YOUR REHEARSAL
It's very important that you hold a rehearsal, if you wish to present a formal
and elegant processional that includes the bridal party, parents and grandparents as well as honored guests. We will
meet at the ceremony location and rehearse your ceremony until you are all comfortable with it. It should include
the Processional, Recessional, seating of honored guests and the parents & grandparents. In addition, it will include
certain rituals (sand / unity candles, etc.) and readings in the proper places within the ceremony. A rehearsal is only
recommended when there will be six (6) or more attendants in the wedding party. Rehearsals should never exceed 90 minutes,
unless there are 25 attendants or more. However, the average time is really 60 minutes or less, with up to 20 attendants.
The rehearsal can be anything
from a relaxed, informal gathering to an extravagant affair. It's really up to you. It will make for a much more
relaxed atmosphere on your wedding day and assure you that everyone knows their cues, their placement, and their responsibilities.
Please remember that your entire wedding from the Processional to the receiving line is a direct reflection on you as a couple,
although very few weddings have a receiving line anymore.
Please make sure that everyone involved will be available and
on time and that you have all the music , props (bouquet, sand ceremony or unity candles, etc.) to be used during the ceremony.
It's very helpful (not mandatory) if the person handling the music, can be available with the audio equipment and musical
selections, so they will know their cues on the actual ceremony day. All of this preparation greatly reduces chances
of unnecessary mistakes on your special day. Rehearsals are where it's OK to make mistakes, as long as they are corrected.
There is "no such thing" as a stupid question, ONLY the one that was not asked!
Finally, please
advise everyone involved in the rehearsal to arrive at least 30 minutes early, so we can begin
at the designated time. If the rehearsal runs late, then the rehearsal dinner will likely run late also. My advice
is to schedule your rehearsal dinner first, which will assure that everyone is available for your rehearsal, relaxed and on
time.
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!
I will arrive
at least 45 minutes early to ensure all the participating vendors are set up and know what to do on cue. (musicians,
photographer & videographer). The "Balance due" (payable in cash only) must be paid at the time
I first arrive, unless you have paid in advance of the wedding day. Please be sure to include your wedding license for me
to sign at the same time. Pick the 2 persons who will be witnesses for the license and have them available directly
after the ceremony is over.
CEREMONY OVERVIEW:
For christian & protestant faiths, guests of the BRIDE are seated on the LEFT of the
aisle and the GROOM's guests are seated on the right side. The left & right sides are determined looking down the
aisle from the back of the room. If the men are to walk in separately, single file, then the Officiant, along with the
groom and his groomsmen walk down the aisle to no music, but that rule is not written in stone. Most times though,
the groom and the officiant walk in together just after the mothers are seated. The men take their places to the left
of the officiant, with the Groom standing directly next to and to the left of the Officiant. This happens AFTER the
grandmothers and mothers are escorted down to their respective seats, in that order. If the wedding party is to enter
as couples, then the ladies will walk on the left side of their male escorts, with their right arm hooked in to their male
escort's left arm. Before that happens however, the great-grandmothers (if any) are seatedfirst, then the grandmothers
followed by the mothers, in that order. Both the Bride's mother and the Groom's mother are seated at the aisle seat,
first row. At that time, the wedding party will then come down the aisle. The music shall play. The bridal
couples's mothers can also have music for their entry. Many times, I recommend "Ava Maria" for the parents
& grandparents.
The officiant and the groom will already be standing in the front. If Unity Candles are planned, an option is
for the mothers to walk directly to the candle table and then each one will light an OUTSIDE tapered candle and return to
their seats. This leaves the bridal couple, at the appropiate time during their ceremony, to use the two lighted outside
candles as their method of lighting the one LARGER candle in the middle.
MY
REHEARSAL FEE:
The fee is only $75.00 for up to 1 hour. Usually, a wedding party of up to 20 attendants can complete
a standard rehearsal within that time frame.
