Resetting website to start over
Learn how to reset your wedding website to delete all sections and start from scratch while keeping your settings and account data.
Need a fresh start? You can reset your wedding website to delete all sections and start from scratch! This is a big decision, but sometimes starting over is exactly what you need.
What resetting does
When you reset your website:
Deletes:
- All sections on all pages
- All pages you created
- All homepage content
- All custom page content
- Section customizations
- Layouts and arrangements
Keeps:
- Your site settings (publish status, authentication, etc.)
- Your theme
- Your custom colors and fonts
- Your account and all other data (guests, RSVP, guestbook entries, etc.)
- Your domain and subdomain
Result:
- Fresh demo content loads automatically
- Clean slate for design
- All customization settings intact
It only resets your website sections, not your entire account!
When to reset
Good reasons to start over:
- Tried a design and hate it
- Website got too cluttered
- Want to try completely different layout
- Made too many mistakes to undo individually
- Switching themes and want fresh start
- Got confused and want to simplify
When NOT to reset:
- You just want to delete a few sections (delete them individually instead)
- You want to change theme (just apply a new theme, don't reset)
- You're frustrated temporarily (take a break first!)
- You just want to hide sections temporarily (make them private instead)
Resetting is permanent, so think carefully!
How to reset your website
- Go to Site in your main navigation
- Look in the header for actions
- Click the Start over link (rotate/refresh icon)
- A confirmation page appears
- Read the warning: "Want to start over?"
- The message says: "Enter the word RESET below to reset your wedding website. Please note that all sections will be deleted."
- Type RESET (in all caps) in the text field
- Click the Continue button
- Your website sections are deleted
- You return to a blank website
All sections are now gone!
Confirmation required
You can't accidentally reset because:
Must type RESET:
- Exactly as shown (all caps)
- Forces you to think about it
- Prevents accidental clicks
- Confirmation of intent
Can cancel:
- Click Cancel button instead
- Returns to your website
- Nothing is deleted
This protection prevents mistakes!
What the reset page looks like
The reset confirmation page shows:
Title: "Want to start over?"
Message: "Enter the word RESET below to reset your wedding website. Please note that all sections will be deleted."
Text field:
- Placeholder: "RESET"
- Must type exactly this
Buttons:
- Continue (to confirm reset)
- Cancel (to abort)
Clear and scary enough to make you think twice!
After resetting
Once you've reset:
You'll see:
- Fresh demo content loaded automatically
- A starting point to work from
- Clean design ready to customize
You can:
- Edit or replace the demo sections
- Try a new theme
- Build a completely different design
- Apply what you learned first time
You cannot:
- Undo the reset
- Recover deleted sections or pages
- Get content back (unless you have backups)
It's permanent!
Alternative to resetting
Before resetting, consider:
Delete sections individually:
- Keep what works
- Remove only what doesn't
- More surgical approach
Make sections private:
- Hide sections without deleting
- Can unhide later
- Experiment without losing work
Duplicate before resetting:
- Can't duplicate whole site, but
- Take screenshots
- Document what worked
- Copy important content to a document
Start a new page:
- Create a new page
- Build new design there
- Keep old homepage until ready
- Then swap
Try these first!
Backing up before reset
To preserve your work before resetting:
Screenshots:
- Take screenshots of every page and section
- Save for reference
- Remember what you had
Copy content:
- Copy all text to a document
- Save image URLs or download images
- Note custom CSS or settings
Print:
- Print your pages
- Physical backup
- Can reference while rebuilding
Document structure:
- Write down section order
- Note which sections you had
- Record settings
Better safe than sorry!
What doesn't get reset
Important: These stay intact:
Site settings:
- Publish status
- Guest authentication
- Meta tags and SEO
- Favicon and social images
- Subdomain and custom domain
Design:
- Theme selection
- Custom colors
- Custom fonts
- Custom CSS
Account data:
- Guests
- Households
- Groups
- RSVP responses
- Guestbook entries
- Planner data (tasks, budget, etc.)
- All other WedSites features
Only website sections are deleted!
Rebuilding after reset
Once you've reset:
Start fresh:
1. Maybe apply a new theme first
2. Add sections one by one
3. Take your time
4. Build thoughtfully
Learn from mistakes:
- Don't repeat what didn't work
- Apply lessons learned
- Create better structure
- Keep it simpler
Build intentionally:
- Plan before adding sections
- Think about user flow
- Consider guest experience
- Less is often more
You get a second chance!
Reset and themes
Before reset:
- Current theme is applied
- Sections use that theme's styling
After reset:
- Same theme still active
- New sections use theme styling
- Can change theme if desired
Strategy:
1. Reset to delete old sections
2. Apply new theme
3. Build new site with new theme
4. Fresh look, fresh start
Timing your reset
Good times to reset:
- Before you've shared website with anyone
- Early in planning process
- When you have time to rebuild
- Before key design decisions
Bad times to reset:
- Website already shared with guests
- Days before RSVPs are due
- During busy wedding planning periods
- When you're stressed
Choose a good time!
Emotional considerations
Resetting can feel:
- Liberating (fresh start!)
- Scary (what if I regret it?)
- Frustrating (wasted work)
- Exciting (new possibilities)
All normal feelings! Take a deep breath and make sure you're ready.
Reset vs delete account
Very different:
Reset website:
- Deletes sections only
- Account and all features remain
- Just the website content is gone
- Can rebuild immediately
Delete account:
- Deletes EVERYTHING
- All data, all features
- Account is closed
- Cannot undo
Reset is way less drastic!
Can't undo
Important reminder:
- No undo button
- No trash/recovery
- Sections are permanently deleted
- Content is lost forever (unless you backed up)
Before clicking Continue:
- Are you 100% sure?
- Did you back up what you want to keep?
- Have you considered alternatives?
- Are you in the right mindset?
Take a moment!
Getting help before resetting
If you're considering reset because:
- You're confused about how to use WedSites
- Sections aren't working right
- Design looks broken
- Something doesn't make sense
Try first:
- Check WedSites documentation
- Ask for help
- Take a break and come back
- Delete individual sections instead
Reset might not be necessary!
After reset checklist
If you've reset, now:
- ✓ Take a deep breath
- ✓ Plan your new structure
- ✓ Maybe apply a new theme
- ✓ Add sections thoughtfully
- ✓ Build better than before
- ✓ Take your time
- ✓ Don't rush
- ✓ Ask for help if needed
You've got this!
Reset and published sites
You can reset whether your site is:
Published:
- Sections deleted from live site
- Guests see empty site (or just header/footer)
- Consider unpublishing during rebuild
Unpublished:
- Sections deleted but site not live anyway
- Safe time to reset and rebuild
- Publish when ready
Best to unpublish before resetting!
Learning from the experience
If you reset:
Reflect on:
- What didn't work the first time
- What you liked
- What was too complicated
- What guests need to see
Apply lessons:
- Simpler structure
- Better organization
- Clearer purpose for each section
- More intentional design
Make the second version better!
Success stories
Many couples reset and are happier:
- First attempt was learning
- Second attempt is polished
- Fresh start = fresh perspective
- Better results with experience
Don't feel bad if you need to reset. It's okay!
Resetting your website to start over gives you a completely fresh canvas to build the perfect wedding website, armed with everything you learned the first time!