Wedding Rehearsal Checklist
It’s time to make your celebration as seamless as possible! I've provided a checklist of questions to consider with your wedding planner (or trusted family and friends) prior to the rehearsal.
Typical Rehearsal Timeline
Wedding Rehearsal at the Glessner House in the South Loop of Chicago
Please note that the rehearsal is only 60 minutes. Please arrive promptly to minimize the wait time for the other participants in the wedding. The wedding planner will coordinate as much as possible with you prior to the rehearsal and during the first 15 minutes of the rehearsal to ensure a smooth timeline.
-5:00: Marriage certificate: Please give the officiant your marriage certificate (with the addressed envelope). Don't worry...It's not official until the conclusion of the ceremony.
-5:05: Quick walk-through with the bride and groom: The wedding planner will direct the placement of the wedding party, family, readers, and anything else included in the ceremony.
-5:15: Block the wedding party and then start the first processional practice. The officiant will carry out the ceremony section after.
-5:45: Second processional practice and ceremony walk-through with everyone
-6:00: End Rehearsal
The Big Wedding Ceremony Questions to Figure Out Prior to the Rehearsal
Before the Ceremony:
-Do you want the officiant to make an announcement asking the guests to "Please silence your phones." and/or "Please refrain from taking photographs during the ceremony."? Anything else?
-Where will you place the ceremony table (if necessary)? Behind the officiant? To one side or the other?
Ushers
-Do you need to assign friends or family members as ushers? They usually hand out programs at the start of the last row and direct guests to their seats. If needed, you can ask them to stand near the doorways of the cocktail reception or along the path to guide your guests afterward.
Seating
-Will your parents, grandparents, and close relatives sit in the front 2 rows (groom's side on the right and bride's side on the left)? During most weddings, the remaining seats aren't designated as the bride's or groom's sides (to eliminate gaps or uneven seating).
-Will the readers sit at the ends of the first or second rows for easy access to the front?
Order of Procession
-Will the groom walk down or wait at the "altar" with the officiant?
-What is the processional order?
-Who will escort parents, grandparents, and other important family members? Ushers? Members of the wedding party (be sure to figure out how they will return to their place in the procession)?
-Where will the family in the processional sit once they walk down (typically the first rows on both sides)?
-How will you decide which wedding party members will walk down together? Will it be based on friendship status? Height (similar heights walking down together for the sake of photos)?
-Will children or dogs process? If so, who will walk them down (in case they become distracted) or meet them (in case they become distracted)? Once they reach the "altar", who will direct them to their seats? Please keep in mind that children under 5 may cry, talk, or play during the ceremony (which is expected for these little people). With this being said, it is often difficult for them to comfortably stand in front with the wedding party. Be sure to develop a backup plan to take the children from the wedding party line if you think they may be a distraction.
Pace of the Walk
-Everyone should be lined up and ready to go at least 5 minutes prior to the officiant's "Silence Your Phones" announcement.
-Men walk down on the right while their arms are interlocked with the bridesmaids.
-Typically, there's a 5-second pause after the start of each of the processional songs.
-Each couple/person shouldn't walk forward until the couple/person in front of them is halfway down the aisle.
-Normal, casual walk....everybody should take their time for the photographer.
Blocking of the Wedding Party
-Both sides should be in the same general shape: straight line, diagonal line, curved line, whatever makes sense in your ceremony space. Please keep in mind that the party shouldn't block the first row of guests. If needed, move the first row of seating back to make room for larger parties or keep the wedding line in a tight and straight formation (otherwise you'll lose them in the photos).
-Men should place their hands at their sides or crossed in front of their hips. Their feet are 1 1/2 feet apart.
-Typically, each person is angled 45 degrees towards the couple and the guests and roughly 1 1/2 feet from each other.
-Where will you place the kids or babies? Please consider the amount of time they will be standing in place and/or weather conditions (ie extreme heat).
Readers
-You may want to seat the readers at the ends of the first or second rows for easy access to the front.
-If the space permits, readers usually walk to a second microphone stand on one side or the other.
-If the wedding party is large and space is limited, you may want the readers to speak in the center (where the officiant stands).
-Please be sure the readers have printed their readings in a familiar and comfortable size and font.
When the Ceremony Ends
-Where will you and the wedding party walk to immediately after the ceremony?
-Will you ask the officiant to make an announcement regarding the cocktail reception and post-ceremony photographs? If so, what would you like said?
Schedule an orientation with wedding officiant in Denver and you’ll take the first step in creating a memorable experience! / Photo: Zhana Fort
Wedding Ceremony in Denver or a Neighboring Colorado Town
Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Boulder, Breckinridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Interested in hiring Michael to officiate your wedding ceremony in Denver or a neighboring Colorado town? Check out his wedding packages today!