5 Signs Your Wedding Website Needs Archiving

Your wedding website captured one of the most important days of your life. But right now, those precious memories might be just one expired subscription away from disappearing forever.

Most couples don't realize their wedding websites are temporary. Whether you used a free wedding website builder or a premium platform, that beautiful site you spent hours perfecting is living on borrowed time.

Here are the five warning signs that it's time to preserve your wedding website before it's too late.

Sign #1: Your Free Trial is About to End

Remember when you first created your wedding website? Most platforms offer it free for the first year after your wedding date. It seemed so generous at the time!

But here's what they don't advertise in bold letters: after that grace period ends, your entire website gets deleted. No warning email. No "download your content" option. Just... gone.

If your wedding was 10-11 months ago, this is your wake-up call. The clock is ticking.

Sign #2: Those Renewal Notices Keep Coming

Maybe you've been paying to keep your site alive. $12.99 here, $19.99 there. It didn't seem like much at first.

But let's do the math: keeping a wedding website active for 10 years could cost you $1,500 or more. For a site you probably visit twice a year. That's an expensive digital photo album!

Sign #3: You Need Your Registry Information

Here's something most couples don't think about until it's too late: your wedding registry is a goldmine of important information that you'll need later.

• Insurance claims: Need to prove you owned that expensive KitchenAid mixer that was damaged? Your registry is proof of the gift.
• Thank you notes: Six months later, still writing thank you cards? Your registry shows exactly who gave what.
• Tax documentation: Received gifts over $16,000? The IRS might want to know about it.
• Anniversary inspiration: Want to finally buy that one registry item no one purchased? Your original wishlist is perfect reference.
• Sentimental value: "Remember when Aunt Martha bought us that beautiful serving platter?" Your registry tells the story behind every gift.

Once your wedding website disappears, so does this valuable record of generosity from your loved ones.

Sign #4: Friends and Family Keep Asking for Access

Got a text recently asking "Hey, is your wedding website still up? I wanted to show my girlfriend your amazing venue!"

Or maybe it's your mom, wanting to share photos with relatives who couldn't attend. Perhaps it's you, realizing your phone doesn't have all the guest photos that were uploaded to your site.

Your wedding website isn't just yours – it's a shared memory bank for everyone who celebrated with you.

Sign #5: You've Heard About Platform Changes

Wedding website platforms are businesses, and businesses evolve. Or sometimes, they shut down entirely.

• Features you used might be discontinued
• Your custom design could break after updates
• The platform might pivot to a different business model
• Smaller platforms might close without warning

"We assumed our wedding website would always be there. Then we got an email saying the platform was shutting down with 30 days notice. Thankfully, we had already archived with WedArchive!" – Sarah M., 2024 bride

What Should You Do Right Now?

If you recognized any of these warning signs, it's time to take action. But don't panic – archiving your wedding website is easier than planning your seating chart was!

Here's your action plan:

1. Check your website status today. Log in and see if it's still active.
2. Note your renewal date. This is your deadline for archiving.
3. Start your free archive. WedArchive offers a 24-hour trial so you can see your preserved site immediately.

Your Wedding Memories Deserve Better Than a "Page Not Found" Error

Your wedding website tells the story of your love. It holds the excitement of your engagement, the joy of your celebration, and the love of everyone who celebrated with you. It deserves to be preserved.

Don't let another renewal notice make the decision for you. Archive your wedding website today and keep those memories alive forever.