to officially publish it and share the website link with your guests.
I recommend having all sections filled out and up-to-date before you send it out to guests. Make sure you include a welcome message for guests, the important details we mentioned earlier (those 4 W’s), and RSVP in place if you plan to use it for guests. A few photos and intro bios of wedding guests are a great idea, too! :) Also, be sure to link your wedding registry in the website for guests to easily access it.
If the website is ready for viewing when it’s time to send your save-the-date cards, put the link on your cards. If not, skip it and wait until the wedding invitation cards go out in the mail and include the wedding website as an enclosure card (particularly if you’re sending RSVP cards with QR codes).
How to make your wedding website now
All you need to do to get started is select a website builder from the options above. Once you find the one that works best for you, click on the link and get started. The builders we’ve selected are the easiest wedding website makers to use, so it’ll be a breeze to fill out the details of your big day.
Pick a design, start filling out the details, and work on it with your partner.
If you change your mind on the design, use your wedding website builder to swap to another style. Add your own personalized messages, tell your story, upload photos, and make it totally unique! Your website is one of the first impressions of your wedding, so make sure it’s entirely written with your guests in mind.
And last but not least, be sure to keep your wedding website updated. If you make a website and leave it as-is, guests won’t find it helpful or useful at all! You’ll want to add up-to-date notes as you approach the big day, letting guests know of any changes in the timeline, scheduling, parking, hotels, and more in case anything pops up.
In addition, it’s fun to add in things to do around town if you’re planning a long wedding weekend. Guests will find it helpful to use your wedding website for dining recommendations and things to do around town thanks to your amazing insight.
What is the best wedding website for you?
In conclusion, here’s a summary of what we found when we tried out a dozen of wedding websites on the web.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Easy to Use Wedding Websites
For ease of use, I’ve found Minted to be the clear winner for the best in wedding websites that are easy to use.
It’s also the best for…
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Most Private
If you’re looking only for the best wedding websites that are private AND free, you’ll find it at Minted. I like the ease of use and privacy feature with password available. It’s easy to log in and your wedding website content is kept private from search and unwanted guests.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Free Features
When you’re looking for free wedding websites, the one builder with most features enabled out of the gate is Minted. Your guests will be impressed by the style and, if you don’t mind it being public, it won’t cost you anything. You also get a $50 credit towards your stationery just by having a website (score!) Get yours at here.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: App + Messaging
For couples who love the look and feel of an intuitive app — and the ability to message guests — the top choice is AppyCouple. This is a great way to connect with wedding guests in a private way through your website.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Premium Cost
The best option for a wedding website with many premium features at a low cost is eWedding.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Coordinating Stationery
When it comes to coordinating stationery pieces, the clear winner is Minted for couples who want cohesion from start to finish. They offer invitations and matching websites in one place.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Wedding Registry Integration
If having a registry and website in the same place is of utmost importance, you’ll love the convenience of Zola for your wedding website building needs.
BEST WEBSITE FOR: Customer Service
If you have no time to do it yourself, hire someone to help! For customer service, we find the chat option to be highly beneficial when creating your website. Minted offers a personalized wedding concierge service where they’ll make your wedding website for you for $49 and it includes a premium custom URL ($15 value). Try it here.
When it comes to making the best wedding websites that are private, there are a variety of builders to choose from. Depending on what is important to you, the best choice could be Minted to match stationery or AppyCouple to create a one-of-a-kind app. The choice is up to you! You can’t go wrong with any of the above options. :)
Now that you have some suggestions, perhaps you’re wondering if you need a wedding website at all. What’s the point of one? Allow me to explain why it is essential to make a website ahead of your wedding — and yep, even a free version will do the trick. Then we’ll talk about why having a private wedding website makes a world of difference.
Let’s discuss it.
What is a wedding website?
First, let’s talk about why you need a website at all. Can’t you just plan your wedding without one? Technically, you don’t need a wedding website in order to say I Do — but it definitely helps ease the burden of stress on your shoulders when guests start asking tons of questions by calling, emailing, or texting you. ;)
Think of it as a place to keep your guests up-to-date rather than having them call or text you for info. ;)
When it comes to creating wedding websites that are private, you will likely also want the best features they have to offer. And in a wedding website, you can answer all of the questions privately to your guests, since they likely will have dozens of inquiries but won’t necessarily want to ask you.
Your wedding website can answer things like:
– Where is the ceremony? How long is the travel time between the ceremony and the reception?
– Do you have a map? I need to plug this into my GPS!
– Is there a cocktail hour? When does it start?
– Where should I stay when I’m in town? Do you have a block of rooms at a discount?
– Is there a shuttle so I don’t have to deal with parking?
– When do I need to RSVP? Can I respond digitally?
– What should I wear? Is there a dress code?
– I want to give them a gift, where are they registered?!
… and more.
Where can you get wedding websites that are private?
If privacy is important to you, you’ll want to choose a website builder that has privacy enabled, such as a password to protect your information. Guests can be given the password on your enclosure card or RSVP card where you share details of visiting the website.
How is privacy a good feature? You don’t want uninvited guests lurking your pages or attempting to find any information about your wedding that you don’t want to share publicly. Some are also uncomfortable with the idea of having their wedding registry or website pop up in an online search, in a professional sense. For instance, do you want your employer to search your name and find pictures of your wedding, private details about your wedding party, bachelorette party info, etc.? Probably not.
By using wedding websites that are private, you can prevent this from happening and enjoy privacy and password protection so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
See? It’s going to be your best bet at staying organized and keeping guests — and your wedding party — informed every step of the way, while keeping privacy of the utmost importance.
What can you share on a private wedding website?
You can inform your guests of the wedding ceremony, the reception, a map, hotel accommodation details, dress code, and more. You can now accept digital RSVPs via your wedding website, which cuts out the need for paper cards in the mail, saving you time and money (and paper!)
If something pops up unexpectedly leading up to the day, you can inform your guests in one central place.
And you can personalize it by sharing your story: how you met, the proposal, and how you’re excited to see your guests and celebrate with them in person.
A wedding website is the best way to keep organized and inform your guests of everything related to your wedding from when it is to where it is held, what to wear, and what to do for accommodations.
But before you type in the details and hit “publish”, make sure you don’t miss the vital details. Here are the most important things to include on your wedding website so your guests find it as useful as possible.
What to include on a wedding website
Make sure your website includes these 4 W’s:
• WHO
Who is attending? You can accept digital RSVPs with your wedding website so guests can submit who will be in attendance.
• WHAT
What kind of wedding are you planning? It is a seaside celebration where guests should wear sandals and dress for high temps, an outdoor rustic event where boots are welcome, or an elegant ballroom event with a semi-formal dress code. Use your wedding website to inform guests about what type of wedding you’re having and what to wear so they can follow the dress code appropriately.
• WHEN
When does the wedding take place? Make sure the date and time are clearly visible on your website, as some guests may misplace the invitation and your website will be their best bet to figure out the details. In addition, you can integrate your website with your wedding timeline so your wedding party knows where to be, when, and where.
• WHERE
Where is your ceremony held? Is it in the same place as the reception, or is there travel time from one to the other? Tell guests your venue(s) on your wedding website and include an address and map to make traveling easier.
Your website is also an ideal place to inform guests of where to stay while they’re in town. You can include lodging recommendations or discounted block rates being offered for your wedding on your website so guests can conveniently book their rooms.
And lastly, you can include a link to your wedding registry so guests know where you’re registered. This is convenient for you and for guests, who frequently like to shop for wedding gifts online!
As you can see, a website makes it entirely possible and easy to direct your guests to one convenient location rather than by answering individual questions by text or phone. I highly encourage every couple to make a wedding website and the free version of most is really all you need!
I hope this helps you navigate the wacky, wild world of wedding websites! They’re not so tough to do after all, huh? ;)
XO
Emma
