You’ve booked the venue, finalized your guest list, and even nailed down your seating chart. Your ceremony is set to be a beautiful celebration of love—but how confident are you that everyone else knows what to do?
Enter: the wedding rehearsal. It’s often one of the most overlooked parts of the wedding planning process—but also one of the most important.
If you're thinking of skipping it, or just unsure what it's for, this guide will walk you through what a wedding rehearsal actually is, why it matters, who needs to be there, and what can go wrong if you don’t have one. Spoiler alert: more than you think.
What Is a Wedding Rehearsal, Anyway?
A wedding rehearsal is a run-through of the ceremony—typically held 1–2 days before the wedding. It’s your opportunity to walk through the order of events, from the processional to the recessional, with your wedding party, officiant, and key players (like parents or readers).
Think of it like a dress rehearsal for a stage performance. You may only have one shot to get it right on the big day, but rehearsing helps make sure everyone knows where to stand, when to walk, what to say, and what happens next.
It’s not just about choreography—it’s about clarity and confidence.
Why Skipping the Rehearsal Is a Big Mistake
Here’s the truth: no matter how detailed your timeline is, people need to practice. Skipping the rehearsal is like trying to host a dinner party without telling your guests when or where to sit. It may technically work, but it likely won’t go smoothly—and the stress isn’t worth it.
Here’s what can go wrong without a rehearsal:
1. Processional Confusion
Do your bridesmaids know the order they’re walking in? Will your flower girl run—or freeze? Do the groomsmen know who to escort?
Without a rehearsal, your processional can easily turn into a game of “follow the person in front and hope for the best.”
2. Awkward Pauses or Missed Cues
Who hands the bouquet to whom? When do you exchange rings? Should someone move the bride’s train? These may seem like small moments—but they have a big impact on the ceremony’s flow and emotional tone.
3. Microphone & Sound Confusion
If your officiant is using a mic, or you're having live musicians, they’ll need to know their cues. You don’t want the wrong song playing or awkward silence during a key moment.
4. Nervous Participants
Your wedding party may not be used to being in the spotlight. Rehearsing helps calm nerves, especially for people walking down the aisle for the first time or giving a reading during the ceremony.
5. Timeline Delays on the Big Day
If people don’t know where they’re going, when to arrive, or who’s responsible for what, it can slow things down and create unnecessary stress. The rehearsal sets expectations that keep things moving smoothly.
What You Actually Do During a Rehearsal
Don’t worry—it’s not hours long or overly formal. A good wedding rehearsal usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Here’s what typically happens:
1. Arrival & Introductions
Your coordinator (or whoever is running the rehearsal) welcomes everyone and does a quick intro, especially if members of the wedding party haven’t met each other yet.
2. Walking Through the Processional
Everyone lines up in the order they’ll walk down the aisle. You’ll walk through the processional—music and all—at least once, maybe twice, until it feels smooth.
3. Positioning at the Altar
Once everyone has made their way down the aisle, they’ll be shown where to stand. You’ll also clarify details like:
4. Run Through the Ceremony Order
You won’t rehearse the full ceremony script word-for-word, but your officiant may go over major moments like:
5. Practicing the Recessional
Everyone practices how they’ll exit the ceremony, in what order, and where they’re going afterward.
6. Questions & Clarifications
Your coordinator or officiant will answer questions from the group and confirm arrival times, cues, and timeline details for the day of.
Who Needs to Be at the Rehearsal?
Generally, invite anyone who has a role in the ceremony, including:
Optional:
If someone absolutely can’t attend, be sure they’re briefed separately by your coordinator or wedding party lead.
Who Runs the Rehearsal?
Great question, and it’s a crucial one. While the officiant often plays a role in leading the script portion of the rehearsal, your wedding coordinator/planner is usually the one managing the logistics:
If you don’t have a coordinator, designate a responsible, organized person (who isn’t in the wedding party) to help lead this. Otherwise, chaos can quickly creep in.
What Happens After the Rehearsal?
This is typically when you’ll host a rehearsal dinner—a casual gathering of your wedding party, family, and out-of-town guests. It’s a great way to thank your loved ones and ease into the weekend festivities.
But even if you’re not doing a full dinner, a brief rehearsal walk-through followed by drinks or takeout still sets a joyful tone. It’s less about formality and more about connection and clarity.
Final Thoughts: Rehearsals Create Calm (Not Chaos)
You’ve spent months planning your perfect day. You’ve chosen the right music, written your vows, and maybe even picked a signature cocktail. Why leave the actual execution of your ceremony to chance?
A wedding rehearsal ensures that your vision comes to life smoothly and confidently. It eliminates awkward pauses, confused faces, and last-minute chaos. Instead, it creates a relaxed and confident team of people who know exactly what to do.
You deserve to walk down that aisle with ease, not with anxiety.
Need Help Running Your Rehearsal?
Whether you're planning a full weekend celebration or a more intimate “I do,” EventBay is here to help every step of the way. Our team specializes in calm, confident coordination, so your wedding party knows exactly what to do, and you can stay focused on the joy of the day.
Need help running your rehearsal? We’ll guide the flow, answer questions, and make sure everything is set for a seamless ceremony. Let’s make it official! Book your free consultation today and take the stress off your shoulders.