Make sure the week prior to your wedding, you have a call set with the bride to finalize the Google document & most importantly, you will discuss the order of the processional/recessional and include names. This will make the rehearsal the most efficient. Always rehearse once and ask if they want to do it a second time.

TALK TO THE OFFICIANT FIRST:

• MAKE SURE THE OFFICIANT KNOWS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO STAND BEFORE THE BRIDE and knows your cue.
• Make sure that the officiant tells everyone to be seated when the bride has gotten to the altar, or if it is in the script after giving away or praying.
• Make sure after the recessional that the officiant can announce where cocktail hour will be so the guests know where to go next.

TALK TO THE COUPLE SECOND:

• Start by talking with bride/groom to make sure nothing changed since final call/ceremony questionnaire.
  • Confirm when we need to know when the song changes.
  • Find out where the family that is in the processional is sitting. Make sure the front row, or two or three, are reserved depending on family count.
  • Remember to make note if they are doing a first look or not. If they are not,  be extra diligent to make sure the groom does not see the bride beforehand.

MY REHEARSAL SUGGESTIONS:

• Start by introducing yourself, having the attendees separate who is in the ceremony and who is not. Find the altar and line them up in order.
  • ​If you are not at the venue, find something to represent the altar and practice with that in place.
• Assure them that we will be there on the day of to cue them and that this is important to remember where they are standing. Let them know that on wedding day they need to be in their places five minutes prior to ceremony time.
  • ​Before starting the rehearsal it is a good idea to get there early and scout out where everyone will be lining up. For example, you can tell them "the ceremony is at 5 tomorrow, so at 4:55 please make sure you are ready to line up and meet in the bridal suite."
• Typically, girls are on the left and the guys are on the right. You don’t HAVE to ask, but sometimes I give the bride an option and ask if she wants to switch it up if she has a better side. (Jewish tradition, the sides are switched, also.)
• Ask if the officiant will give any type announcement before you send whoever is walking first.
• Find out who has the rings. We recommend the best man or the officiant.
• Ask who the ring bearer/flower girls are supposed to walk to and be seated, or if they want them standing.
• Tell everyone to walk slow & use a marker to let them know when they can walk next. (For example, when the person before you gets to the first row of chairs, then you can go.)
• Girls bouquets held at belly button length.
• Make sure MOH fixes brides train and hands her bouquet over. Let her know she can always hand her bouquet over to the next bridesmaid if she needs to. Make sure she hands the bouquet back at the end.
• Remind the bride & groom to hold the first kiss for a few seconds for the photographer.
• After everyone is lined up, ask the officiant if he wants to run through any part of his script before you practice the recessional.
  
• Remind Officiant to announce where cocktail hour is post-ceremony.