How to conduct your own Wedding Rehearsal.

Start at the end. Line up your wedding party where you want them during the ceremony. Remember the Reverend will be in the middle, the Bride and Groom a few steps in front of the Reverend, facing each other, holding hands and looking into the other's eyes. Have the Groom and the Bride walk down the aisle to where the Bride will be making her grand entrance from, the Best Man and Maid (Matron) of Honour follow once the Groom and Bride are halfway down the aisle, followed by each additional pair of wedding party members once the Best Man and Maid (Matron) of Honour reach the first row of chairs or guests.

*note* Flower Girl and Ring Bearer come just before the Bride and after the Maid (Matron) of Honour*

Now the Groom will return to where he will stand during the ceremony. Remember to ask his parent (s) if they would like to walk him in prior to the ceremony starting. If so, there is normally no music at this time over than to ambient music, the Groom and his parent (s) proceed up the aisle once the Reverend is standing at the front.

The Bride's attendants line up so that the person standing furthest from the Bride proceeds down the aisle first, the Maid (Matron) of Honour comes following the Bride's Maids, but before the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer. The Bride and her escort (if there is one) should not enter until the entire wedding party is at the front. Generally, the Bride will have a separate piece of music than the rest of the wedding party, so that's is the clue as to when to start walking. Also, the Reverend will have everyone stand for the Bride, so that's when it's time to make the grand entrance. The Bride and her escort will walk down the aisle until they reach the front row of chairs or guests. The Reverend will then read the introduction.

The hand off. *This is tricky* As the Bride comes down the aisle, she will be on her escort's left arm. After the Reverend asks "Who brings this woman in marriage?" Bride should kiss or hug her escort good-bye. The Groom will then walk towards the escort, shake hands with or kiss the cheek of the Bride's escort. The escort will then take two steps backward and walk behind the Bride to their seat. They should remember to not step on the dress! The couple will now walk to their places in front of the Reverend. At this point Bride should hand her flowers to her Maid (Matron) of Honour with her left hand. At this time, the Maid (Matron) of Honour can hand both sets of flowers to the next Bridesmaid in line and fix the Bride's train if needed.

Go through the ceremony by headings only. It's not necessary to read over the entire ceremony--save that excitement for the big day. Your Reverend will take over for that part anyway, so just run through the various parts by heading. If you are really nervous about speaking in public, you may want to practice your vows at the rehearsal. If you have readers or singers, they might want to practice their piece as well. Remember to setup a small table to sign the license and register on. Place a pen on the signing table as well as any flower, candle or sand ceremony vases that are part of your ceremony. There should be at least one chair for the Bride to sit on during the entire signing part of the ceremony. The Bride (and Groom if two chairs) will remain seated until they are asked by the Reverend to rejoin the wedding party following the signing.

After the kiss, the Bride will get her bouquet from the Maid (Matron) of Honour then Bride and Groom will face their guests. Often at this time, the Reverend will introduce you as Mr. & Mrs. for the first time, then the recessional music strikes up and off you go! After the last couple exits, the parents and any people sitting in the front row should immediately follow.

In the case where both parents escort the Bride, decide at the rehearsal which parent the Bride will kiss first (otherwise you look like a ping-pong ball as you hover indecisively). Mom should turn around and walk to her seat (she'll be seated in the front row on the Bride's side) and Dad will proceed to his seat as outlined above.

Walk through the recessional and processional one more time and then you are done. Make sure that the Best Man has the Bride's ring and the Maid (Matron) of Honour has the Groom's ring for the ceremony tomorrow. Also arrange to have the Best Man or the Groom give the Reverend the Honourarium prior to the ceremony starting.