Most often the wedding rehearsal is held a day or two before the actual wedding is set to take place. It occurs in the wedding hall so those taking part will have a good feel for how everything is supposed to go. Depending on how complete you want your rehearsal to be some couples invite the wedding official to be there as well. Others just want a walk through, especially if the wedding party is a large one, to ensure that everyone knows how and when to walk down the aisle and where they should stand. When the couple has written their own vows they may want to have the opportunity to make sure they work as part of the ceremony. The main objective is to make certain that when the big day comes everyone is comfortable and prepared.
Things to be dealt with during the rehearsal include when each participant makes their entrance. Therefore it is important to have the music playing that you will have during the ceremony. You want your wedding party to be able to use the music to help them time their entrance and their walk. This run through will also give you and your photographer a better idea on when to take the photos. Some people ask the photographers to take a few pictures during the wedding rehearsal. Others want them there to see how the ceremony will flow so they will be better prepared. Still others prefer it to be only the wedding party.
Depending on which traditions you follow the bride may be walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. This is a beautiful moment for a woman and her father and practicing it a few times will make sure it goes right. In other weddings the parents of the bride and groom walk down the aisle and stand waiting for their children to join them. Either way you want to make sure everyone knows their place. Some wedding planners recommend that you wear the shoes you will wear in the procession during the wedding rehearsal, while others suggest a full dress rehearsal, especially if it is a formal or large wedding party, most will tell you to dress comfortably.
One thing worth an extra moment of practice is the exchange of rings. Do not expect the rings to go on smoothly. Even if you have just picked them up from the jeweler and they went on perfectly at the store they may stick a little on the way on or even go on too easily. If the ring sticks just slip it on as far as it will go and continue with the ceremony. No one will see how far you got the ring on his or her finger. When you turn back to face the wedding official you can slip it on the rest of the way if your partner was unable to. Then there is the kiss. You need not practice this during the wedding rehearsal unless you really want to but consider that you have a large number of people watching you, relatives, friends, co-workers, and they are really not interested in how long you can kiss your new partner.
Just after the wedding rehearsal is over is often the time for last minute planning for the big day. Often the bride and groom will remind the best man and maid of honor of the jobs at the wedding. These could include anything from reminding them who holds the rings and signs the marriage license to whose job it is to make the first toast. All these details should be gone over at the rehearsal so that the wedding day runs as smooth as possible. Usually after the dress rehearsal a dinner is held for everyone who is part of the wedding party. This gives the couple that time to thank all of those people who are working so hard to help make their wedding day a special one
