Best Wedding Rehearsal Practices That’ll Make Or Break Your Big Day
I’m letting you in on a little insider secret: wedding planners love rehearsals. And I’m no exception. Working in the wedding industry, I’ve learned that no matter how much time you invest into planning, there are always minor setbacks that can arise. But having a wedding rehearsal (and a planner like me) can minimize the chances of some of those things happening. It also allows us to meet and build relationships with your loved ones before the big day. Planners are here to make your lives easier, and we want your friends and family to feel comfortable approaching us at any given time.
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should have one, read through this wedding rehearsal breakdown that’ll have you team-rehearsal.
What’s The Benefit Of Having A Wedding Rehearsal?
The key to pulling off a hiccup-free wedding day is making sure everyone is on the same page. And that’s the purpose of having a wedding rehearsal. You and anyone playing an important role in your wedding (bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, etc.) will run through your ceremony game plan. All logistics, from the processional to the recessional, will be covered.
This’ll make sure, when the big day comes around, no one will be confused about who they walk down the aisle with, where to stand, exit cues, or any other must-know detail.
Who Should Attend Your Wedding Rehearsal?
Your wedding rehearsal crowd will be a mix of loved ones and vendors. When it comes to your vendor team, it’s important to have your wedding planner and officiant present. Though not a requirement, it’s also thoughtful to extend an invite to your MC so they can get a feel for the space.
When it comes to loved ones, a good rule of thumb is to include anyone that’ll be walking down the aisle. Those that typically take part in the processional are parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers.
How Long Should A Wedding Rehearsal Last?
A wedding rehearsal typically lasts between one to two hours. It’s a pretty fast process, that’s almost always followed by the rehearsal dinner. It’s a fun, and yummy, way to get everyone together and kick off the wedding festivities.
What Should You Cover At Your Rehearsal?
Your wedding ceremony is more than just walking down the aisle. There are so many small details you need to run through to ensure everything runs smoothly on your wedding day.
The Processional
The processional is when your parents and your wedding party make their way down the aisle in preparation for you. Here’s everything you need to cover in regard to the wedding ceremony processional.
Before your rehearsal, send your music to your wedding planner to time your walk and make sure they’re the right songs.
Start by reading over your wedding day timeline and a tour of the venue. Show everyone where they should go when they arrive so there’s no confusion on the big day.
Little ones tend to have low attention spans. That’s why I always recommend getting every detail involving children out of the way first. Plus, if you’re having a ring bearer or flower girl, this is also your chance to make sure you assign someone to help them down the aisle or wait for them at the end.
Have both sets of parents practice walking down the aisle and finding their seats.
Make sure your wedding party knows exactly who they’ll be walking down the aisle with.
Have your wedding party practice listening for the entrance cues in the music, practice their walking pace, and where to stand (or sit) when they get to the end of the altar—remind your bridesmaids to hold their bouquet at their belly buttons and groomsmen having right hand over left so their body language is toward the couple.
The bride and that special person walking her down the aisle will also practice their entrance. I recommend running through this at least two times.
Practice handing off your bouquet (usually to the maid of honor) and decide who’ll be responsible for fluffing your wedding dress at the altar.
The Middle Portion Of Your Ceremony
There are a lot of components involved in your wedding ceremony. This includes the opening remarks, vow readings, ring exchange, and unity ceremony—really anything after the processional and before your first kiss. And with every couple being different, every ceremony will be too. That’s why it’s important for everyone to go through the motions.
Decide who will be in charge of holding the rings and your vow books.
DON’T practice reading your vows. You want these to be authentic and raw on your big day, especially if you're handwriting your own vows.
Practice the ring exchange.
Having a unity ceremony? Run through how that will work.
Practice signing documents. This is also your chance to have your officiant look over your marriage license to make sure it’s all filled out correctly.
Practice your first kiss, making sure you’re holding the pose for at least 5-7 seconds for your photographer to get the shot.
The Recessional
The officiant pronounces you married, you have your first kiss, and now it's time for the grand exit. Here are the details you should practice at your wedding rehearsal for a smooth transition to the reception.
Practice the order of your recessional starting with the couple, followed by their wedding party, then their parents.
Make sure everyone knows where to go after they exit. This will avoid the end of your aisle being filled with a confused wedding party and crowd of guests.
If your wedding reception is being held at the same venue, practice your grand entrance for that as well.