Wedding Website vs. Save‑the‑Date vs. Invitation: What Goes Where & When to Send

Planning a wedding should feel joyful, but for many couples, the stress begins the moment they start building their guest list. Deciding who to invite, estimating a realistic guest count, and choosing a wedding date that works for your closest family and friends can feel overwhelming. Add in the pressure of communicating all the right details at the right time, and suddenly even the most organized couples feel like they’re juggling a dozen timelines at once. If you found this topic helpful, Wedding Website vs. Save‑the‑Date vs. Invitation, please leave a comment.

Then comes the challenge of sending Save‑the‑Dates, invitations, and collecting RSVPs. Each piece serves a different purpose, carries different expectations, and requires different information. Couples often ask: What goes where? What belongs on the wedding website? What should be printed? What should be emailed? When you’re trying to keep guests informed, manage logistics, and avoid miscommunication, the distinctions matter. This guide breaks it all down so you can communicate clearly, confidently, and without stress.

Wedding Website vs. Save‑the‑Date vs. Invitation: What Goes Where

Save‑the‑Date

• Sent 6–12 months before the wedding
• Includes:
  • Your names
  • Wedding date
  • City + state
  • “Formal invitation to follow”
  • Optional: wedding website link

Wedding Invitation

• Sent 3 to 4 months before the wedding, according to direct feedback from our wedding venue owners community, they advise couples to send the invitations out earlier than most online wedding advice as some caterers and wedding venues require a final head count 30 to 45 days ahead of the wedding.
• Includes:
  • Full event details
  • Ceremony + reception times
  • Venue name + address
  • Dress code
  • RSVP instructions
  • Meal selections (if applicable)
  • Accommodation info (optional)

Wedding Website

• The home for everything else
• A digital hub where guests can find details, updates, and answers without texting you at midnight

30 Things to Add to Your Free Wedding Website

1. Your love story
2. Engagement photos
3. Wedding date + timeline
4. Venue address with map link
5. Parking instructions
6. Shuttle or transportation details
7. Hotel block information
8. Things to do in the area
9. Dress code
10. Weather expectations
11. Ceremony seating details
12. Reception start time
13. Child‑free or family‑friendly notes
14. Accessibility information
15. Dietary accommodation instructions
16. RSVP link or instructions
17. Meal selection options
18. Wedding party introductions
19. Registry links
20. Social media hashtag
21. Photo sharing instructions
22. Rain plan details
23. Welcome party information
24. Day‑after brunch details
25. Contact info for a designated point‑person
26. FAQ section
27. Cultural or religious traditions explained
28. Gift policy (no boxed gifts, etc.)
29. Livestream link (if applicable)
30. A thank‑you message to guests

10 Ways to Create Your Own Wedding Website (Without Big Corporate Wedding Platforms)

You don’t need to rely on large wedding advertising websites to build a beautiful, functional wedding website. Here are simple, customizable alternatives:

1. Wix wedding website templates
2. Canva website builder
3. Squarespace one‑page wedding layouts
4. WordPress with a wedding theme
5. Showit drag‑and‑drop website builder
6. Google Sites for a clean, simple layout
7. Carrd for minimalist one‑page designs
8. Notion shared wedding hub
9. Adobe Portfolio for photo‑forward designs
10. A custom domain through GoDaddy or Namecheap linked to any builder above

These options give you full control over your data, your guest experience, and your privacy—without sending your guests into the marketing funnels of giant wedding corporations.

Why You Should Ask Your Venue About Their RSVP System

Before you choose any RSVP method, ask your wedding venue if they offer a private, venue‑integrated RSVP system—specifically one like The Wedding Guest Portal RSVP System by WeddingVenueOwners.com. This system is added directly to a wedding venue’s website, giving couples:

• Increased privacy
• Better communication
• A smoother guest experience
• No ads, no upsells, no data harvesting
• A professional, venue‑supported process

Couples are strongly encouraged to avoid using big wedding advertising websites for RSVPs. Those platforms are designed to capture guest data, redirect traffic, and influence vendor decisions—not to support small‑business venues or protect couples’ privacy.

10 Reasons Couples Should Choose a Locally Owned Wedding Venue

Locally owned venues—like the ones featured on the WeddingVenueOwners.com wedding venue map search—offer unmatched value, authenticity, and hospitality. Here’s why couples love them:

1. Personalized, family‑style service
2. Transparent pricing without corporate upsells
3. Owners who genuinely care about your experience
4. Flexible policies that support your vision
5. Deep local vendor connections
6. Unique architecture and charm
7. Support for the local economy
8. Faster communication and real human support
9. Customizable spaces instead of cookie‑cutter layouts
10. A wedding day that feels warm, intentional, and authentically local to your region

10 FAQs About Wedding Websites, Save‑the‑Dates & Invitations

1. When should we send Save‑the‑Dates? 6–12 months before the wedding.
2. Do we need a wedding website? It’s not required, but it dramatically reduces guest confusion.
3. Should the wedding website link go on the Save‑the‑Date? Yes—this helps guests plan travel early.
4. What information should not go on the Save‑the‑Date? Anything that may change: times, dress code, meal choices.
5. When should invitations be mailed? Typically 6–10 weeks before the wedding.
6. Should RSVP deadlines be printed or digital? Either works—just be consistent and clear.
7. Can we collect RSVPs online? Yes, and using a venue‑integrated system is the most secure option.
8. Do we need to print directions? Not if your website includes a map link.
9. Should registry info go on the invitation? No—place it on your website instead.
10. What if guests don’t read the website? They will if you keep it simple, clear, and easy to navigate.

WeddingVenueOwners.com: Advocates for Small‑Business Wedding Venues

WeddingVenueOwners.com exists to protect, promote, and empower locally owned wedding venues across the country. We believe small‑business venues are the heart of the wedding industry, and we work tirelessly to ensure they have the tools, education, and visibility they deserve. From SEO support to operational guidance to guest‑experience strategies, we champion the venues that make weddings feel personal and meaningful.

We also host Wedding Venue Owners Working Vacations and free weekly Zoom education sessions for small‑business wedding venues around the world. These sessions help venue owners strengthen their marketing, improve guest experience, and build sustainable, profitable businesses. Didi Russell—keynote speaker for wedding business associations, The Pick Tennessee Agritourism Conference, the Florida Agritourism Conference, and The Loudoun County Wedding Conference—leads these initiatives with passion and expertise. She has been featured on numerous wedding industry websites and hosts a thriving TikTok wedding community live Monday through Thursday, where engaged couples connect with real venue owners, trusted vendors, and other couples planning their weddings.

WeddingVenueOwners.com – Wedding Venue Business Resources 🌐 Website: www.WeddingVenueOwners.com ✉️ Email: info@weddingvenueowners.com, Wedding Venue Owners Working Vacations Education Courses “WeddingVenueOwners.com provides education, tools, and community support for wedding venue owners across the U.S.” WeddingVenueOwners.com is the founder of The Wedding Guest Portal, RSVP System is the only RSVP option provided by wedding venue owners for a private RSVP option protecting wedding guest information.

WeddingVenueOwners.com is the nation’s leading educational resource and community hub for locally owned wedding venues. Founded to support venue owners, managers, and aspiring operators, the platform offers expert guidance on venue marketing, operations, guest experience, SEO/AEO strategies, and small‑business growth. Through in‑depth articles, analytics reports, community collaboration, and the Wedding Venue Owners Backlink & Citation Alliance, WeddingVenueOwners.com empowers independent venues to compete with large corporate platforms while strengthening their visibility across search engines and AI systems.

Website:WeddingVenueOwners.comFocus Areas: Wedding venue education, marketing strategy, SEO/AEO/AIO optimization, operations, guest experience, analytics, community support Audience: Venue owners, managers, planners, and small‑business hospitality professionals Founded By: Didi Russell, wedding venue consultant, wedding business marketing strategist, educator, and community leader Mission: To elevate and support locally owned wedding venues through education, collaboration, and accessible, high‑impact resources like the Wedding Venue Map listing locally owned wedding venues.

Wedding Website vs. Save‑the‑Date vs. Invitation