Search for a wedding website template on Etsy and many of the results are Canva templates. Others, like ours, are hosted wedding websites you edit in a simple panel. Both are good options for different couples. This guide explains how each one works, what you do yourself, and how to choose. We make hosted websites, so we have tried to be especially fair to the other side.
How a Canva wedding website template works
A Canva template is a design file you copy into your own Canva account and edit there.
- You buy the template, often on Etsy, and download a PDF with a template link.
- You open the link in Canva, which copies the design into your Canva account (a free account is usually enough to edit, but check the listing).
- You edit the design in Canva's editor: replace the names, dates, text and photos, and adjust anything else you like.
- You publish it as a website. Canva can publish a design to a free address on its own domain (ending in my.canva.site), or to your own domain on a paid Canva plan, according to Canva's help pages.
- You set up replies with a form: Canva's own forms, a separate form tool, or an email address, depending on the template.
What this gives you: complete control of the design. You can change colors, fonts, layout and pages, add sections the template did not have, and reuse the design for other stationery.
What you take on: the building and publishing steps, checking that the site works on phones, and connecting a reply form and keeping track of the answers.
How a hosted wedding website works
A hosted wedding website lives on the seller's platform. You fill in your details; the platform takes care of the rest.
- You choose a design, ideally after trying its live demo on your phone.
- You buy it (in our case on Etsy) and get a link to start your website.
- You fill in your details in an editing panel: names, date, venue, schedule, photos, questions and answers, RSVP questions.
- You publish with one button. Your website gets an address on the platform's domain.
- Guests reply on the website, and the replies appear in your panel.
What this gives you: less to build and set up. Hosting, the reply form and the reply list are already connected, and the design has been tested on phones.
What you give up: design freedom. You change the content, not the layout, colors or fonts, and you depend on the platform for hosting.
Side by side
| Canva template | Hosted wedding website | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you edit | Canva's editor, on a computer or phone | The platform's editing panel |
| Account needed | A Canva account | Depends on the platform; ours uses a private edit link instead |
| Design freedom | Full: change anything | The design stays as made; you change the content |
| RSVP | A separate form you connect | Built in, with replies in your panel |
| Your link | Free Canva address, or your own domain on a paid plan | An address on the platform's domain |
| Phone layout | You check and adjust it yourself | Designed and tested by the platform |
| Who fixes problems | You, with Canva's help pages; the template seller for the design | The platform's support |
| How long it stays online | As long as your Canva account and site stay published | Set by the platform (ours: until 12 months after the wedding date) |
Which one is right for you?
A Canva template is a great fit if:
- You enjoy designing and already know Canva
- You want to change colors, fonts or layout, or add your own sections
- You want one design to use for other stationery as well
- You are happy to set up a reply form and track answers yourself
- You would like your own domain and already have a paid Canva plan
A hosted wedding website is a great fit if:
- You want to fill in details rather than design pages
- You plan to do most of it on your phone, in short sessions
- You want replies collected and counted in one place without extra tools
- You like a design as it is and do not need to change it
- You would rather contact support than troubleshoot a publishing setting
Neither choice is wrong. The real question is how you want to spend the hours before the wedding.
What to check in any template listing
Whichever kind you buy, read the listing carefully before you pay. Good listings answer these questions plainly:
- What you actually receive: a template link, a download, or access to a hosted website.
- Which pages are included, and whether the RSVP form is part of it or something you set up separately.
- What you can and cannot edit: text and photos only, or colors, fonts and layout too.
- Which account or plan you need, for the editor and for publishing.
- Whether there is a live demo you can open on your phone before buying.
- How support works if something does not work as described.
If a listing leaves any of these unclear, message the seller before you buy. A clear answer is also a good sign of the help you will get later.
Questions to ask before you buy either
- Can I try a live demo of the finished website on my phone?
- What exactly can I change, and what stays fixed?
- How do guests reply, and where do I see the answers?
- What is my website address, and does it cost extra to change it?
- How long will the website stay online after the wedding?
- What happens if something stops working the week before the wedding?
How our hosted websites answer those questions
Our designs open from a sealed envelope or keepsake into four pages: Home, Our Story, Details and RSVP. You can try every design as a live demo first. You edit names, date, venue, schedule, 5 photos, questions and answers and up to 10 RSVP questions in a panel designed for phone screens; the artwork, colors and fonts stay as designed. Replies, totals and a CSV download are in your panel. Your website stays online until 12 months after your wedding date. The features page has the full list, including what is not included.
FAQ
Can I use a Canva wedding website template without a paid Canva plan?
Usually yes: many templates can be edited and published to a free Canva address with a free account. Some elements in a template may require a paid plan, and using your own domain needs one, so check the listing and Canva's current help pages before you buy.
Is a Canva website good for RSVPs?
It can work well once it is set up: you connect a form (Canva's own or another tool) and check the answers there. The difference from a hosted website is that you build and manage that connection yourself.
Can I change the design of a hosted wedding website?
On most hosted platforms you can change the content but not the layout, and ours is the same: the artwork, colors and fonts stay as designed. If changing the design matters to you, a Canva template is the better choice.
Which is cheaper?
Prices vary by seller. Compare the total cost, including any paid plan you would need for features such as your own domain, and how long the website stays online. Then weigh the time you will spend building against the time you save.