Wedding websites and virtual weddings are a match made in digital heaven! Whether you’re taking your entire wedding online or have a handful of loved ones joining you from afar, a wedding website allows you to host your virtual event and communicate with guests in one convenient place.
Virtual weddings have only recently become mainstream thanks to COVID-19, so this may be a completely foreign concept to some of your guests. With this in mind, it’s important to communicate all of the essential details with your loved ones to ensure your virtual celebration runs smoothly – and your wedding website is the perfect place to do just this!
Wait, What’s A Virtual Wedding?
Not sure what a virtual wedding is all about? Simply put, a virtual wedding is a wedding that has some or all of your guests joining virtually from their devices. Essentially, you’ll live stream your ceremony using a video streaming platform like Zoom, Skype or Facebook Live, and your loved ones can watch the action unfold in real-time. We explain everything you need to know about live streaming your wedding here!
Virtual weddings are a great option for couples who may be planning an elopement or “minimony” but still want to involve a wider group of friends and family in their celebration. Providing a virtual wedding option is also ideal for any guests who may be unable to attend in person due to travel restrictions, safety concerns or budget constraints.
So, what kind of details do your guests need to know when it comes to a virtual event? From timings to RSVPs and digital guestbooks, read on for exactly what to include on your wedding website for a virtual wedding below.
Virtual Wedding Schedule
Just like a traditional wedding, your virtual guests will need to know the schedule of events for the day. Your wedding website should clearly outline the relevant timings for your virtual wedding, including:
- The wedding date
- What time the live stream will commence
- What time the live stream will conclude
- Any additional live streams that may be taking place during your reception (eg: first dance or speeches)
Don’t forget to include the relevant time zone so that any guests living interstate or overseas know exactly when to tune in. We’d also recommend opening your live stream around 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin, so that everyone has enough time to access the stream and get settled in before the proceedings.
When it comes to wording this on your wedding website, you can say something like:
For guests joining us virtually, you can access our live stream from 3pm on the 5th October, with our ceremony kicking off at 3.30pm (AEST). We will be wrapping up the live stream at 4.15pm once the ceremony has concluded.
Live Stream Details
How can guests access your virtual wedding? Whether you’re sharing a live stream link or embedding the stream directly on your wedding website, you’ll need to prepare your guests accordingly.
Along with simple instructions for accessing your live stream, be sure to include any additional details your guests might need such as passwords or prompts to create an account. For example:
We will be live streaming our ceremony via Zoom right here on our wedding website. No need to create an account – just head to the “virtual wedding” tab on our wedding website at the designated time, and join the stream using the password: (insert password).
RSVP Instructions
Even if your loved ones aren’t attending your wedding in person, it’s still important to gather RSVPs for your virtual event. Some streaming platforms have capped guest limits, so you’ll need to know upfront how many people will be joining you to avoid anyone missing out. Tech issues aside, it’s also nice to know exactly who’s watching along at home so you can send thank you cards after the day!
Make sure your wedding website clearly outlines how and when your guests will need to RSVP. If you have guests attending both virtually and in person, you can tweak your RSVP responses so that your loved ones can select the appropriate option. Read these 5 RSVP questions to ask your guests during COVID-19 here!
For example:
Please RSVP by Saturday, 17th September via our wedding website here (insert link), including any guests who will be joining us virtually on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Virtual weddings are a relatively new concept – so for many of your guests, it may be their first time attending a digital event! It’s a good idea to address some virtual wedding FAQs on your wedding website ahead of time to prevent any technical difficulties on the day.
For a virtual wedding, this could include questions like:
- Do I need to download an app or create a user account to access the live stream?
- Should I have my camera on during the live stream?
- Should I mute myself during the live stream?
- How can I interact during the live stream?
- Can we replay the live stream after the wedding?
You can simply add these questions to your existing FAQs page on your wedding website. Planning a wedding during the pandemic? Read these 9 essential FAQs to include on your wedding website during COVID-19 here.
Virtual Guestbook
Including a digital guestbook on your wedding website is a great way to make your virtual wedding guests feel more involved in your celebration. Ask your loved ones to leave a message on your wedding website following the live stream, and read them together with your partner after the big day. You can even encourage your virtual guests to take a selfie during the ceremony and upload it using your custom wedding hashtag! Find more ideas for involving your guests in a virtual wedding right here.
Gift Registry Details
Even if your guests can’t attend your wedding in the flesh, they may still want to indulge you with a gift. While gifts should never be expected, including the relevant details on your wedding website will give your guests the option if they choose to do so.
If you’ve created a traditional gift registry, simply include your postal address for any guests who can’t join you on the day. You may also want to include some digital options such as gift cards or experience vouchers to make it easy for your virtual guests. Or, if you’d prefer monetary gifts, you can set-up an online wishing well or “honeymoon fund” to accept virtual donations.
Keep your wording short, sweet and appreciative, without any expectations. For example:
Celebrating our marriage with you is the greatest gift we could ask for! However, for friends and family who have expressed an interest, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be much appreciated: (insert link).
Keep Your Loved Ones In The Loop
Planning a virtual wedding is a thoughtful way to include all of your favourite people in your nuptials, but it’s important to keep them in the loop! By including these essential details on your wedding website, you can rest assured your virtual event will be memorable, personal and stress-free.
Looking for more wedding website tips? Read our guide on how to write your wedding website sections here!