Rehearsals are usually attended by the bridal party, the ceremony celebrant, and some
extended family and friends of both the bride and the groom. In other words, there can be a
wide variety of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and wedding experiences present.
Often people want to express their opinions, and sometimes a mother, step-mother, father,
sibling, or old friend will assert themselves and overshadow an under-planned rehearsal –
potentially taking the ceremony in a direction you never wanted to go, or turning what could be
a pleasant event into a stressful, awkward time.
Alternatively, a wedding rehearsal with no one in charge can be equally chaotic, with
participants and guests wandering around not knowing where they’re supposed to stand or sit.
The result can be a rehearsal that takes two hours and leaves everyone confused and insecure
about their roles and responsibilities on the wedding day.
Many of these potential disasters can be avoided by hiring a competent wedding coordinator.
They are worth their weight in gold for the money, time, and headaches they save you. If,
however, you are not able to secure a wedding coordinator, your DreamStream ceremony
celebrant will be able to ensure that your rehearsal, at least, will go off without a hitch.
By working together, and following this simple guide, we can resolve most any issue that could
come up ahead of time. This guide has been created and put together for our use based on
research & experience over a number of years. You may think that your circumstances are
unique or that your rehearsal shouldn’t need any attention or planning because you intend for
it to be a simple ceremony… Please trust that no matter what the circumstances, there is no
substitute for a few minutes of forethought to prevent a catastrophe at worst, or aggravation at
best.

(After all guests have been seated)
Seating of Groom’s Mother
Make a note on the Ceremony Details Form if you want special music to be played during
the seating of the groom’s mother, if she will be lighting a Unity or Memorial Candle, and if
you would like a particular usher to escort her. The seating of the groom’s mother kicks
off the processional and indicates to the guests and ceremony participants that the
ceremony is underway.
Seating of Bride’s Mother
Make a note on the Ceremony Details Form if you want special music to be played during
the seating of the bride’s mother, if she will be lighting a Unity or Memorial Candle, and if
you would like a particular usher to escort her.
Officiant, Groom, & Best Man
There are a few options for how the Officiant, Groom, and Best Man take their places for the
ceremony. They can file in from a side entrance and take their places on the altar, they
can walk the aisle one by one & take their places on the altar, if the Officiant is female –the
Groom can escort the Officiant to the altar where they take their places –followed by the
Best Man or the Best Man can escort the Maid of Honor if you’re planning for the
Attendants to walk the aisle escorted… Note your preferences regarding the entrance of
the Officiant, Groom, and Best Man on the Ceremony Details Form.
Groom’s Attendants
Groomsmen can either enter from a side entrance and file into their places on the altar in
order from farthest to nearest the entrance OR they can walk the aisle one at a time (or
escort the Bridesmaids) in order from farthest to nearest the Bride & Groom. Note your
preferences regarding the entrance of the Groomsmen on the Ceremony Details form.
Bride’s Attendants
Bridesmaids may walk the aisle on their own or escorted by the Groomsmen & enter in
order from farthest to nearest the Bride & Groom. Note your preferences regarding the
entrance of the Groomsmen on the Ceremony Details form.
Ring Bearer & Flower Girl
Ring Bearer and Flower Girl may come in together, or traditionally, the ring bearer enters
first followed by the flower girl. Note your preferences regarding the ring bearer &
flower girl (or other special attendants on the Ceremony Details Form.

Maid / Matron of Honor
The Maid/Matron of Honor enters just prior to the Bride. She is sometimes escorted by
the Best Man. If you’re planning special music for her entrance, etc. please note
instructions on the Ceremony Details Form.
Bride
The Bride typically is escorted by her father, although in contemporary weddings she may
walk in on her own, or even simultaneous to the groom on the outer aisle or from a side
entrance! Please note the Bridal Processional music, details regarding her escort & any
words that you plan to have spoken by the escort, & any other special instructions on the
Ceremony Details Form.
Recessional Order
Bride and Groom
Following the Introduction (when the Officiant introduces the couple for the first time as
husband and wife) the Bride & Groom kick off the recessional. Note the way you want to
be introduced and the special music you want to have played for the Bride & Groom in the
Ceremony Details Form.
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
The flower girl and ring bearer may walk out together or one at a time in the order listed.
If you plan for the flower girl to drop petals on the way out, or have any other special
instructions, list them in the Ceremony Details Form.
Best Man and Maid / Matron of Honor
Traditionally, the Best Man and Matron of Honor will come together in the spot where the
Bride & Groom stood during the ceremony when the Bride & Groom are half way down the
aisle & begin their walk as soon as the Bride & Groom reach the end of the aisle. If you
have any other special instructions for them, please note them on the Ceremony Details
Form.
Groom’s Attendant 1 and Bride’s Attendant 1
Groom’s Attendant 2 and Bride’s Attendant 2
Groom’s Attendant 3 and Bride’s Attendant 3 …
The remaining attendants traditionally come together in the spot where the Bride & Groom
stood during the ceremony as soon as it is vacated by the couple ahead of them in the
recessional and then begin their walk as soon as the couple ahead of them have made their
way half way down the aisle. If you have any other special instructions for them, please
note them on the Ceremony Details form.