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How to Perform a Wedding

REHEARSAL

At the rehearsal, you’ll just walk through everything people need to know for the ceremony.

It should be pretty relaxed, but here are a few tips to help.

1. ARRIVE EARLY

Set everyone at ease knowing that you are a person who arrives on time.

If you’re late for the rehearsal, they’ll worry that you’ll be late for the wedding too.

2. KNOW WHO’S IN CHARGE

Often there is a wedding coordinator at the venue to make sure everyone knows where to go and what to do. Sometimes this is a family friend or someone you’ve scheduled to help at your church.

But if there is not a coordinator, congratulations, everyone will be looking at you to tell them where to go and what to do.

3. KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO ENTER

Go through the order of who enters when and from where.

Make everyone practices walking down the aisle and standing at the alter a few times.

4. SMILE

People will begin to get nervous during the rehearsal, so have fun, smile, be lighthearted and help put everyone at ease.

The rehearsal can be fun if you allow a little laughter to break up the awkwardness.

5. HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS

Don’t perform the entire ceremony at the rehearsal word-for-word.

Just cover the highlights and parts where others are involved: the processional, how the bride will be given away, how the bride and groom will stand at the altar, how the best man (or whoever has the rings) will hand them to you, how the bride and groom will place them on one another’s fingers, when they say their vows, the kiss, and how they will exit on the final pronouncement.

I always tell the wedding party that if the rings are dropped for any reason, only the person holding it should pick them up. You don’t want everyone diving on them like a grenade.

Also, I always remind the party not to lock their knees.

We’ve all seen the videos of people passing out at weddings. Locking your knees when you’re nervous is what often causes that.

6. KNOW HOW TO CLOSE

Make sure you have all the details of where to direct the guests immediately after the ceremony.

Is the reception at the same venue as the wedding, or somewhere else?

Will the bride and groom be waiting for them in the foyer to greet them, or will they go to take pictures and meet them at the reception (which is what typically happens)?

Double check these details at the reception.