How to Set Up a Custom Domain for Your Event
Custom domains let you replace the default Fotify link with your own branded URL. Instead of sharing dashboard.fotify.app/upload/abc123, your guests visit something like photos.yourdomain.com/upload โ clean, professional, and on-brand.
All public event pages work on your custom domain: photo upload, album, invitation, RSVP, live carousel, song requests, and more.
Note: Custom domains are available exclusively with the Professional Event plan (and on events created under an event subscription). Premium events that connected a domain before Professional launched keep it.
What You Need
- A Professional Event on Fotify (or an event created under an event subscription)
- A domain you own (e.g.,
yourdomain.com) with access to its DNS settings - The address you want guests to use. This can be a subdomain (
photos.yourdomain.com,event.yourdomain.com) or the bare domain itself (yourdomain.com)
Both work. They need different DNS records, and the Branding Center works out which one you need and shows it to you, so you do not have to decide this in advance.
Step 1: Connect Your Domain
- Go to your event dashboard and click "Branding"
- Scroll down to the Custom Domain section
- Enter the domain you want to use (e.g.,
photos.yourdomain.com) - Choose your Homepage โ this is what visitors see when they go to the root of your domain
- Click "Connect Domain"
Fotify will register your domain and show you the DNS record you need to add.
Step 2: Configure DNS
After connecting, the Branding Center shows you the exact record to add at your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, Google Domains, etc.). Copy the Type, Name and Target from that panel rather than from this page: which record you need depends on whether you chose a subdomain or a bare domain, and the panel already knows which.
If you chose a subdomain (photos.yourdomain.com)
| Type | Name | Target |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | photos (your chosen subdomain) | dashboard.fotify.app |
The general process is:
- Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider
- Go to DNS Settings or DNS Records
- Add a new CNAME record
- Set the Name/Host to your subdomain (e.g.,
photos) - Set the Value/Target to
dashboard.fotify.app - Save the record
Most providers want just the subdomain in the Name field. If yours insists on the full address, enter photos.yourdomain.com.
If you chose a bare domain (yourdomain.com)
| Type | Name | Target |
|---|---|---|
| ALIAS (see below) | @ | dashboard.fotify.app |
A bare domain cannot use a CNAME. This is a rule of DNS itself, not a Fotify limitation: the top of every domain already carries its SOA and NS records, and a CNAME is not allowed to sit alongside them. Registrars will simply refuse to save it.
Instead, providers offer a record that behaves like a CNAME but is legal at the top of a domain. They all call it something different:
| Provider | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Namecheap | ALIAS Record |
| Cloudflare | CNAME โ Cloudflare flattens it for you automatically |
| DNSimple, easyDNS, Route 53 | ALIAS |
| DNS Made Easy, some others | ANAME |
Pick whichever of those your provider offers, set the Name/Host to @ (which every provider reads as "the domain itself"), and set the Value/Target to dashboard.fotify.app.
One thing to check before saving: if there is already an A, AAAA, CNAME or URL Redirect record on @, delete it first. Those conflict with the new record and the domain will not resolve while both are present.
If your provider offers none of ALIAS, ANAME or a flattened CNAME, that provider cannot point a bare domain at Fotify. Use a subdomain instead, or move the domain's DNS to a provider that does โ Cloudflare's free tier is the usual choice.
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours to propagate.
Step 3: Verify Your Domain
Once you've added the DNS record:
- Go back to the Branding Center in your event dashboard
- Click "Check now" โ this runs an immediate verification against your DNS
- If your DNS has propagated, the status updates on the spot
The verification process has three stages:
- Pending DNS โ Waiting for your DNS record to propagate
- SSL provisioning โ DNS is verified, an SSL certificate is being issued (takes a few minutes)
- Active โ Your custom domain is live and ready to use
We also keep checking automatically every few minutes in the background, so even if you never press the button, the domain activates on its own once DNS propagates. If a manual check still shows "not verified yet", give propagation a few more minutes and press Check now again.
Choosing Your Homepage
The Homepage setting controls what guests see when they visit the root of your custom domain (e.g., photos.yourdomain.com/).
Available options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Public Album | Photo gallery (default) |
| Photo Upload | Guest upload page |
| Live Carousel | Live photo slideshow |
| Song Requests | Song request form |
| Save the Date | Your invitation without the RSVP form (requires the Save the Date feature enabled) |
You can change this at any time from the Branding Center โ the change takes effect immediately.
Available Pages on Your Custom Domain
All public event pages are accessible through your custom domain. Guests can navigate to:
| Page | URL |
|---|---|
| Homepage (your choice) | yourdomain.com |
| Photo Upload | yourdomain.com/upload |
| Public Album | yourdomain.com/public-album |
| Live Carousel | yourdomain.com/live |
| Song Requests | yourdomain.com/song-request |
| Stories | yourdomain.com/stories |
| Invitation* | yourdomain.com/invitation/{guestId} |
| RSVP* | yourdomain.com/r/{code} |
| Registration form (default link) | yourdomain.com/register |
| Registration form (extra links) | yourdomain.com/r/{code} |
| Save the Date | yourdomain.com/std/{code} |
*Invitation and RSVP links are per-guest โ each guest uses their personal link (sent via invite). These links work on your custom domain automatically.
The /register shortcut
If you've enabled the Registration Form, yourdomain.com/register automatically rewrites to the default registration link. You can choose which link owns that shortcut in the dashboard โ handy if you want a different audience to be the "main" landing point. Additional registration links always use the full /r/{code} path.
Because people may already have the /register URL on printed save-the-dates or shared online, Fotify prevents you from deleting the default link or rotating its code while a custom domain is active. See Registration Form โ Custom Domains for the details.
How Long Does It Last?
Custom domains remain active for up to 12 months from the date they were added, or until your gallery access expires โ whichever comes first.
After expiration, the domain is automatically disconnected and guests will no longer be able to access it. You can set up a new custom domain at any time while your event is active.
Removing a Custom Domain
To disconnect your custom domain:
- Go to the Branding Center
- In the Custom Domain section, click "Remove Domain"
- The domain will be disconnected immediately
After removal, the domain will stop resolving to your event. You can connect a different domain at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a root domain (like mydomain.com) instead of a subdomain?
A: Yes. Enter it in the Branding Center like any other domain and the DNS panel will show you an ALIAS record on host @ instead of a CNAME โ see Step 2 > If you chose a bare domain above for what your provider calls that record. The one thing to check is that your DNS provider offers ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening; a few older providers do not, and on those a subdomain is the only option.
Q: How long does DNS propagation take? A: Usually a few minutes, but it can take up to 24 hours in rare cases. Most modern DNS providers propagate changes within 5โ10 minutes.
Q: Can I use the same domain for multiple events? A: No, each custom domain can only be connected to one event at a time. If you want a different event on the same domain, remove it from the current event first.
Q: Is HTTPS/SSL included? A: Yes. An SSL certificate is automatically provisioned when you connect your domain. There's nothing extra to configure โ your custom domain is secure by default.
Q: What happens when my event ends? A: The custom domain stays active as long as your gallery access is valid (and within the 12-month limit). Once gallery access expires, the domain is automatically disconnected.
Q: Will my existing QR codes still work?
A: Yes. Your original Fotify links (dashboard.fotify.app/upload/...) continue to work. The custom domain is an additional way to access the same event โ it doesn't replace the default links.
Q: Can I change my custom domain after setting it up? A: Yes. Remove the current domain and connect a new one. You'll need to update your DNS records for the new domain.
Q: Is the custom domain feature included in my plan? A: Custom domains are available with the Professional Event plan and on event-subscription events. On other plans the Branding Center shows an upgrade prompt in the Custom Domain section โ you can upgrade an existing event to Professional without losing anything. Check your event branding settings to see if the option is available for your event.
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