Rehearsals have become assumed necessities in the bridal world. In some cases they are…in others, IMHO, you could spend your money more wisely elsewhere. Whether you actually need one or not….well, consider these ideas:
A rehearsal can help reduce the jitters, especially if there is:
- a sizable wedding party or family contingent
- a tricky venue (stairs, wind, castle, etc.)
- formal entrance/exit that is pivotal
- the involvement of kids or dogs
- a ritual that includes family members or friends
- extra parents, and you need to everyone to find a role that works for them
- a photographer that you have paid a LOT of money to and s/he wants it.
Or if your vision of the perfect day is that everything goes…well…perfectly.
You may not need a rehearsal if:
- your vision of the perfect day is one that is more communal, more unplugged or natural
- it’s a simple ceremony without those more complex elements
- you have a small wedding party
- you have a great sense of humour
- the entrance and exit aren’t a big deal…you want them to be more organic
- if someone messes up with iPod, it won’t be the end of the world.
Sometimes a quick rehearsal a few hours before the wedding might suffice. I can help you decide what’s right for you. I promise.
What happens at a rehearsal?
Well, we don’t run through the words of the ceremony: those are saved for the wedding day. But we do a whole bunch of other things. Typically, we:
- Get everyone introduced so we are all comfortable on the day
- Make sure that everyone understands their roles
- Run through the action parts where folks might feel a little unsure
- Check the sound and volume to ensure that guests can hear
- Practice the processional and recessional a few times.
The rehearsal always takes longer than the ceremony. By the end, people tend to be breathing (more) normally, especially folks who aren’t comfortable “winging it.” (you know who you are :))
Some venues include a rehearsal in their offering package, which is basically someone to walk you through the entrance/exit. (If that is the case, having me there may be a waste of your budget.) Others, surprisingly, don’t.
Either way, I have a DIY Rehearsal sheet/checklist that I offer to my clients, so even if I am not there, you will have an anally-retentive set of directions about how a good rehearsal works, which you can pass along to your most anally-retentive attendant to manage.
And don’t worry, even if you don’t have a rehearsal, you can still have the rehearsal dinner…:)
** thanks to Karen McNeil Photography for the awesome images of Jenn and Ryan’s amazing day at Hatley.
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