To Rehearse Or Not To Rehearse

Cheryl Warry • January 27, 2016

Would you wear your wedding dress without trying it on first?

The rehearsal is often the first time the whole wedding party gets together before the wedding ceremony and perhaps the first time some of the bridal party may have met each other.

Often my couples will request not to have a rehearsal as they have so much on their To Do list that fitting in a rehearsal can be quite the chore. So the big question - is a wedding rehearsal really necessary?

In my experience, I believe it is. Although you may have attended many weddings and have observed how it’s done, you haven’t actually walked that walk. Many brides are as cool as a cucumber until they hit the top of the ‘aisle’, then the adrenaline and nerves kick in and without a rehearsal they may get a little lost and not enjoy every moment as much as they should.

Forty-five minutes, on location, should be ample time to cover off such things as the logistics of your ceremony with the majority of the wedding party. It is important for any little people involved in the ceremony so that they know where to walk and who to walk to, a great chance for them to become familiar with your celebrant; choreograph where to stand; how to move into and out of the ceremony area; who will have the rings and how will they be handed over at that moment of the ceremony; where do the parents sit so they have the best view of their son or daughter’s face throughout the ceremony; where the signing table will be located; where will the guests reader stand. Also this is the ideal opportunity to complete the last of the legal documents before the ceremony.

A rehearsal held around the same time as the actual ceremony gives the opportunity to check where the sun will be at that time of day so as not to be shining into either the wedding party’s or guests eyes.

Those of my couples that pushed back on a rehearsal, always thanked me for guiding them in the direction of a rehearsal because it did help them to know what to expect, assisted in reducing their nerves and in turn contributed to a relaxed, seamless and spectacular ceremony - just as they had planned.

Photo - Midwest Wedding Photography

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Covid-19 Wedding Restrictions In Victoria

By Cheryl Warry • April 17, 2020

COVID-19 has thrown many couples in to a spin and with all the months and sometimes years of planning, it has come down to making the choice to postpone or to go with the restrictions of just five people for what is most likely to be a legals-only style of ceremony. It is clear to see that the Corona Virus is not going away any time soon and I am mindful not to add to the potential risk, stress and harm that the virus may cause. It’s important that as an Australian marriage celebrant, I comply with the rules set down by our government and that they are adhered to, to the best of my ability. The Covid-19 restrictions that now apply to weddings, have been put in place to protect our nearest and dearest. If a couple still wish to get married, of course this is still possible, providing there are no more than five people present. This includes the marriage celebrant, the couple and their two legal witnesses over the age of 18. If the couple still wish to have a photographer and/or videographer then they must act as a witness. As laid out by the Australian Government, social distancing of at least 1.5 metres must be applied and the four square metre rule must be observed, this includes the signing of the legal documents. In the face of Corona Virus, one of the biggest challenges couples are faced with currently is to decide when to pull the trigger on their date and move it to a date further into 2020 or even move to 2021. Many of my couples have already made the decision to move weddings that are booked from now through to September and October until earlier in to 2021. Not an easy decision to make and there are many variables to consider; guests travel plans and accommodation to just begin with. If you are unsure of what to do, I would suggest that you engage with your suppliers and enquire about future dates and their availability. Yours won’t be the first call they have taken to discuss this very topic. I'm available to chat about your options either by email, zoom or over the phone. As many have said, we are living in such uncertain times and Covid-19 / Corona Virus is testing even the most resilient of us. Let's put the welfare of you, your families and your guests first.