Couples, parents, siblings, friends, and friends of friends can spend hours planning a large wedding: choosing a venue, caterer, DJ, flowers, cake, etc.  When it’s all said and done, the ceremony is sometimes the last thing to get addressed. I really feel for the bride who chooses her venue for her large August wedding in January but doesn’t start calling around for an officiant until May and we are all booked for her day.  But that’s an entirely different post.

In my experience, there are “smallish” weddings that include a small wedding party and “largish” weddings that include a large wedding party.  “Smallish” to me is when there is either no wedding party except the bride and groom — that’s pretty obvious — or when there are up to two attendants on each side (best man, one groomsman, maid of honor, one bridesmaid).  Any wedding party larger than the group previously described, however, should definately schedule an hour-long rehearsal at the venue where they are getting married.  Even the group of six mentioned above could benefit from a traditional rehearsal.

Here’s why.  When you sit down with your officiant to discuss your ceremony, take into consideration how the procession for your dream wedding will look if it hasn’t been rehearsed.  Consider your group of 6 or 8 or 12 plus your 3-yr-old niece or nephew who are your flower girl and ring bearer and how they are going to get to the front of your venue without knowing where to go, when to go, who to follow, etc.  Are the adorable toddlers who are dropping petals and carrying your rings (or fake rings) on a pillow going to know where to go or what to do when they finally make that long haul up the aisle?  They are going to need the smiling face of a mommy or daddy or other family member to go to in the front rows.  Think rehearsal!

And what about the first couple who walk up the aisle who actually end up being the farthest from the bride and groom — where do they go?  Do they just pick a spot and hope for the best and then the remaining bridal party just crams in next to them?  No! No! No!  You have to have a rehearsal so that these beautiful couples who have been involved in the planning of this beautiful event look polished as they walk down the aisle, arm in arm, and then gracefully take their place at their designated spot.  It is a beautiful site to see the wedding party that has rehearsed, fanned out from the bride and groom — groomsmen with no hands in their pockets and bridesmaids holding their bouquets in front of them.  Think rehearsal!

So please couples, if you want your wedding day to be dreamy and memorable, take into consideration everything — not just the food and music — think rehearsal!  You won’t regret it as you are lead down the aisle by your father or another honored family member, arm in arm, to the smiles of your stunning wedding party waiting for you so the wedding ceremony of your dreams can begin!