As destination wedding planners, we are often asked by couples if they really need to do a rehearsal for their ceremony. Our recommendation is almost always yes! There are so many reasons doing a quick practice can help your wedding day run smoothly, so we’ve included a few below:

There are Many Moving Parts

Your wedding party, parents, grandparents, flower girls, ring bearers, and more could be part of your ceremony. Some may have never participated in a wedding before, and even those who have may not be sure what to do. No one wants to mess up during their friend’s or family member’s wedding. They will appreciate having a chance to practice their part and ask questions so they are confident on the big day.

Emotions are Running High

Even the most composed and confident of us can forget what we’re doing occasionally! Imagine all the emotions your mom’s feeling or everything going through your maid of honor’s mind right before your wedding starts. It’s not uncommon for your friends and family to get nervous before they walk out, and it helps when they’ve practiced their role before.

Focus on What’s Important

If your friends and family are feeling emotional, imagine how you and your fiance will be feeling! There will be so many thoughts and feelings going through your head, the last thing you want to worry about is when to walk, where to stand, or what to do with your hands. Get all that out of the way the day before, so you can focus on what’s important and be present in the moment.

It Doesn’t Have to Take Long

You and your guests have flown down to the Florida Keys and are ready to enjoy yourselves. We get it! Your rehearsal doesn’t have to take long or mess up your vacation. There is also no rule that it has to happen right before your rehearsal dinner. Depending on your planner’s and venue’s schedules, you can do your rehearsal at any time during the day.

In order to make sure your rehearsal is both helpful and efficient, there are a few tips to keep in mind:

-Only invite those who are participating in the ceremony (yes, leave the dates behind!)

-Make sure everyone arrives on time

-Decide the walking order ahead of time

-Let your planner know about any special songs you’re using

-It’s helpful to have kids practice their parts, but make sure you know where they will sit and who will be responsible for them during the ceremony (and have that person attend the rehearsal as well)

Remember, your Key West wedding planner will be there for every step of the rehearsal and wedding day! We want nothing more than for your wedding to be perfect. For more planning advice, check out our biggest wedding planning tip. If you’re looking for someone to help guide you through the process, drop us a note so we can set up a time to chat!