REHEARSAL/INTIMATE VENUES

INTIMATE VENUES, REHEARSAL DI ERS & CEREMONIES

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With the main event just around the corner, here are some terrific guidelines for a smooth ceremony rehearsal. After that, most couples choose to spend some quality time with close family and friends during the rehearsal dinner. The details of how you do this - who, what, when, where - are up to you. We offer steps to help you pull it all fabulously together.

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PICKING A LOCATION

Host your engagement party at a restaurant that caters to celebrations and ask whether they might give you a discount on catering, etc., if you also book your shower or rehearsal dinner with them at the same time.

CEREMONY / REHEARSAL

What’s the point of rehearsing your marriage ceremony the night before the wedding? There’s so much more to a wedding ceremony than just taking a walk down the aisle. A rehearsal for the entire bridal party and anyone involved in the ceremony is a chance to set the stage and work out any bugs, and to bring your closest friends and relatives together in anticipation of the big day.

A rehearsal also allows you and your bridal party to get comfortable in the ceremony space. You’ll find out where you can all get ready the next day, which entrances to use, and where the bathrooms are — things that are often taken for granted. You’ll also learn any venue rules and get answers to pressing questions, such as, are music and mimosas allowed in the church bridal room? Yes, if you’re getting married in a church, then there are sure to be a few rules. There’s also a lot of symbolism in a religious ceremony, and the rehearsal is an opportunity for the officiant to walk you all through the various traditions and explain their meaning.

PRE-REHEARSAL PREP

Before your rehearsal and ceremony, there are obvious things to think about such as who will walk the bride down the aisle. But you also have to think about who is escorting the mothers-of, pairing the bridesmaids and groomsman, and the order the couples will proceed down the aisle. The order will vary depending on if you have junior bridesmaids and flower girls and whether you want the groomsmen to escort the bridesmaids down

the full length of the aisle or to meet them halfway. And in today’s wedding world, it’s not uncommon to see the bride and groom walking down the aisle together – a nice touch if you’re game to shake up tradition.

Once you have the procession order all set, there are still plenty of other details to hammer out. For example: will you need microphones during the ceremony? Is your venue wheelchairaccessible? Depending on your venue, these are the kinds of details that a site manager or a priest will help you consider ahead of time.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Rehearsals are quick, not comprehensive, and are meant to act as an overview so that everyone knows what happens when. Once the rehearsal starts, you won’t be reading through every word of the ceremony. Rather, you’ll be blocking out the words and actions: when the bouquet is handed off and taken back, when you sit and when you stand, etc. The bride and groom are usually asked to say a few lines just to work out the pace and volume of their vows. If there are any readings, the reader will also rehearse a few lines.

If not all of your key players can be present at the rehearsal, it’s okay. In fact, it is standard practice for the musicians to be absent; if you’ve hired professional musicians or if the church provides a pianist or organist, they already know what to do. It’s also possible that the officiant might not be present at your rehearsal. If this happens, make sure they offer stage directions beforehand, or if the venue has another on-site coordinator, then that person might be able to

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CEREMONY / REHEARSAL

step in and help. If members of the bridal party can’t make it to the rehearsal, don’t stress! Just designate another member of the party to fill them in on all the details the next morning.

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Be on time and organized. Most rehearsals are allotted just one hour and sometimes a venue has more than one rehearsal on a given night. Remember that everyone’s time is valuable and the rehearsal can’t start until everyone is present.

Practice patience and respect. Don’t get flustered or anxious if there are bugs to work out — after all, that’s why you’re having a rehearsal in the first place. Be sure to respect the venue, especially if it’s a religious establishment.