Your Rehearsal...
Let me share with you some considerations regarding rehearsals...
1) DO YOU NEED A REHEARSAL? This is up to you! While 'traditional', a rehearsal is not always needed -
many times, it is done to give a purpose for gathering your closest friends and family
prior to your 'rehearsal dinner'!
However, we certainly should have a rehearsal...
... if you are creating a formal or elegant atmosphere, where precision matters, or
... if there are elements to the ceremony (such as a unity candle or sand ceremony) that need practice, or
... if many people will be involved in the ceremony, such as readers, singers or musicians, or
... if you will feel better - more relaxed - knowing that everyone has 'walked through' the ceremony!
Otherwise, if the ceremony is simple and straightforward, the most important details to work out
(who is processing with whom, where you will stand, who is recessing with whom)
could be worked out with your on-site planner, or amongst yourselves.
2) DO YOU NEED YOUR OFFICIANT (me!) TO BE THERE? Again, this is up to you! If you are working with
a planner (from your venue, or one that you have hired), she or he can walk you through
the procession, where to stand, and the recession - this would save you the expense of having
me travel a long way for your rehearsal ...
On the other hand, if you will feel better having met me the day before,
and having me walk you through the ceremony, then I should be there!
> WORKING WITH YOUR PLANNER:
I have years of experience planning weddings, including rehearsals ...
... no doubt, so does your planner!
Most times, the planner and I instantly come to the same understanding about how to
to organize the rehearsal, but this isn't always the case ... The best way to avoid confusion is to
please designate either myself or your planner to organize the rehearsal ...
... the other will gladly assist.
1) DO YOU NEED A REHEARSAL? This is up to you! While 'traditional', a rehearsal is not always needed -
many times, it is done to give a purpose for gathering your closest friends and family
prior to your 'rehearsal dinner'!
However, we certainly should have a rehearsal...
... if you are creating a formal or elegant atmosphere, where precision matters, or
... if there are elements to the ceremony (such as a unity candle or sand ceremony) that need practice, or
... if many people will be involved in the ceremony, such as readers, singers or musicians, or
... if you will feel better - more relaxed - knowing that everyone has 'walked through' the ceremony!
Otherwise, if the ceremony is simple and straightforward, the most important details to work out
(who is processing with whom, where you will stand, who is recessing with whom)
could be worked out with your on-site planner, or amongst yourselves.
2) DO YOU NEED YOUR OFFICIANT (me!) TO BE THERE? Again, this is up to you! If you are working with
a planner (from your venue, or one that you have hired), she or he can walk you through
the procession, where to stand, and the recession - this would save you the expense of having
me travel a long way for your rehearsal ...
On the other hand, if you will feel better having met me the day before,
and having me walk you through the ceremony, then I should be there!
> WORKING WITH YOUR PLANNER:
I have years of experience planning weddings, including rehearsals ...
... no doubt, so does your planner!
Most times, the planner and I instantly come to the same understanding about how to
to organize the rehearsal, but this isn't always the case ... The best way to avoid confusion is to
please designate either myself or your planner to organize the rehearsal ...
... the other will gladly assist.
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Brooke & Eric - June 2016
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3) A FEW WORDS ABOUT 'DECORUM' ...
Rehearsals can sometimes be 'tricky' for an officiant, and, for the couple!
Sometimes, as friends & family gather from far & wide, the 'partying' has already begun ...
(I 'tried' once to conduct a rehearsal where each groomsman arrived off the resort shuttle
with their own personal half-consumed bottle of Southern Comfort)
... and, when this occurs, it is often the bride, the groom, or both get upset
as each try to organize their friends and family for this most special occasion ...
Please make it clear (in words and actions) to your wedding party
that the rehearsal is important to you,
and the 'partying' (whether formal rehearsal dinner, poolside buffet, or all-night blow-out!)
will begin once the rehearsal is over!...
4) How I Organize a 20-30 MINUTE Wedding Rehearsal:
1st) I start my rehearsals by having the entire wedding party line up in front,
just as they will during the actual ceremony. We can then adjust who stands where,
and how the whole wedding party looks (especially important for creating perfect pictures!) ...
2nd) We will go through all the elements of the ceremony, so we all know who is doing what when.
(I usually don't read through all of the readings, the vows, or the ring exchanges -
these are saved for the ‘actual moment’ - but individual readers may wish to practice) ...
3rd) I will pretend to ‘pronounce you’, you will kiss (!), and we will practice the recession -
who goes out with whom when...
4th) Now that everyone has left, we will re-assemble and practice the procession -
who comes down the aisle with whom when...
(optional) Since we have all just processed in, we can go through the ceremony again (if we need to),
and can practice the procession or recession again (if we need to )... or, we're done!!
5) Other thoughts:
~ The ‘Business’: During the time that I am here for your rehearsal, please make available to me
your license and the balance of my fee... in this way, we will have no 'business' to conduct
before or after your actual ceremony, so you can focus on your wedding!!
~ Microphones: I need to know if you are planning to use microphones for the wedding!
Please note that I do not provide microphones or amplification equipment.
Microphones must be either clip-on (preferred) or on a stand* - I have decades of stage experience,
singing and performing with and without microphones, but I cannot use a handheld
microphone while holding my folder with your ceremony, readings, your rings, etc ...
(Also, any 'readers' in your wedding are likely not experienced holding a microphone ... )
If using stand mikes, you may want two - one for the wedding couple; another for readers...
(*I'm not a big fan of stand mikes - they get in between the couple, and dominate photos!)
Rehearsals can sometimes be 'tricky' for an officiant, and, for the couple!
Sometimes, as friends & family gather from far & wide, the 'partying' has already begun ...
(I 'tried' once to conduct a rehearsal where each groomsman arrived off the resort shuttle
with their own personal half-consumed bottle of Southern Comfort)
... and, when this occurs, it is often the bride, the groom, or both get upset
as each try to organize their friends and family for this most special occasion ...
Please make it clear (in words and actions) to your wedding party
that the rehearsal is important to you,
and the 'partying' (whether formal rehearsal dinner, poolside buffet, or all-night blow-out!)
will begin once the rehearsal is over!...
4) How I Organize a 20-30 MINUTE Wedding Rehearsal:
1st) I start my rehearsals by having the entire wedding party line up in front,
just as they will during the actual ceremony. We can then adjust who stands where,
and how the whole wedding party looks (especially important for creating perfect pictures!) ...
2nd) We will go through all the elements of the ceremony, so we all know who is doing what when.
(I usually don't read through all of the readings, the vows, or the ring exchanges -
these are saved for the ‘actual moment’ - but individual readers may wish to practice) ...
3rd) I will pretend to ‘pronounce you’, you will kiss (!), and we will practice the recession -
who goes out with whom when...
4th) Now that everyone has left, we will re-assemble and practice the procession -
who comes down the aisle with whom when...
(optional) Since we have all just processed in, we can go through the ceremony again (if we need to),
and can practice the procession or recession again (if we need to )... or, we're done!!
5) Other thoughts:
~ The ‘Business’: During the time that I am here for your rehearsal, please make available to me
your license and the balance of my fee... in this way, we will have no 'business' to conduct
before or after your actual ceremony, so you can focus on your wedding!!
~ Microphones: I need to know if you are planning to use microphones for the wedding!
Please note that I do not provide microphones or amplification equipment.
Microphones must be either clip-on (preferred) or on a stand* - I have decades of stage experience,
singing and performing with and without microphones, but I cannot use a handheld
microphone while holding my folder with your ceremony, readings, your rings, etc ...
(Also, any 'readers' in your wedding are likely not experienced holding a microphone ... )
If using stand mikes, you may want two - one for the wedding couple; another for readers...
(*I'm not a big fan of stand mikes - they get in between the couple, and dominate photos!)
Dad practices "giving away the bride"... - August 2015