What to put on your wedding website (Philippines)

A wedding website exists to answer questions before anyone has to send them to you. Think about the messages you would otherwise get on Messenger in the weeks before the wedding, and put those answers at the top of the page.

Most guests open the link on their phone, often while on the way somewhere. Keep the first screen simple: who is getting married, when, and where. Everything else can come after a scroll.

• Your names, the way you want them written (nicknames are fine if that is what people call you).
• The date, and the start times for the ceremony and the reception.
• The ceremony and reception venues, each with a full address and a map link.
• Your RSVP deadline, repeated near the RSVP button.

Church weddings have their own etiquette, and not every guest attends Mass regularly. A short note saves people from guessing. If the ceremony is a full Mass, say so, so guests know it will take longer than a civil rite.

Many parishes ask guests to cover their shoulders and avoid very short hemlines inside the church. If yours does, mention it gently, especially for guests flying in from abroad who may not know. Tell people what time to actually arrive: a call time fifteen to thirty minutes before the processional is easier to follow than "the ceremony starts at 3:00".

"Formal" means different things to different titas. Be specific: barong or suit for men, long dress or Filipiniana for women, and the colours you would love guests to wear or avoid. If your motif is sage green and you would rather guests not match the abay, say so kindly.

A small photo or colour swatch helps more than a paragraph. If the reception is outdoors, a note about grass, sand or cooler evening air will be appreciated by anyone deciding on heels and shawls.

If you are marrying in Tagaytay, Batangas, Pampanga or a province where many guests have never been, travel information is one of the most useful things you can share.

• Directions from the nearest major road or landmark, plus how long the drive usually takes on a weekend.
• Where to park, and whether the venue has a drop-off point for lolos and lolas.
• Whether there is a shuttle between the church and the reception, and when it leaves.
• A few nearby places to stay for guests coming from out of town.

Your RSVP section should make it obvious who is invited. If plus-ones are not included, the RSVP form is the clearest place to show that, rather than a note people may miss. If you are offering meal choices, ask for them on the same form.

Listing your entourage and principal sponsors is a lovely way to honour them, and it also helps everyone find their place on the day. Ninongs and ninangs like seeing their names written properly, so double-check the spelling.

For gifts, one or two sentences is enough. If you prefer cash gifts, a GCash QR code with a warm line of thanks is common and considerate. Leave out anything that sounds like a price list.

Guests enjoy a short version of how you met, a few prenup photos and maybe the proposal. Keep it to a few paragraphs. The website is for helping guests, and a long story pushes the practical details further down.

Your website will be shared beyond your guest list, whether you plan for it or not. Avoid posting your home address, your full birthdates, or travel dates that tell people when your house will be empty. If you want extra privacy, protect the site with a password and send it together with the link.

Write your own text in the language most of your guests are comfortable with, and keep it consistent rather than switching on every line. With iKasal, guests can also switch the site's buttons and headings between English and Filipino with one tap, while your own words stay exactly as you wrote them.

Open the site on your own phone, then ask a parent or an older relative to open it on theirs. If they can find the venue, the time and the RSVP button without help, you are ready.

• Names, date, times and both venues are correct.
• Map links open the right place.
• The RSVP deadline is clear.
• Dress code and motif are specific.
• Contact details for one person who can answer questions on the day.