Wedding Blog

Happy Monday everyone. It’s another gloomy day here in Orlando. I am getting tired of the rain.

Wedding season is in full swing and I have been doing many, many rehearsals. This past weekend inspired me to do a week-long series on all things “rehearsal.” Here is the schedule for the week…

Monday — What you need to prepare for the rehearsal
Tuesday — Rehearsal etiquette for wedding party
Wednesday — How to run through the ceremony
Thursday — Rehearsal dinner ideas
Friday — Toasts and gift giving at rehearsal dinner

Here is my list of items you need for a smooth rehearsal:

1. Your marriage license. Your officiant will most likely want to take it from you at the rehearsal so you won’t have to worry about it on the wedding day.
2. If you haven’t paid your site fees in advance, be sure to bring what you owe so you can be paid in full prior to the wedding.
3. A list of the bridesmaids and groomsmen and their order at the altar. This will make it easier for the person conducting the rehearsal to organize everyone.
4. A list of the grandparents, mothers, bridesmaids and groomsmen in the order they will process down the aisle. If the grandparents and mothers are being ushered, make sure to include the ushers’ names next to the people they are ushering.
5. A list of song selections for the wedding party noting when the music is to change.
6. A copy of the ceremony readings. Readers are notorious for not having them at the rehearsal. The readers should take a moment to get comfortable with the mic and where they are standing. The audio person might want to do a sound check as well.
7. If your ceremony site has a secure place to store things, bring everything you need for the ceremony like guest book, pen, ring barer pillow, flower girl basket and unity candle, so you don’t have to think about it on the wedding day.
8. Written directions to the rehearsal dinner. You don’t want to waste time giving instructions to everyone, be prepared to hand them the information.

As always, relax and enjoy the rehearsal. Keep in mind, your wedding party is likely to be a bit more casual at the rehearsal than during the wedding ceremony. If they don’t stand in a perfect line or if they have their hands in their pockets, don’t sweat it. They will likely come to attention on the wedding day.

If you have any questions or if you would like to post some thoughts regarding any wedding subject, please leave me a message here, or send me an email to susan.southerland@pwg.com.

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan