How
to Conduct a Wedding Rehearsal
Make sure
you have the date of the rehearsal set and access to
the facility. Rehearsals are usually the day before
the wedding and are followed by a rehearsal dinner.
Invite the bridal party, officiant, flower girl/flower
boy and anyone else special to you. The goal is to get
people comfortable so things run smoothly. You may be
good in front of a crowd, but others are not so it's
a great idea to have a run through.
Just make
sure anyone with a role in the wedding is at the rehearsal.
Map it out.
You may want
to have a diagram to show bridal party participants
and others involved how they will walk in and stand
during the ceremony. If there are any other activities
during the ceremony (candle lighting, for example) you
should at least know where that will take place if you
don't bring the props with you.
Explain
the process.
Now that your guests are there, you (or your wedding
planner) can step in and direct the activity. You may
want the officiant or someone else to lead you if it
is a more traditional wedding. Make sure people physically
walk in and stand in their designated spot to ensure
that things will go smoothly on your big day!
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How
to Conduct a Wedding Ceremony
Meet with the engaged couple and choose
a ceremony. Most ceremonies are pre-written with spaces
to insert names.
Talk with the couple about the type
of service they are looking for, more traditional, contemporary
or something that reflects their unique personalities.
Ask the couple if they would like to write any of their
own vows to be added to the ceremony.
Allow the wedding director to direct
all aspects of the wedding rehearsal except the actual
ceremony. The couple will need to take their cues from
you, as you guide them through the various parts of
the vows.
Talk through the vows at the wedding
rehearsal as they will be said at the actual ceremony,
but do not have the couple say the actual vows. This
should be saved for the wedding day.
Direct them as to when they need to
kneel for prayer, light the Unity Candle and when the
bride should hand off her bouquet. Make notes of these
items in your wedding book as to when they occur.
Give the vows that need to be repeated
in short sections. The longer the section you give the
more likely a nervous bride or groom will forget and
have to be told again.
Hold your wedding book out and allow
both the maid of honor and best man to place the ring
on the book. Pick up the ring from there. Do not let
either try and hand you the ring. This reduces the danger
of dropping the ring, as they simply have to lay it
on the book.
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