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What is the wedding rehearsal?

The rehearsal involves your clergy or the person(s) who will marry you (officiate), and also the friends and family that are taking part in the ceremony. For example your best man, maid or matron of honor, and any bridesmaid and groomsmen. If you are having children in your wedding then they should also be present for the rehearsal along with their parents. Furthermore, any musicians and vocalists should be present as well. Lastly, anyone that is going to be reading scripture or poems should be invited and present for this practice.

The main goal of the rehearsal is to have a dry run through of what will take place during the ceremony. This typically begins with where everyone will meet prior to the ceremony. Obviously you don't want the bride and groom showing up in the same room before the ceremony! The clergy or officiate will let everyone know where they will meet and stand. Then they will proceed through the processional and how everyone will enter and when. Musicians and vocalist(s) will generally have a chance to rehearse as well for timing. After all of the wedding party is in their places the officiate will typically run through a basic outline of what will transpire and if there are any special readings or prayers honoring in memoriam of those not in attendance.

After the rehearsal is over, depending on where the ceremony is taking place, most couples choose to have a rehearsal dinner, or at the very least they eat and socialize in some manner. See ideas for rehearsal dinner’s themes.

A wedding rehearsal dinner is typically held the night or day before the actual wedding. The time of day varies, but in most cases they are held in the evening after the adults are done with their work schedules, placing most rehearsals in the evening. Moreover, most rehearsals and gatherings end earlier in the evening than a typical party "late night", since everyone has to be rested for the following day. Click here for some money saving rehearsal dinner considerations.