How to Actually Run Your Wedding Rehearsal (Even Without a Wedding Planner)
You know what no one tells you?
The wedding rehearsal isn’t just a “cute little run-through.”
It’s the one thing standing between a smooth walk down the aisle… and your flower girl throwing petals at the wrong time while your maid of honor whispers, “Wait, are we going now?”
And if you're not working with a wedding planner, figuring out how to even run a rehearsal can feel like one more thing on the pile.
But breathe, babe. I’ve got you.
This post is your “no stress, no clipboard, just tell me what to do” guide.
Iust follow this, and you’ll be the calmest person in the room.
Let’s walk through it together...
1. First up: who should even be there?
Basically, if someone is part of the ceremony, they should be at the rehearsal.
That includes:
You and your partner
Your officiant (or someone standing in)
The full wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer)
Wedding coordinator (if you hired one)
Parents or anyone walking down the ais
Anyone reading, singing, or holding a mic at some point
Btw: If you’ve got ushers, readers, or people handling music — invite them too.
Anyone who plays a part in your ceremony should be part of the practice run.
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2. What time should you rehearse?
If your ceremony is, say, at 4PM the next day — try to rehearse around the same time.
You want the lighting and vibe to feel the same.
But if that’s not possible, no stress — just do what works.
Most couples rehearse the day before in the late afternoon or early evening, so people can head to dinner right after.
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3. Get everyone in place and actually walk through it.
Like, physically go through the ceremony.
Don’t just talk it through — do the actual walk.
You’ll practice:
Where everyone stands
Who walks in when
Who walks with who
Where to pause
Where to stand once you’re at the front
How to exit after it’s all done
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Practice it like you mean it.
You don’t have to march like a soldier, but it helps people remember better when they move their bodies — not just nod along like “yeah yeah…i’ll remember this tomorrow” (they won’t).
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4. Make sure everyone knows their cues.
This is where your officiant or whoever’s guiding the ceremony can really help.
Go over:
What music plays and when
When to stand, when to sit
Who says what (especially if you’re doing personal vows)
When rings are exchanged
Any readings or traditions you’re including
You don’t need to rehearse every word — just run through the key moments so nobody is whispering, “Wait… are we doing vows now?” on your actual wedding day.
5. After the run-through — remind them what to do on the actual day.
Don’t assume people know when to show up.
This is your time to remind them, what time to arrive.
What to bring.
Where to go when they get there.
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Trust me, this tiny moment of clarity will save you from answering 27 texts the next morning.
6. Keep it chill — don’t let it turn into chaos.
This isn’t supposed to be stressful.
Keep it light, fun, and clear.
People might laugh, forget where to stand, or ask 5 million questions.
It's okay.
.
.
.
That’s why you’re doing a rehearsal in the first place.
7. Wrap it up and go eat.
That’s it.
Seriously. Run through it once (twice if you need to), make sure everyone feels good, and then go eat.
Most couples do a rehearsal dinner after — but it doesn’t have to be fancy.
Even if it’s just pizza in your backyard or fries and drinks at your favorite spot, use it as a little “we’re really doing this” moment with your people.
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To conclude....
See?— nothing fancy, nothing overcomplicated.
Just gather your people, run through the basics and make sure everyone knows where to go and what to do.
Keep it calm, keep it clear, and you’re good to go.
You’ve got this.💗
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Oh — and before you go...
(If your wedding is, like… next weekend or sometime this month? What I'm about to say isn’t for you, babe.
Go rest. You’ve done enough already.💖)
But if you’re still early in the planning — you know, juggling all the ideas, trying to make decisions without going a little mad — and you’re doing this without a planner?
This is for you.
So I made a tool called The Wedding Planning Bundle, that helps you get your whole wedding life together — from your guest list to your budget to your vendors ,timelines, … even this rehearsal part too.
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And especially if you're planning this without a wedding planner — this is the kind of support that actually makes a difference.
So if you want to take a peek, I dropped the link right here:
You’ve GOT to read this next...
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Planning your wedding on a tight budget?
This isn’t just another list of tools—I'm showing you the one tool that’ll actually help you stay organized, calm, and in control (without the chaos).
Trust me, you’re gonna want this in your corner.
Planning your wedding rehearsal without a planner?
This step-by-step guide walks you through exactly what to do, who should be there, and how to keep things calm (not chaotic) the night before your big day.
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This guide breaks down fun, chaos-free ways to include your pet in your wedding—whether they’re walking down the aisle or just stealing hearts in photos.