Hey, brides! Sure you have attended a lot of weddings before, and you might think that you’re already familiar with the program flow in your own ceremony. But guess what, there’s a different kind of relief when you come extra prepared! One of the things that will help you get ready is having a wedding rehearsal a day or two before your big day. To give you a clearer idea about the wedding ceremony rehearsal, we wrote about what it is, who should be there, and if it’s necessary to have one. Read on.

Imagine being at your ceremony venue, observing all the practices and declaring your marriage in front of your witnesses. For such a formal event, a wedding rehearsal lets you have a run-through of the actual ceremony. It basically covers all the essential parts of the program to ensure a smooth flow from start to finish. From the processional, to the readings, to the exchange of vows and rings, down to the recessional—you will already know what, where, and how these things will transpire.

The most important people who should be present at your rehearsal are you and your beau. Then of course, the officiant, your parents, and your bridal party. This is also the best time to familiarize the little ones with the venue and their walk down the aisle. Your wedding coordinator will be present to cue the entourage and oversee the details during your rehearsal.

However, there are some who no longer bring their entourage or the entire wedding party to the rehearsal. The couple, their parents, and the officiant already work for them. And if that’s the case for you, too, there’s no problem with that.

Having a wedding rehearsal will make you feel at ease as you get to have a walk-through of your ceremony. After all, its purpose is to ensure that you know what to do, where to go, and that you have a smooth flow of events. If you’re having an intimate wedding (with, say, less than 50 guests) or you opt not to have an entourage, then a wedding rehearsal wouldn’t be needed. On the other hand, you may benefit more from a rehearsal if you’re having a big wedding with a full entourage.

Overall, always do what works best for you and the kind of wedding that you’re planning. Got any more questions about the wedding ceremony? Let us know in the comments!