When it comes to your wedding rehearsal, there is no hard and fast rule that it has to be the night before your wedding.  Some brides like to rehearse in the space where the ceremony will take place, while others are OK rehearsing at an off-site location.  Depending on your venue and the terms of your contract,  you might have the option to do a wedding rehearsal the night before – or you might not.

We chatted with several wedding planners on their thoughts about wedding rehearsals, and here’s what they had to say!

Night before wedding rehearsal

Most of the wedding planners we chatted with prefer the wedding rehearsal the night before, if it works with the venue.

“In a perfect world, the night before,” says Stacy Hillstead, owner of Maxwell & Gray. “When we can do them the day before, it helps set the tone for the wedding day. We’re able to meet important family members, usually entire wedding party and can calm any nerves, ease spirits and introduce ourselves and our team so they know who to come to day-of.”

Ashlee Nicholson, owner of Treasured Heart Events, said “Doing the rehearsal the night before makes wedding day less stressful for us as planners! We can be fully focused on set up and our real duties on wedding day. It is also for the bride and groom to know when to face each other and how to hold the rings. When and how to move over to the unity candle/communion spot, how to do the hand off from the father of the bride to the groom.”

She goes on to say, “There are a lot of things that the bride does need to be there for (in my opinion) for an extremely smooth ceremony from the procession, to the vows, to the recessional. This is also the time where we as planners can talk to the officiant about certain announcements we need them to make for the guest experience to also be top notch.”

Stohr-ee Events owner Reytheda Jackson also likes wedding rehearsals the night before, if possible. “I prefer to do all of my wedding rehearsals the day/night before the wedding. The bridal party and family are typically more receptive and willing to cooperate and listen to instructions and directions for the wedding day. It also allows me to get to know them and prepare for their needs on wedding day.”

 

Day of the wedding rehearsal

While there are several good points about doing the wedding rehearsal the night before the wedding, these planners have some great insight to a day-of wedding rehearsal.

Rachel Giles, owner of Honey & Co. Weddings, loves wedding rehearsals on the day of the wedding. “I prefer to do ceremony rehearsals on the day of the wedding. Logistically it is so much easier for everyone (family, wedding party, couple, AND the vendors) to have the rehearsal on the actual wedding day. With an amazing vendor team, the rehearsal should only take 15 – 30 mins.”

“There will be a lot of downtime on the wedding day, so you may as well fill it with an activity!  Plus if we do a rehearsal the day before, we will 100% be going over it again on the wedding day because some people could not attend the day before or others have forgotten what to do. It is best to do it on the wedding day so that is guarantees everyone is there and it is fresh in everyone’s minds.”  Such good information from Rachel!

Events by Jade owner Jade Batangan agrees with Rachel. “It’s a better use of everyone’s time.  Doing it the night before some wedding party members still have to miss because they aren’t in town yet.  If the venue isn’t available, I no longer find an alternative place. It’s better for me if I have the time allotted for a rehearsal on wedding day so I am not trying to squeeze it in during the day. I like to do wedding rehearsals first thing in the morning when everyone is focused and sober.”

At BRIK Venue, your package determines whether or not you have a wedding rehearsal on the day of or if you can schedule it on the night(s) before your wedding.  Be sure to chat with your wedding planner and our staff about what your options are.