Couples use personalized wedding websites as a convenient and paper-free way to share the news of their upcoming event with the world.

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It depends. If your wedding will be small (30 people or fewer), if most guests live nearby, or if your loved ones aren't big on computers, you can easily do without. But if you're having an out-of-town affair, or if your guests hail from all corners of the globe, a website can be a helpful planning tool.

"There's not much point in putting up a website until you have your date and location, and have established the style of your wedding," says Jo Gartin, a Los Angeles event planner and author of "Jo Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride" (Rodale Books; 2005). That way, it will be consistent with your theme as well as the mood you want to set. But don't wait too long.

"It is always a good idea to set up your wedding website early on in the planning process, at least six months before the wedding," says Megan Hermeling at WeddingWire.com. "We have seen a growing number of couples include their personal website address in their save-the-date cards. Since the primary reason for a website is to share wedding details with your wedding guests, you want to give them as much information as early as possible, especially if the guests need to make travel arrangements."

Once you're ready to begin, a number of Internet services can help even the least tech-savvy create a semi-custom site with ease. You choose a design from a variety of templates and color schemes, and personalize it with your photos and event details. Some services even let you see a stand-alone web address (others include the company's name). You can often add other bells and whistles, such as online RVSP-ing or a guest book where well-wishers can post messages. And if you're security-minded, you most likely will be able to designate a password for your site so only friends and family can enter.

In general, services charge about $40 to $80 to maintain your site for a year -- you may also choose to keep it active for longer, which will cost more; however, there are also free services out there, including WeddingWire.com, which is free of charge no matter how long you want to keep your site going.

If you are willing to spend more money, consider going a step further and hiring a professional to create a unique site with the exact look and features you want. Such a service can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but it might be the best choice if you've got something specific in mind.

When you've figured out how you will build your site, it's time to think about what to put on it. At its simplest, it should have basic information: your names and a photo of the two of you, the wedding date and location, and a brief greeting to visitors.

Then, if you wish, you can post any and all logistical details that might help your guests. You should think of the site first as a clearinghouse of information -- "Things like, 'The welcome party is at 6 p.m. on the beach, and we'll be sending a van to pick you up,'" says planner Debbie Cravatta of Paradise Weddings Hawaii in Waikoloa. It's also helpful to include links to hotels, babysitting services, and any local sightseeing spots and activities you think your guests might enjoy.

Feel free to include a link to your wedding registry (or registries) on your site -- however, do not let it be the first thing your guests see. Our etiquette expert suggests creating a "Registry and Gift Ideas" page that would require people to click on a link to get any details at all, even just the store name. Clicking on the link is the equivalent of asking, "Where are you registered?"

Beyond the basics, it's nice to include a brief story about how you and your fiance met or to recount the proposal. Many couples post casual snapshots or brief video clips of themselves, perhaps on vacation or playing their favorite sport. You might also introduce the wedding party to your guests.