Planning A Wedding Rehearsal: A Step-By-Step Guide

Planning a wedding rehearsal can be a daunting task, but with the right tools, it can be a breeze. The first step is to book a time, date and place for the rehearsal, ideally at the actual ceremony venue a couple of days before the wedding. It's important to give your wedding party plenty of advance notice, providing the location and start time so they can arrange travel plans and work schedules. On the day, start by introducing everyone involved, especially if some people in your wedding ceremony are meeting for the first time. This includes parents, the officiant, your wedding party, and any readers or performers.

Book a time, date and place for your rehearsal

The first step in planning your wedding rehearsal is to book a time, date and place. It's a good idea to book the actual ceremony venue for the rehearsal, and to hold it a couple of days before the wedding. If this isn't possible, you'll need to book an alternative space. When booking, make sure the date works for everyone involved in the ceremony, including the officiant, wedding planner, wedding party and anyone with a role in the ceremony.

Give your wedding party plenty of advance notice about the rehearsal, providing the location and start time so they can arrange travel and work schedules. It's also a good idea to follow up with guests who haven't RSVP'd for the rehearsal dinner.

You should also use this time to double-check the ceremony rehearsal time with the officiant and venue coordinator. Provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details to make sure everyone in the wedding party is on the same page.

If you're working with a wedding planner, communicate with them the week prior to determine who will be responsible for directing the rehearsal. Some church coordinators and officiants prefer to take charge, so it's helpful to know this ahead of time. You can also ask the ceremony musicians if they would like to attend the rehearsal.

Make a timeline for your ceremony run-through and rehearsal dinner

Typically, wedding rehearsals last for an hour and are followed by the rehearsal dinner, so it's important to make a timeline for your ceremony run-through.

First, you'll need to book a time, date and place for your rehearsal. Ideally, you'll be able to book your actual ceremony venue for the rehearsal and have it a couple of days before your wedding. Chat with your ceremony venue to see if this is possible. If not, you'll want to book or plan for another space and/or date. While booking your rehearsal space and time, you'll want to make sure that date works for as many people involved in the ceremony as possible. This includes your wedding officiant, wedding planner, wedding party and anyone with a role in the ceremony.

It's also a good idea to start your wedding rehearsal with an introduction of everyone who is involved, especially if some people in your wedding ceremony may be meeting for the first time. Be sure to include and introduce parents, the officiant, your wedding party (including child attendants), and any readers or performers.

If the officiant or church coordinator will be at the ceremony rehearsal, communicate with them the week prior to determine who will be responsible for directing the rehearsal. Some church coordinators and officiants prefer to take charge, which is helpful to know ahead of time. You can also inquire with the ceremony musicians to see if they would like to attend the rehearsal.

Provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details to make sure everyone in the wedding party is on the same page.

Communicate with your ushers and walk them through where you want them to stand

It's important to communicate with your ushers and walk them through where you want them to stand to greet guests, how you would like them to accompany guests to their chairs, and direct guests to a certain side of the aisle. This is especially important if your ushers are also serving as groomsmen or program distributors before the ceremony begins.

You should also provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details to make sure everyone in the wedding party is on the same page. This includes your ushers, who may need to arrive early to help set up or greet guests.

If you have a wedding planner, be sure to communicate with them about your ushers' roles and responsibilities. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your ushers have a clear understanding of what is expected of them.

Finally, don't forget to give your ushers plenty of advance notice about the rehearsal. Provide them with the location and start time so that they can arrange travel plans and/or work schedules accordingly.

Reach out to your officiant and venue coordinator to double-check the ceremony rehearsal time

It's important to reach out to your officiant and venue coordinator to double-check the ceremony rehearsal time. This should be done a couple of weeks before the wedding rehearsal dinner. It's also a good idea to check in with the ceremony musicians to see if they would like to attend the rehearsal.

The officiant and venue coordinator will likely want to know who will be responsible for directing the rehearsal. Some prefer to take charge, so it's helpful to know this ahead of time.

You should also provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details to make sure everyone in the wedding party is on the same page. This includes parents, the officiant, the wedding party (including child attendants), and any readers or performers.

Provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details

It is important to provide a schedule with the ceremony venue address, start time and rehearsal dinner details. This will ensure that everyone in the wedding party is on the same page. Typically, an hour is planned for the wedding rehearsal, and often the rehearsal is immediately followed by the rehearsal dinner so that everyone can easily progress from the rehearsal to the dinner.

You should give your wedding party plenty of advance notice that they will need to attend the rehearsal. Provide the location and start time so that they can arrange travel plans and/or work schedules in accordance. It is a good idea to start your wedding rehearsal with an introduction of everyone who is involved, especially if some people in your wedding ceremony may be meeting for the first time. Be sure to include and introduce parents, the officiant, your wedding party (including child attendants), and any readers or performers.

If the officiant or church coordinator will be at the ceremony rehearsal, communicate with them the week prior to determine who will be responsible for directing the rehearsal. Some church coordinators and officiants prefer to take charge, which is helpful to know ahead of time. You can also inquire with the ceremony musicians to see if they would like to attend the rehearsal.

When booking your rehearsal space and time, you’ll want to make sure that the date works for as many people involved in your ceremony as possible. This includes your wedding officiant, wedding planner, wedding party and anyone with a role in the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions