Creating a customised event calendar for your website can seem daunting at first, but it’s simpler than you might think.
In my latest demonstration, I’m focusing on Sugar Calendar, which has stood out as one of the top WordPress plugins for event management.
I’ll guide you through how I align the calendar layout and design with my website style effortlessly. You’ll see how Sugar Calendar automatically matches your chosen theme, including fonts and layouts, without any extra work.
Moving beyond just the basics, I’ll provide tips for further customisation to suit your needs.
Using the block editor in WordPress, we can easily add galleries, countdowns, and more.
This flexibility helps create a dynamic and user-friendly event page, showcasing the ease of adjusting settings to achieve the perfect look and feel for any site.
By the end, you’ll see how easy it is to manage and edit events using Sugar Calendar.
Let’s dive in and build a calendar tailored specifically to your site’s needs.
Key Takeaways
- Sugar Calendar integrates smoothly with website themes.
- Using the block editor enhances event page customisation.
- Dynamic features like galleries and countdowns can be easily added.
Basic Look at Website Design
I’ve been working on a website and want to align my events calendar with the rest of it using Sugar Calendar on WordPress.
You can see examples like my “bicycles” page, which features a red heading on a white base against an off-white or grey background.
After setting up Sugar Calendar, I found that my event pages didn’t match my site’s design initially because I used the classic editor.
By switching to the block editor, I could easily adjust layouts and styles. Sugar Calendar automatically syncs with my theme’s font, so I didn’t have to adjust fonts manually.
For extra customisation, I used the block inserter. I added elements like galleries and countdowns to make the page more interactive.
Using the block editor, I can also tweak fonts and colours. This helps to match the style with the rest of the site.
Adding the Sugar Calendar block lets me display multiple events, making it easy for visitors to explore and sign up for events.
If you’re new to building an events calendar, using the block editor is a simpler, more intuitive option.
Introduction to Sugar Calendar
Exploring the features of Sugar Calendar can transform how events are managed on your website. It’s a versatile tool that helps align your event appearances with your website’s design.
Comparing Free and Paid Options
When starting out, the free version of Sugar Calendar provides essential features that are easy to use. Most of what I demonstrate can be done with this version.
If you’re looking for more advanced capabilities, the paid version offers added features that expand what you can do with your events.
You’ll find more customisation options and tools to enhance event management. I suggest checking out the available options to see which fits your needs best.
Aligning Website Design with Sugar Calendar
Automatic Design with Sugar Event Planner
I recently explored how to ensure that my event calendar blends flawlessly with my website’s overall look.
Initially, when creating an event in the classic WordPress editor, I faced a few issues. The fonts and layout in the preview didn’t match my site’s design.
Fortunately, Sugar Event Planner simplifies this by automatically aligning fonts and layouts with my existing theme settings. This means I don’t need to make manual changes for basic matching.
For more control over design, I switched from the classic editor to the block editor within Sugar Event Planner.
This made it easier to add elements like image galleries and adjust the layout intuitively.
By dragging a gallery block, I quickly set up a photo display that complements the overall theme of my site.
In the block editor, changing typography, colours, and fonts is straightforward. I can easily access style settings to tweak these features to better fit my design needs.
Another useful feature is the countdown block, which I added to create urgency for upcoming events.
This block is just one example of how I can further enrich my calendar pages.
Using the dedicated block for inserting the complete events calendar, visitors can browse and register for various events easily.
The flexibility offered by Sugar Event Planner allows me to maintain a consistent appearance across my site while customising features to suit different needs.
Modifying Events in Sugar Calendar
Switching to the Block Editor
When I’m working on an event in Sugar Calendar, it defaults to the classic editor. This format doesn’t fit well with my website’s design.
To fix this, I switch to the block editor in the settings. This change allows the event layout to reflect my site better, using the same fonts and styles automatically.
I find the block editor more intuitive, making it easier to customise and personalise the events.
Adding a Gallery
To enhance my event pages, I add a gallery.
Using the block inserter, I search for the gallery option, drag it to where I want it, and select images from my media library.
This addition helps the page look more visually appealing and cohesive with my website’s theme.
I don’t use captions for my images, and once the gallery is added, I save and preview the page to ensure it looks as expected. The gallery fits seamlessly, enhancing the overall look of my event pages.
Tailoring How Events Are Displayed
Altering Text Style
When setting up an event in Sugar Calendar, I usually start with the fonts.
The magic of Sugar Calendar is that it often matches your existing theme without any hassle.
If you want to go beyond the default and mix things up, head over to the side menu labelled as “Styles.”
Here, you can play around with the font size, switch to a different typeface, or adjust the spacing.
You can also choose to use the block editor over the classic editor, which makes these tweaks simpler.
Tweaking Colours and Fonts
Customising colours is as easy as altering fonts in Sugar Calendar.
Within the block settings, I can change event text colours to align with my website’s theme.
This feature is useful if you want to keep a consistent look across your site.
Simply navigate to the “Styles” section, and you’ll find options to modify text colour, ensuring each event page feels just right for the visitors.
Inserting a Timer Block
One interesting feature I like to add is a countdown.
This is a great way to hype up the event by showing exactly how much time is left until it starts.
In the block editor, all I need to do is search for a countdown timer and drag it onto the page.
It not only keeps the audience engaged but also adds an interactive element to the event page.
The timer visibly ticks down the days, hours, and minutes remaining, creating a sense of urgency.
Using Sugar Calendar Sections
Combining Event Schedule Sections
I’ve been working on my website and wanted to show how you can customise a Sugar Calendar post to fit your design perfectly.
I’ve set up an example on my site’s admin dashboard with the free version of Sugar Calendar, though there’s a paid version with more features available too.
First, I edited an event using the classic editor, which didn’t match my website’s design as the font and layout were off.
Switching to the block editor made it easier to make adjustments.
Adding elements is more intuitive with the block editor. For instance, I added a gallery by searching for it in the block inserter, then dragging it into place. I selected images from my media library and inserted them, and the gallery now appears on the page, fitting seamlessly with the design.
The block editor allows for further customisation, like adjusting fonts and colours.
I could change text size or colour directly from the editor, altering it to fit the aesthetic of my site.
I also added functional blocks, like a countdown timer for upcoming events and a comprehensive calendar block showing all events. This setup helps visitors explore and join multiple events with ease.
Final Thoughts and Extra Tools
Creating an event calendar using Sugar Calendar on WordPress is straightforward. I was delighted to see how it matched my existing website design.
With the block editor, it became even simpler to add elements like galleries. This editor is much more user-friendly than the classic one.
Steps to Customise Your Calendar
- Changing the Editor: First, switch from the classic to the block editor in the settings. This allows for easier customisation and adds a more intuitive feel.
- Adjust Appearance: You can change fonts and colours effortlessly. If you want them to match your site, everything can automatically align with your existing theme.
- Add Elements: Using the block inserter, it’s simple to add galleries or countdowns. Just drag and drop to create a visually appealing calendar.
Extra Features and Advice
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Font Adjustments: Fonts can be modified easily for a unique look. Whether it’s size or colour, adjustments can be made on the right-hand side of the editor.
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Event Blocks: These include countdowns and full calendars, allowing visitors to see multiple events and choose what interests them.
For those who haven’t started building their calendar yet, I highly recommend exploring the available resources. An extra video guide is just a click away for more detailed instructions.