You want everything to flow smoothly on your wedding day, and a well-orchestrated rehearsal is the key to success. Usually the night before the wedding, you will gather all involved parties at the ceremony site so they can familiarize themselves with the venue and participate in a quick run-through of the ceremony. Afterward, it is off to a fun and relaxing evening with friends and family at the rehearsal dinner.

Why a Rehearsal?

What is the rehearsal for? The rehearsal shows everyone involved what to do, where to go, and when to do it. It prepares the wedding party and families for the events of the wedding day and gives them a chance to acquaint themselves with the location.

Planning the Rehearsal

What can I expect at the rehearsal? The officiant or wedding planner will go over rules and special information and do a quick run-through of the ceremony from processional to recessional, making sure that the wedding party and parents know their positions/seats, ushers learn their duties, readers practice their readings, and soloists run through their pieces.

Who runs the wedding rehearsal? At a house of worship, their wedding coordinator usually runs the rehearsal. At other venues, you or your wedding planner will run the rehearsal; not all hired officiants attend the rehearsal. If you will be in charge, work things out very clearly with your officiant, including how the processional and recessional should be orchestrated. Plan out how you want everyone to enter and where they will stand, as well as where you want the parents to be seated. If possible, enlist the help of a friend who is not in the wedding party to assist at the rehearsal. Or better yet, look into hiring a wedding planner to run the rehearsal and the ceremony on the wedding day.