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Before sharing your wedding website with guests, it’s crucial to test everything thoroughly. This guide covers all aspects of testing to ensure a smooth experience for your visitors.

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Pre-Deployment Testing

Test your website locally before deploying to catch issues early.

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Local Testing

1

Open Files Locally

Navigate to your project folder and open index.html in a web browser:
open index.html
2

Use a Local Server

For better testing (especially for JavaScript), use a local server:
python -m http.server 8000
Then visit http://localhost:8000 in your browser.
Using a local server prevents issues with cross-origin requests and provides a more accurate preview.

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Testing Checklist

Use this comprehensive checklist to ensure everything works correctly:
Verify all text content is accurate and error-free:
  • Names are spelled correctly throughout the site
  • Wedding date and time are correct
  • Venue addresses are accurate
  • Contact information is correct
  • No placeholder text remains (Lorem ipsum, etc.)
  • All grammar and spelling is correct
  • Event schedule times are accurate
  • RSVP deadline is correct
Double-check date and time information. Errors here can cause guests to miss your wedding!
Verify all images load and display correctly:
  • All images load without errors
  • Images have appropriate alt text
  • Images are properly sized (not too large)
  • Image quality is good (not pixelated)
  • Gallery images open in lightbox/modal
  • Thumbnail images load quickly
  • Background images display correctly
  • Images are optimized for web (< 500KB each)
Open browser DevTools (F12) and check the Console tab for any 404 errors indicating missing images.
Test all forms thoroughly:

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RSVP Form

  • All form fields accept input
  • Required fields are properly validated
  • Email validation works
  • Phone number formatting works
  • Guest count selector functions
  • Dietary restrictions field works
  • Submit button is functional
  • Success/error messages display
  • Form data is sent to correct email/service

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Contact Form

  • Name and email fields work
  • Message text area accepts input
  • Form submits successfully
  • Confirmation message appears
Submit test RSVPs to verify form functionality. Use your own email for testing, not guest addresses.

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Browser Compatibility Testing

Test your website in multiple browsers to ensure consistent experience:

Desktop Browsers

Test on:
  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari (macOS)
  • Microsoft Edge

Mobile Browsers

Test on:
  • Chrome (Android)
  • Safari (iOS)
  • Samsung Internet
  • Firefox Mobile

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Testing Tools

BrowserStack

Test on real devices and browsersFree trial available

LambdaTest

Cross-browser testing platformFree plan available

Browser DevTools

Built-in device emulationPress F12 > Device toolbar

Responsive Viewer

Browser extension for testingMultiple viewports at once

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Mobile Responsiveness Testing

Ensure your site looks great on all device sizes:

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Test These Device Sizes

Mobile Portrait:     320px - 480px
Mobile Landscape:    481px - 767px
Tablet Portrait:     768px - 1024px
Tablet Landscape:    1025px - 1280px
Desktop:             1281px+

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Mobile Checklist

  • Text is readable without zooming
  • Buttons are large enough to tap (min 44x44px)
  • Images scale properly
  • Navigation menu works on mobile
  • Forms are easy to fill on mobile
  • No horizontal scrolling required
  • Touch interactions work smoothly
  • Page loads quickly on mobile networks
Use Chrome DevTools Device Mode (F12 > Toggle device toolbar) to test different screen sizes quickly.

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Performance Testing

Ensure your website loads quickly:

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Speed Testing Tools

1

Google PageSpeed Insights

Visit PageSpeed Insights and test your URL:
  • Aim for score > 90 for mobile
  • Check Core Web Vitals
  • Follow optimization suggestions
2

GTmetrix

Use GTmetrix for detailed analysis:
  • Check page load time (< 3 seconds)
  • Review waterfall chart
  • Optimize largest files
3

WebPageTest

Test with WebPageTest:
  • Test from multiple locations
  • Check different connection speeds
  • Review filmstrip view

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Performance Optimization Tips

Optimize Images

  • Compress images (use TinyPNG, ImageOptim)
  • Use appropriate formats (WebP, JPEG)
  • Resize images to display size
  • Lazy load images below fold

Minimize Code

  • Minify CSS and JavaScript
  • Remove unused code
  • Combine files where possible
  • Use browser caching

Reduce Requests

  • Limit number of external resources
  • Use CSS sprites for icons
  • Inline critical CSS
  • Defer non-critical scripts

Enable Compression

  • GitHub Pages enables gzip automatically
  • Verify compression in DevTools Network tab
  • Check response headers

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Accessibility Testing

Make your website accessible to all guests:

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Accessibility Checklist

  • All images have alt text
  • Color contrast is sufficient (4.5:1 minimum)
  • Site is navigable by keyboard only
  • Form labels are properly associated
  • Heading hierarchy is logical (h1, h2, h3)
  • Links have descriptive text (avoid “click here”)
  • Focus indicators are visible
  • ARIA labels are used where appropriate

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Testing Tools

WAVE

Browser extension for accessibility testingwave.webaim.org

Lighthouse

Built into Chrome DevToolsIncludes accessibility audit

axe DevTools

Browser extension by DequeFree accessibility testing

Keyboard Navigation

Test manually with Tab keyEnsure all features work

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Final Pre-Launch Checklist

Before sharing with guests:
1

Content Review

  • All information is accurate and up-to-date
  • No typos or grammatical errors
  • All placeholder content replaced
  • Privacy settings configured (if applicable)
2

Functionality Test

  • All links work correctly
  • Forms submit successfully
  • Images load properly
  • Site works on mobile and desktop
3

Cross-Device Testing

  • Tested on iOS device
  • Tested on Android device
  • Tested on desktop (Windows/Mac)
  • Tested in 3+ different browsers
4

Performance Check

  • Page loads in under 3 seconds
  • Images are optimized
  • No console errors
  • HTTPS is enabled
5

Guest Testing

  • Ask 2-3 friends to test the site
  • Submit a test RSVP yourself
  • Verify you receive form submissions
  • Check site on their devices

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Ongoing Monitoring

After launch, continue monitoring:
  • Check form submissions regularly
  • Monitor website analytics (if installed)
  • Test site periodically
  • Be responsive to guest feedback
  • Keep content updated as plans change
Set a calendar reminder to check your website weekly in the months leading up to your wedding.

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Next Steps

Deploy to GitHub Pages

Ready to launch? Deploy your tested site

Custom Domain Setup

Configure a memorable domain name

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