Here’s the scoop on wedding rehearsal and commitment ceremony rehearsals: Who Runs it? It sort of depends so check with your officiant and coordinator to see if it’s included in their services. In general, the officiant is in charge of the ceremony rehearsal because they know worship order but they are in the wrong place in the room to cue people during processional (coming in) you’ll need a coordinator or an assertive friend for that part if the venue doesn’t provide a coordinator to help. The rehearsal is often a coordinated effort between the officiant and coordinator. The coordinator is going to be able to help with where everyone stands, what moment during the music people enter etc that the officiant can’t see or do from their location in the room. Coordinators and planners also have ideas about details and perspective that simply won’t be on the officiant’s radar. Still the officiant knows the tone and flow of the overall ceremony. It’s their show so to speak.

How long? About 15-20 minutes, but allow up to 30 minutes if there’s a large wedding party. What happens? Everyone finds out where they stand. Go thru the major parts of the ceremony. Not the details though, you want to save that for the wedding day. Practice recessional (going out). Then practice processional (coming in). Then the end. Repeat. Then you’re off to your rehearsal dinner.