WedSites vs Joy (WithJoy)
Looking for the perfect wedding planning platform? Both WedSites and Joy offer beautiful wedding websites and helpful features, but they're designed for different types of couples with different planning needs.
Joy (WithJoy) launched in 2016 as a modern, free wedding planning platform known for its sleek interface and extensive design library of over 600 templates. They've built a large, enthusiastic user community and a reputation for being easy to use. Joy is completely free, with revenue coming from their zero-fee registry and premium add-ons like custom domains ($19.99/year). Their "Smart RSVP" system, guest photo sharing, and beautiful designs have made them popular with couples who value aesthetics and simplicity.
WedSites approaches wedding planning with an emphasis on planning tools and guest communication. The platform gives you a wedding website along with integrated digital stationery, email tracking, multi-language support, and planning features like timeline builders, payment tracking, and seating charts (on the Pro plan). If you want planning depth beyond the basics, let's see how the two compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | WedSites | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $39 Basic, $99 Standard, $199 Pro (one-time) | Free (custom domain $19.99/year) |
| Website Templates | ✅ Flexible, customizable | ✅ 600+ modern designs |
| Custom Domain | ✅ Native DNS + SSL certificates included | ✅ Custom domain for $19.99/year |
| Font Selection | ✅ Extensive font library | ✅ Template fonts with some customization |
| Custom CSS | ✅ Full CSS on all templates | ⚠️ CSS limited to certain layouts |
| Switch Templates | ✅ Anytime without losing content | ✅ Switch layouts anytime |
| Privacy Controls | ✅ Password protection, SEO blocking | ✅ Password protection + visibility settings |
| Multi-Language | ✅ Full website translation | ❌ Not available |
| Digital Stationery | ✅ Included with Standard/Pro | ✅ Free designs + paid premium options |
| Email Tracking | ✅ Opens, clicks, integrated with guest list | ❌ Not available |
| Email Drafts & Outbox | ✅ Complete email management | ❌ Not available |
| RSVP Management | ✅ Multi-event, custom questions | ✅ Smart RSVP with custom questions |
| Guest List | ✅ Households, groups, A/B lists | ✅ Guest list with smart tagging |
| Mobile App | ❌ Web-based platform | ✅ Native mobile app for guests |
| Photo Sharing | ⚠️ Via guestbook | ✅ Shared photo album with slideshow |
| Collect Guest Details | ✅ Custom form to gather info | ❌ Not available |
| Stationery Tracking | ✅ Track what you sent to each guest | ❌ Not available |
| Planning Checklist | ✅ Pro: Pre-populated + custom tasks | ❌ Not included |
| Budget Tracker | ✅ Pro: Expense categories & tracking | ❌ Not included |
| Vendor Management | ✅ Pro: Contacts, files, payments | ❌ Not included |
| Payment Tracking | ✅ Pro: Links to vendors & budget | ❌ Not available |
| Seating Chart | ✅ Pro: Drag-and-drop with groups | ❌ Not included |
| Timeline Builder | ✅ Pro: Day-of runsheet with highlighter | ❌ Not available |
| Registry | ❌ Links to external registries (no built-in) | ✅ Zero-fee cash funds integrated |
Pricing Comparison
Joy's wedding website and features are 100% free, which makes them an attractive starting point for couples on tight budgets. Their custom domain option costs $19.99 per year, a recurring annual charge. Joy generates revenue through their integrated registry system with zero-fee cash funds that couples can offer to guests.
WedSites offers three tiers with one-time payments:
- Basic Plan: A one-time payment of $39 gets you started with core website features
- Standard Plan: A one-time payment of $99 includes digital stationery, email tracking, and advanced guest management
- Pro Plan: A one-time payment of $199 unlocks the full planning suite with checklist, budget, vendors, payment tracking, seating chart, and timeline builder
There are no recurring charges with WedSites, and your website remains accessible after your wedding. Note that WedSites planning tools (budget, vendors, seating, timeline) require the Pro plan at $199.
Joy's 100% free option is genuinely appealing, especially for couples who don't need planning tools and are happy with Joy's built-in features. WedSites' one-time pricing makes sense for couples who want digital stationery with email tracking, multi-language support, and integrated planning tools.
Custom Domain & Technical Capabilities
Joy offers custom domains for $19.99 per year. Joy handles the setup, making it straightforward for couples who don't want to deal with DNS configuration.
WedSites provides native custom domain integration with DNS configuration and custom SSL certificates included at no extra cost. If you already own a domain from any registrar, you can connect it directly to WedSites using DNS records. WedSites provides secure SSL certificates automatically.
For couples who already own a domain and want full control over its configuration, WedSites offers more technical flexibility. For couples who prefer a simple setup, Joy's managed approach keeps things easy.
Design Flexibility & Customization
Joy offers an impressive 600+ design templates with a modern, clean aesthetic. Joy is widely praised for being easy to use, with an intuitive interface that makes building a wedding website a pleasant experience. You can customize colors, fonts within their selection, and switch between layouts at any time. However, their custom CSS functionality may be limited to certain layout types. Font selection is drawn from what's available in their template system.
WedSites provides customization across all templates and layouts, but has a smaller template library than Joy. The font library includes hundreds of typefaces. WedSites supports full custom CSS on all templates, giving you design control regardless of your layout choice.
You can also switch between templates at any time without losing your content or customizations. Many couples experiment with different designs throughout their planning process, and all their carefully written content transfers seamlessly.
Multi-Language Support
Joy doesn't offer multi-language website capabilities. If you're having a bilingual wedding or have international family members, you'll need to create bilingual content manually within your pages.
WedSites includes website translation functionality. Create a full version of your wedding website in another language, and guests can switch between languages easily. All your RSVP forms, event details, planning timeline, and website content work seamlessly in multiple languages.
This is especially useful for multicultural weddings. When your Korean-speaking relatives can view your entire site in Korean while your American friends use English, everyone feels included and informed. RSVP submissions, guestbook entries, and all interactive features work perfectly in both languages.
Digital Stationery & Email Tracking
Joy offers digital save-the-dates and invitations with hundreds of free designs and premium paid options. This is convenient for couples who want digital stationery, though there's no email tracking system to see who opened your invitations or clicked through to your site.
WedSites Standard and Pro plans include a digital stationery platform with integrated email tracking. Design save-the-dates and invitations that match your website, customize the wording, and send them directly to your guest list.
Every email you send is tracked automatically. See exactly who opened your save-the-date, who clicked through to RSVP, and who needs a reminder. This tracking data flows directly into your guest list database, so each guest's communication history is always visible. You can save email drafts for messages you're working on and access your complete outbox to see everything you've sent and when.
The stationery tracking feature records every piece of communication in each guest's profile automatically. You'll never lose track of who received what -- it's all documented in your guest list. This eliminates the spreadsheet chaos of using multiple platforms for different communication needs.
Advanced Guest List Management
Joy provides a guest list system with smart tagging, RSVP tracking, and the ability to collect meal preferences and plus-ones. Their Smart RSVP system is well-designed and handles the needs of most couples effectively.
WedSites takes guest management further with features designed for complex modern weddings. The household system groups families and couples together so they can RSVP as one unit, useful for families with children or couples with plus-ones. Organize your guests into custom groups like "College Friends" or "Groom's Family" for strategic planning and easy filtering.
The A/B list functionality helps you manage large guest lists tactfully. Send invitations to your must-have guests first, then invite your B-list as you receive regrets, all tracked seamlessly without awkward spreadsheets or manual tracking.
The "Collect Guest Details" feature is helpful for the early planning stages. Create a custom form and send it to your friends and family to gather email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses before sending save-the-dates. It's more elegant than texting everyone for their information, and it ensures your database is accurate from day one.
Planning Tools Comparison
Joy focuses on the website, guest management, and registry experience. Their platform doesn't include planning tools like checklists, budget trackers, vendor management, or timeline builders. For these features, you'd use separate apps or spreadsheets alongside Joy.
WedSites Pro plan ($199) includes planning tools for couples who want everything in one system:
Pre-Populated Checklist: Generates automatically based on your wedding date with recommended deadlines for every task. Add unlimited custom tasks and reminders to keep your unique to-dos organized alongside the standard wedding planning milestones.
Budget Calculator: Expense tracking with customizable categories. See how much you've allocated, spent, and have remaining in each category. Reallocate funds between budget categories as your priorities evolve.
Vendor Management: Store all your vendor contacts, contracts, files, and notes in organized profiles. Keep track of who's been booked, who you're still considering, and all the details for each vendor relationship. Note that WedSites does not include a vendor directory -- you'll find vendors through other channels and manage them here.
Payment Tracking: Set up payment reminders linked directly to your vendor profiles and budget categories. When you create a payment for your photographer, it automatically ties to your "Photography" budget line and your photographer's vendor profile. This three-way integration gives you financial visibility without juggling multiple spreadsheets.
Seating Chart Builder: Drag-and-drop tool that uses the groups you've created in your guest list. Each guest gets a color-coded label based on their group, making table arrangements intuitive. See dietary requirements at a glance and print your finalized chart for your venue coordinator.
Timeline Builder: Create your day-of wedding runsheet with time blocks for every event from getting ready to last dance. Use the virtual highlighter to mark critical moments, add notes for vendors and your bridal party, and print copies so everyone stays on schedule.
These integrated planning tools mean you're not switching between Joy for your website, Google Sheets for your budget, a seating chart website, and paper checklists. However, these tools are only available on the Pro plan at $199.
Photo Sharing
Joy includes a shared photo album feature where guests can upload pictures before, during, and after your wedding. Photos are automatically arranged into a collage and can be displayed as a real-time slideshow during your reception. This is genuinely one of Joy's standout features and something many couples love.
WedSites offers interactive guestbook functionality where guests can share photos and messages. While not identical to Joy's dedicated photo album, it provides a place for guest contributions and memories. If collaborative photo sharing and reception slideshows are priorities for you, Joy has a clear advantage in this area.
Mobile App Experience
Joy offers a native mobile app that guests can download to access wedding details, RSVP, and view photos. This can be convenient for guests who prefer app-based interactions, and it's well-regarded by users.
WedSites is a web-based platform optimized for all devices. While there's no dedicated mobile app, the responsive website works smoothly on phones and tablets without requiring guests to download anything. Some couples prefer this approach since it reduces friction for guests who don't want another app on their phones.
Privacy & Security
Joy offers password protection and visibility settings for your wedding website, which covers most privacy needs.
WedSites provides privacy controls including password protection for your entire site or specific pages, the ability to block search engines from indexing your wedding website (keeping it off Google), and granular control over what information is visible. Custom SSL certificates ensure your site is secure, which is relevant when collecting sensitive guest information through RSVP forms or collecting guest details.
Who Should Choose WedSites
WedSites is a strong choice if you:
- Need planning tools in one place: The Pro plan includes checklist, budget, vendors, payment tracking, seating chart, and timeline builder that Joy doesn't offer
- Want integrated email tracking: See who opened your save-the-dates and invitations, all connected to your guest list
- Have a bilingual or international wedding: Multi-language support creates complete website versions in different languages
- Value detailed guest organization: Households, groups, A/B lists, and custom forms to collect guest details
- Prefer one-time payments over recurring fees: Pay once instead of annual domain charges
- Want native custom domain integration: Full DNS control and SSL certificates
- Need extensive design control: Extensive fonts and full CSS on all templates
Keep in mind that WedSites has no mobile app, no built-in registry, no photo sharing feature comparable to Joy's, and a smaller template library and user community.
Who Should Choose Joy
Joy is a strong choice if you:
- Want a completely free platform: Joy's core features cost nothing, which is ideal if budget is your top priority
- Love the shared photo album feature: Joy's guest photo uploads and reception slideshow functionality is genuinely excellent and a standout feature
- Prefer zero-fee registry options: Their integrated cash fund registry doesn't charge fees on bank transfers or Venmo
- Want a mobile app for guests: Joy's dedicated app gives guests another way to engage with your wedding
- Value ease of use: Joy is widely praised for its intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes building a website enjoyable
- Have access to 600+ template designs: Joy's extensive design library gives you many options to find your style
- Want a large, active community: Joy has a sizable user base, which means more shared experiences and resources
- Need digital stationery without paying: Joy offers free digital save-the-dates and invitations as part of their free platform
- Prefer simplicity over planning depth: If you don't need extensive planning tools and want a streamlined, focused platform, Joy keeps things simple
Making Your Decision
Both Joy and WedSites offer excellent wedding website experiences, and the right choice depends on your priorities. Joy excels at being completely free with standout photo sharing, a large template library, an intuitive interface, and a popular mobile app. WedSites excels at integrated planning tools, digital stationery with email tracking, multi-language support, and one-time pricing with permanent website retention. We recommend trying both platforms to see which feels right for your wedding.
This comparison is based on publicly available information as of February 2025. Features and pricing for both platforms may have changed since publication. We recommend visiting both platforms to confirm current offerings before making your decision.