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With all the expenses related to getting married adding up, it can be easy to put the wedding rehearsal off to the side as an unnecessary expense. But that’s not always a wise decision. Too many things can go wrong and a simple rehearsal, even if it’s not at the wedding site, is an amazing insurance policy for the next day.

photo credit: raybdbomb

It’s a common thought that the smaller the wedding ceremony the less need there is for a rehearsal. Everyone likes to think that their friends and family can all handle the details about a small wedding in which they’ve all seen a dozen times.

But during the rush of the day, your bridesmaids might not know which music cue to listen for to walk down the aisle. A busy and nervous father may not know that the minister would like to say a few words before asking the family’s blessing. At one particular wedding I attended, a special singer was unaware that it was her time during the ceremony and it brought the whole thing to an awkward halt as she fumbled around trying to get ready. She nervously fingered through paper while everyone silently stared at her. I’m sure that was embarrassing to her. All that could have been prevented with a rehearsal with all the important parties.

A good minister will get everyone together and speak about what is going to happen and in what order. Then, everyone will walk through the ceremony and music cues twice. The first time will be when everyone learns what to do and when and the second time is a quick run through. This seems simple enough.

• Starting with the seating of the parents, decide on music cues on when everyone should start their processional. Have a secondary plan if your wedding ceremony includes a flower girl/ring bearer that may not make it down the aisle or they may not want to stand for the whole ceremony.
• Use this time to go over how any unity ceremonies, such as a unity candle or a sand ceremony, are going to take place.
• Go over the order of special music or readings with the people doing them and where theyare during the ceremony.
• Don’t neglect the processional either. Go over the music cue and the order in which you want everyone to walk back down the aisle and how the congregation will be “dismissed”.

This simple insurance policy will help ensure that your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Well, the only thing that should be getting hitched that day is you! All it takes is some simple planning to avoid an inevitable ceremony foible. So don’t neglect this important facet of your wedding preparations. It will pay off when everyone knows what to do and when, especially if you ceremony is being videotaped. You don’t want to watch it and have to relive the “oops”. Anyways, this is just one thing that can help relieve the stress of wedding planning at a time when the bride is overly stressed about the upcoming day!