Why consider a wedding ceremony rehearsal?

Wedding ceremony rehearsals are very common in the USA but less so in the UK. So are they really necessary?

If your wedding party involves 10 or more people (including parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen) or children, a ceremony rehearsal is highly recommended.

With more people & children involved there is an increased risk of mistakes on the day. The couple & wedding party will enjoy the day more if they feel confident that everyone knows what they are doing.

Mistakes can still happen, everyone is human & a child mistake can be gorgeously cute, but no one wants the fear of chaos to be all consuming.

If the couple have more than one photographer or videographer, a rehearsal can be used to co-ordinate positioning & best angles to capture those precious moments.

A rehearsal could be one or two days before the wedding if travel & accommodation is not an issue for the wedding party. If one or two of your wedding party can’t attend a rehearsal, you can still go ahead & involve a “stand-in” who can then brief the absentee.

With a celebratory drink & a meal after your rehearsal, the practice event can spark the real excitement & immediate anticipation for the big day.

Cost can often be a barrier to a ceremony rehearsal taking place. All professionals involved will charge additional fees to attend a rehearsal, but this cost needs to be weighed up against the cost of unexpected problems caused by unprepared participants on the day.

Asking your venue, celebrant & other wedding suppliers for a quote to attend a rehearsal won’t cost you anything and you might be surprised with how little it is against your overall budget. It may just help you decide if a ceremony rehearsal is for you after all.

📸 @benfinch