Wedding Rehearsal FAQs
Leading up to your wedding day you will be planning the details of your wedding ceremony. Those details include the order that the wedding party walks down the aisle, the order that the wedding party stands or is seated, the ceremony script (reading vows), the important roles during the ceremony (readers, candle lighters etc) and the songs that will be played during the seating (preceremony), ceremony (processional, ceremony and recessional). It is important to make plan out the details before the wedding rehearsal and ceremony. Here are some helpful tips during the planning process.
You will have one hour for the rehearsal, make sure to inform the wedding party to be on time so that you can go through the ceremony a couple of times.
Schedule a meeting with your officiant and go through your ceremony script, make sure that you understand and are comfortable with what will be said during your ceremony. This is the time to include personal touches such as asking for something to be said acknowledging those that can't be in attendance, if you are reading your own vows, if you are having any readers, if you want to do a unity candle etc.
After deciding on your ceremony script you will then need to decide on the walking (processional) order and the standing order for the wedding party. Family is seated as well as the ring bearer(s) or flower girl(s).
During the rehearsal you will practice everyone walking down the aisle - officiant, groom, families (then seated), bridesmaids with groomsmen, ring bearer(s), flower girl(s), and the bride. You will then practice the ceremony script (just the highlights) - giving away the bride, vows, ring exchange, readings, unity candle, kiss, declaration etc. After going through the verbal exchanges you will then practice walking away - wedding couple, bridesmaids with groomsmen etc. It is helpful to go through this a couple of times at the rehearsal to ensure a smooth ceremony the following day.
If you are doing readings bring extra copies of the readings for the reader. Understand that small children may not cooperate at a rehearsal and on the wedding day and the may or may not go down the aisle if they are under the age of 5.
During the rehearsal you will also go through the wedding party roles during the ceremony. Traditionally the maid of honor fixes the brides dress after she is given away and holds the brides flowers. The maid of honor might also be in charge of the vows of the bridesmaid standing next to the maid of honor. The best man holds the rings for the ring exchange. If you do not have a wedding party the families can assist with the roles during the ceremony.
You will have one hour for the rehearsal, make sure to inform the wedding party to be on time so that you can go through the ceremony a couple of times.
Schedule a meeting with your officiant and go through your ceremony script, make sure that you understand and are comfortable with what will be said during your ceremony. This is the time to include personal touches such as asking for something to be said acknowledging those that can't be in attendance, if you are reading your own vows, if you are having any readers, if you want to do a unity candle etc.
After deciding on your ceremony script you will then need to decide on the walking (processional) order and the standing order for the wedding party. Family is seated as well as the ring bearer(s) or flower girl(s).
During the rehearsal you will practice everyone walking down the aisle - officiant, groom, families (then seated), bridesmaids with groomsmen, ring bearer(s), flower girl(s), and the bride. You will then practice the ceremony script (just the highlights) - giving away the bride, vows, ring exchange, readings, unity candle, kiss, declaration etc. After going through the verbal exchanges you will then practice walking away - wedding couple, bridesmaids with groomsmen etc. It is helpful to go through this a couple of times at the rehearsal to ensure a smooth ceremony the following day.
If you are doing readings bring extra copies of the readings for the reader. Understand that small children may not cooperate at a rehearsal and on the wedding day and the may or may not go down the aisle if they are under the age of 5.
During the rehearsal you will also go through the wedding party roles during the ceremony. Traditionally the maid of honor fixes the brides dress after she is given away and holds the brides flowers. The maid of honor might also be in charge of the vows of the bridesmaid standing next to the maid of honor. The best man holds the rings for the ring exchange. If you do not have a wedding party the families can assist with the roles during the ceremony.
