By Carol Badaracco Padgett | Edited by Kristen Rouse

It’s a well-known statement that your wedding invitation is your guest’s first glimpse at your wedding. Your wedding website, however, is a very close second.

Your wedding website allows you to communicate with everyone, all in one place. It provides an online hub for details regarding the ceremony, wedding reception, any necessary travel info — and perhaps even a look at your love story.

When creating your own wedding website, there are a few things to keep in mind:

DO consider incorporating:

• A professional template that suits the personality of the couple and the mood and tone of the Big Day
• Custom domain name—while not an absolute necessity, it’s still a fabulous opportunity for intimate personalization
• All the critical essentials: date, venue, time, dress code specifics, hotel and travel details, contact information, etc.
• Super important: online RSVP
• Updates about the Big Day and the events surrounding it
• Gift registry information
• Excellent images—both professional and iPhone off-the-cuff, if it suits the couple (make sure you have permission from your photographer first!)
• A place for guests’ well wishes and questions
• Privacy settings—gives guests a password that lets them access all the details, while preventing search engines from pulling up all the information for just anyone to see

DON’T include:

• Any information the couple wishes to keep private
• A design that does not go with the vibe or style of your wedding
• Too many graphics, audio, images and colors (let’s keep it simple and stick to your wedding theme!)
• Poor quality images, graphics or clip art
• Too many words (use bullet points to highlight important details)

Popular Wedding Website Options

Now that we’ve covered what to include (or not include) on your wedding website…how do you get started with actually creating your site?

Some popular options for creating wedding websites in 2023 include:

1. Bliss & BoneCost: $12/month for standard; $18/month for premium
   Perks: beautiful, modern and boho templates
   Problems: limited to some preset designs/guides
2. JoyCost: free; upcharge for a custom domain
   Perks: lots of features allow for personalization and customization. Photo collection at your wedding is a cool feature!
   Problems: some features (like photo collection) are only available when using the app
3. MintedCost: free; $15 upcharge for a custom URL
   Perks: large assortment of website designs, customized colors
   Problems: limited on extra pages, but these can be added with the premium (paid) version
4. Riley & GreyCost: $35/month or $240/year
   Perks: custom domain is included, can coordinate with invitations to make it all a cohesive look, personalized RSVP system
   Problems: this option is one of the most expensive options
5. WedSitesCost: pricing varies from free (lite) to $99 (standard) to $199 (pro)
   Perks: pro version serves as a wedding planning hub/organizing tool + wedding website
   Problems: free option is limited and doesn’t include some of its best features, like online RSVPs and wedding planning tools.
6. WixCost: ranges from $16/month to $45/month
   Perks: true customization, as you will build your own website to exact specifications
   Problems: may be hard to navigate and edit, if you’re not tech-savvy
7. ZolaCost: free
   Perks: another one-stop shop for invites, registry and your wedding website.
   Problems: the registry function has received some negative reviews/feedback online. Website function alone has good reviews.

Whichever wedding website option you choose, one key piece of advice will help ensure bliss: keep it simple.

We have three words for you: Sofia Richie Grainge. Surely you’ve seen the world’s favorite it-girl plastered all over your phone screen. She’s inspiring fashion trends across all occasions, but most notably bridal. Everything from her effortlessly dewy makeup to her timeless wedding outfits and accessories is to die for. Here’s what to look for when curating the ultimate cool girl wedding wardrobe. 

The Bachelorette Party

The bachelorette party is your chance to really theme it up. If you’re taking notes from Sofia Richie’s Parisian getaway, then it’s pretty simple: girlfriends, macarons, chic and simple looks. And if Paris isn’t your thing, consider a travel-themed weekend (think dream destinations that ooze romance, like Greece, Bali, London).

Photos from respective companies.

1. Miss to Mrs. custom pillowcase from Etsy
2. Black tulle dress from Anthropologie
3. Graphic tees from Anthropologie
4. Nudies Blush Stick in Picante from Nudestix

 The Bridal Shower

Queen Sofia kept it classic, yet on-trend at her bridal shower in a white halter dress and pointed pumps. Keeping with the Parisian bachelorette theme, there was a crepe bar (yum!) and an assortment of cakes adorned with pink and white roses. Cop her look with these sleek and simple looks.

Photos from respective companies.

1. Nookie x Revolve Illegal Halter Gown from Revolve
2. Cult Gaia Ophelia Chain-Strap Halter Gown from Neiman Marcus
3. Halter Side Drape Gown from Norma Kamali
4. Galvan Santorini Gown from Net-A-Porter
5. Halston Carina Scuba Gown from Saks Fifth Avenue
6. Sachin and Babi Sierra Midi Dress from Anthropologie

 The Rehearsal Dinner

If you’re torn between two dresses when you go gown shopping for the big day, your rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to snag that second dress and showcase it. Or make like Sofia and opt for a two-piece skirt/top combo with a high neck, dripping in sequins and beading.

Photos from respective companies.

1. Watters Frances Gown from Anthropologie
2. Bronx and Banco Megan Dress from Revolve
3. Catherine Deane Anya Topper from Anthropologie
4. Hart from Jenny Yoo

 The Wedding

Sofia Richie wore three different custom Chanel looks throughout her wedding celebration, but perhaps the most iconic was her lace halter top wedding gown. We’ve gathered four slightly different takes on her classic look, including a two-piece option from Sachin and Babi.

Photos from respective companies.

1. Lara Lattice Beaded Halter from Lord & Taylor
2. Retrofête Olivia Gown from Net-A-Porter
3. Rebecca Wedding Dress from Morilee
4. Marta Top from Sachin and Babi

No matter your taste, chances are there’s at least one look from Sofia Richie’s collection of different bridal wear that caught your eye. Whether you’re a mock-neck girl, a fan of the deep-v halter silhouette or a nontraditional two-piece, there is an it-girl look for you here. 

Start the search for your own bridal look here.

Pictured save-the-date stationery by Nerissa B Modern Calligraphy

As you check off your wedding planning tasks, one of the first big decisions will be sending out “Save-The-Dates.” These crucial pieces of snail mail not only inform guests of the upcoming nuptials with a request to attend, but they also set the tone for your wedding. Such pieces of stationery are the first part of your wedding that your guests will see, and therefore will set the stage for the theme, tone and experience your big day will take on.

But what does it take to create a beautiful and functional Save-The-Date? Here are 10 key things to keep in mind when designing and sending out wedding save-the-dates.

(more…)

While weddings are often associated with lavish receptions and free-flowing drinks, the idea of having a dry wedding is becoming increasingly popular among couples. A dry wedding is a celebration where no alcohol is served – and we aren’t talking about BYOB events either!

While some couples may feel that serving alcohol is an essential part of the celebration, there are also several benefits to having a dry wedding. Here are five reasons why you might want to consider making your wedding day alcohol-free.

(more…)

Every year, fashion enthusiasts eagerly await the Oscars award show red carpet to see what formalwear styles are showcased by the stars. This year’s Oscars red carpet fashion took inspiration from wedding attire, with many celebrities donning white gowns and glimmering textiles. From intricate beaded detailing to flowing trains, the fashion choices nodded to elements we love most about wedding attire. Keep reading to see some of our favorite wedding-inspired looks from the 2023 Oscars red carpet and get dreaming about your own wedding looks!

(more…)

By Jessica Mae, Makeup Artist & Founder of WarPaint International Beauty Agency 

Each year, color experts at the Pantone Color Institute™ select a much-awaited Color of the Year. Through trend analysis and consideration of the cultural zeitgeist, these trend forecasters study fashion, film, travel, new technologies, home design, socio-economic conditions, and more to coin a color to set the pace of the next year’s visuals.

For 2023, Pantone’s team named Viva Magenta (PANTONE 18-1750) as the Color of the Year. Vibrating with vim and vigor, the color is optimistic and strong.

If there is one thing I love, its bold colors and fun looks. I’m personally obsessed with this year’s Pantone Color of the Year for 2023, Viva Magenta. There are so many ways you can wear this color! One of the things I love the most about Viva Magenta is the feeling or attitude it creates within you when you wear it. It’s a powerful color that boosts confidence and swag – at least for me. It’s boldness, with a feeling of fun.

(more…)

Cover Photo by Stephanie Wood Photography, showcasing engagement ring from Razny Jewelers

A burgeoning engagement is a thrilling and exciting time. You’re about to embark on a lifetime union and the wedding process will come with lots of decisions. The first big decision (after choosing your partner, of course) is your engagement ring. Before we share some of our favorite Chicago-Style engagement rings, let’s go over some shopping groundwork:

(more…)

Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

The wedding dress shopping process and purchase is frequently one of the most magical parts of the wedding planning process. But after the vows are said and the reception dance floor is empty, what happens to this beloved dress?

Just as you saved memories with beautiful photography and videography, don’t forget to properly preserve this part of your wedding day as well. Step one of that process begins here. We spoke with Jonathon Reckles, VP of Marketing at CD One Price Cleaners, to answer questions surrounding wedding gown preservation.

(more…)

To describe the Chicago bride is to rattle off an adjective soup in vain. Because what makes her her cannot be pinned into explanation, she just has it. She doesn’t need to define herself with fashion trends or aesthetic boxes, she makes a name for herself by just being present.

So when the It Girl falls in love and decides to wed, the Chicago streets welcome her in. When it comes to wedding planning, there’s no reason to look beyond Chicago’s graffitied alleys and remnants of World’s Fair charm for inspiration. The It Girl bride is playful, vibrant and a purveyor of fine things — and her wedding matches. “The 2023 bride is the epitome of the modern woman,” mused stylist Catherine Vreeland of Mira Couture. “She is a cool girl, intelligent, confident, electric and, of course, stylish.”

The Windy City’s home run roster of vendors and artistry energizes. Skipping through West Town in eclectic couture pieces, come step into the world of our It Girl bride.

(more…)

WRITTEN BY Cora Gold, Revivalist | Featured Photos by Katherine Salvatori (See the rest of Kailee & Joey’s wedding here!) 

Pictures are a beautiful way to remember your wedding day. They capture memories you’ll remember forever and moments you may not notice while they’re happening. They deserve more than a picture album, especially for the standard cost of a wedding photographer’s time and skill.

Check out these creative ideas for what to do with your wedding photos. You’ll find new ways to use your favorite pictures and continue celebrating your big day long after it’s over.

(more…)

WRITTEN BY Michael J. Calabrese, Principal of Calabrese Associates, P.C.

It’s not glamorous to talk about, but couples engaged to be married often consider whether to have a prenuptial agreement or, less frequently, a postnuptial agreement. Breaking down certain provisions of Illinois law can be helpful in making this decision with your partner.

(more…)

Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

Starting your new life as a married couple comes with many exciting changes. One of the biggest changes is a new identity (so to speak). Let’s not make the assumption that everyone who gets married changes their last name. In fact, data analytics show that about 20-30% of women keep their maiden name after marriage. But that does leave 70-80% of newlyweds who do take their partner’s last name upon marriage.

While the origins of taking your partner’s last name are admittedly outdated, the sentiment behind the practice remains. Many couples like having the same last name, as it makes them feel more unified. Other couples like the idea of creating a singular identity for when they plan to add children to their family. Others might just not like the sound of their maiden name! And every reason is perfectly valid and a good enough reason to take part in this age-old tradition.

(more…)

With every wedding season comes new trends in wedding attire. While there are some styles that will never go out of fashion, there’s always room for new ones! From alternative colors to reimagining of classic bridal textiles, here are some of our favorite wedding attire trends we saw at New York Luxury Bridal Fashion Week Fall 2023.

(more…)

Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

You’ve just had the wedding of your dreams surrounded by some of your favorite people, many of which showered you with generous gifts. How can you ever properly express your gratitude? It might seem like a small gesture, but handwriting personalized thank-you notes goes a long way. Good, old-fashioned thank-you notes are greatly appreciated, whether you received a gift in the form of an item, money or the presence of someone.

As a starting point, we asked industry professionals what their rules of thumb are for sending thank you notes.

(more…)

WRITTEN BY Honeyfund and Alexandra Dillard | Display photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

The utterance of the word “honeymoon” conjures visions of limbs intertwined in the sand, couples massages at sunset and clinking Mai-Tai glasses. If this sounds like a luxury, it’s because it is! The benefits of taking a honeymoon are great, as we will outline here shortly, but there’s an elephant in the room. Household income plays a natural part in who can afford to take a honeymoon. And since 92% of couples pay for their honeymoon on their own, heavy barriers emerge.

When discussing honeymoons, two factors rise to the top: the marital benefits and the financial costs. To address both of these subjects, we turned to none other than Honeyfund and its CEO and co-founder, Sara Margulis.

If there’s anyone who knows about honeymooning and funding a honeymoon, it’s Sara!

(more…)