Today I’m sharing our 12 step process for directing a wedding rehearsal.

Step 1

Upon arrival for the rehearsal have the wedding party members sit close to the altar, where the director/planner can welcome them and the officiant may say a prayer.

Step 2

Before doing the recessional or processional, place the entire wedding party in their spots at the altar. The bridesmaids will stand on the left side and the groomsmen will stand on the right side. To ensure everyone will remember where to stand on the wedding day place masking tape or a sticker with their name on the floor.

Step 3

Make sure the bride is pleased with where everyone is standing and make adjustments as needed.

Step 4

Instruct the wedding party how to stand. Make sure all groomsmen are standing the same way. With left hand over right or vice versa. Instruct the bridesmaids how to hold their bouquets and how to pivot when the couple is in place for the ceremony.

Step 5

Place parents and grandparents in their appropriate reserved seat and introduce them to their usher.

Step 6

Next, the couple or the groom and the proxy bride will be in place ready for instructions by the officiant (if the officiant is attending the rehearsal).

Step 7

The wedding party will practice the recessional. This includes parents and grandparents as well.

Step 8

Then the entire wedding party will repeat the whole ceremony from the beginning. Starting with the seating of the grandparents, parents, procession of the officiant, groom and best man; the wedding party/bridesmaids and groomsmen followed by the ring bearer and flower girl. As one bridesmaid or bridesmaids/groomsman walks down the aisle, the next one waits until the previous one is about half-way or two-thirds of the way down before beginning.

Step 9

Ushers will close the doors; upon cues, to the musicians, they will open the doors for the bride and her escort to proceed.

Step 10

Then have everyone practice the recessional again. It’s best to practice the processional and recessional a couple of times to ensure everyone in the wedding party is comfortable.

Step 11

After you are done practicing pass out the wedding day schedules and go over what time everyone needs to arrive the following day and the location. Also, go over any of the rules of the church or venue and any of your personal rules with the wedding party (example: no gum during the ceremony).

xo, Terrica