Wedding Rehearsals?

[PeterJ]

Did you have Wedding Rehearsals for your Weddings?
Do you realy need them? Would you have a Wedding Rehearsal?

[Jeanne D]

I think if you're having a big wedding, a rehearsal is a good thing to have.

We had ours a couple of nights before the wedding.
Now at my sister's wedding we had the rehearsal a couple of hours before the ceremony, but it was a small wedding party.

Jeanne

[MrAnteater]

I am going to one tomorrow. There are a total of 16 people in the wedding party plus flower girls. I don't really want to go but I can see why it's a good idea.

[mcgyver]

Speaking as a Pastor....YES, YES, YES, to wedding rehearsals :lol:

[PeterJ]

Does it make you less nervous on the day having them?

[HisLeast]

Did you have Wedding Rehearsals for your Weddings?
Yes.

Do you realy need them? Would you have a Wedding Rehearsal?
Yes. They're crucial. On your wedding day, your brain is going to be the next best thing to useless. It pays to have one practice run just to know when to sit/stand/move/speak etc. Also makes your wedding party more comfortable of when each is supposed to do what they need to do.

Another reason you need rehearsal is to find out what the surprises are. What surprises? The ones churches often refuse to disclose from the get go. For example, my best friend's wife was forced to basically ruin her dress because her church demanded she sit in the pew for part of the ceremony. Another one I've been to said they'd stop the ceremony immediately if anyone got too close to the alter. At another they refused cameras and flowers. At MY rehearsal, our priest refused to do "repeat after me vows" and basically demanded we make our own in the 24 hours we had left. There's always surprises, and more often than not they take the form of psychotic militant joy-killing church staff. Best to find that out a day before than the day of.

Lastly, rehearsals give friends and family a chance to meet & greet before the actual ceremony, which is pretty fun and a positive way to end my rant. :D

[PeterJ]

People that have to travel far might not go to them?
I recall going to weddings years ago and they never had them; is this a new thing?

[HisLeast]

People that have to travel far might not go to them?
I recall going to weddings years ago and they never had them; is this a new thing?

Well, the rehearsal isn't for your guests. Its for the wedding party and parents usually. Just so everyone who's IN the wedding knows what to do the day of. I've never heard of having a massive rehearsal just for the guests coming in.

[CoffeeCat]

We're definitely going to want a rehearsal simply because MOST people in our wedding won't be entirely sure of where to stand or walk on the day of a ceremony and we want them to be comfortable.... but the BIGGEST reason I'd say 'yes!!' to a rehearsal is because my fiance has vision problems, and things would be fuzzy and confusing if he didn't know where he was supposed to walk and turn when, let alone what I'll be doing.

And as it's already been said.... rehearsals often bring out the 'mishaps' that might not be seen in advance. A friend (luckily) found this out the day before her wedding, when she realized that she was HORRIBLY allergic to the plants the church had up around the altar.... they had to be dragged out and the whole place had to be vacuumed about 3 times. It's okay if a bride cries on her wedding day, but NOT if it's because she's just sneezed all over her dress! ;)

[trodder]

There was a rehearsal but I wasn't there for it. I was in boot camp at the time. When I got home on leave I was told the when and the where.
Twenty nine years later we're still together.:hug:

[PeterJ]

Does having wedding rehearsals spoil the moment having already tasted the wedding day moment?

[HisLeast]

Deleted............

[sapphire904]

Yes, I had one and I definitely recommend them. It helps to know exactly what to expect on the day of the wedding, so you can actually enjoy the ceremony instead of being nervous and focusing on where to stand, walk, etc. It also helps if you're not crazy about standing in front of a crowd in front of the church. Just being up there during rehearsal made me more comfortable on the day of. I only had one matron of honor (no bridesmaids), a flower girl and ring bearer and it helped tremendously with the kids and knowing at what time to enter the sanctuary, etc. Our dinner was at a local sub/pizza place. It was great!

[sapphire904]

This is for PeterJ -
No, it doesn't spoil the moment. Our rehearsal was very fun, full of laughter and mess-ups. We goofed off and didn't really get mushy. The actual day of the wedding was more serious, loving and my husband was happily elated at how beautiful he thought I looked when I walked into the sanctuary.

[PeterJ]

So its like a rehearsal like for a film?

[CoffeeCat]

*bringing back old thread*

We're getting married Dec 23rd (which is unusual, being a tuesday, but everyone managed to get the day off!), and we're having the rehearsal on the 20th.... and I am SO, SOOOO glad we're having it! Various family members and friends are involved... there's the two of us, of course... and then there's another 7 in the wedding party - our flower princess (who wanted to be more than just a "girl" :lol: ), our usher/helper, our maid of honour, two bridesmaids, my fiance's best man, and my dad, who's our photographer. Phew. Having all these people came MORE from the want to include them all somehow than from the desire to have a huge wedding.... but still, I am SO glad we're having a rehearsal. People will know exactly where to stand, where to move when, what to do.... Rehearsals are lifesavers. People wouldn't put on a play without researsing it... they wouldn't make a movie without practicing it.... and those things aren't even real! Weddings DEFINITELY need to be rehearsed, I think. :)

Some people DO go into it, no rehearsal..... but the last wedding I went to where the couple decided to do that, the groom was so nervous he passed out. ;)

[PeterJ]

That's a good way of putting it coffee cat; but why are you having your wedding soo near christmas? thats going to be a very busy week for you.

[CoffeeCat]

:lol: Yup. Very, very busy.... but it's the time of year when everyone, including me, is free to get together. :) So it'll be joyous too.

[JesusReignsForever]

I'm not married, but when I get married I am going to have a wedding rehersal just to make sure everyone knows the who, what, where, when, and why's. :)

[PeterJ]

How much do Wedding Rehearsals cost though? how much did you spend on it?

[CoffeeCat]

That tends to depend on whether or not you're having a huge fancy rehearsal dinner or whatever, plus any other major expenses some folks toss into it. Mine was... well, basically free. As far as I know, anyhow. I guess I'll see, but.... my pastor literally said "oh yeah, the church is free, just come on in and I'll practice with you guys for a while!" -- After, we're all going out for dinner, but still.

[HisLeast]

How much do Wedding Rehearsals cost though? how much did you spend on it?

Nothing. Its not a full blown wedding. Its just all the people with parts to play gathered together to be shown the final instructions: who goes where, when, and does what. The flowers, tuxes, dresses... the "show" doesn't start until the actual wedding day.

Typically the church will want you to have one anyway, just so things go smoothly. Some people choose to have a "rehearsal dinner" though, which is kind of a pre-wedding celebration with only the wedding party and parents.

[PeterJ]

Nothing. Its not a full blown wedding. Its just all the people with parts to play gathered together to be shown the final instructions: who goes where, when, and does what. The flowers, tuxes, dresses... the "show" doesn't start until the actual wedding day.

Typically the church will want you to have one anyway, just so things go smoothly. Some people choose to have a "rehearsal dinner" though, which is kind of a pre-wedding celebration with only the wedding party and parents.

So the wedding rehearsal is part of the wedding package.
Surely theres no point to having a "rehearsal dinner"?
Anyone had "rehearsal dinner"?

[HisLeast]

So the wedding rehearsal is part of the wedding package.
I guess you could put it that way. The church doesn't charge you extra for one. Its just kind of a given that you'll have a rehearsal.

Surely theres no point to having a "rehearsal dinner"?
Sure there is. A nice intimate dinner with the wedding party and family. The actual wedding reception is quite formal and busy.

Anyone had "rehearsal dinner"?
My wife and I

[PeterJ]

Thanks at least :)