anyone not having (or didn't have) a rehearsal?

*we are having our brothers play a song so we also thought about having them go to the venue early (when the dj is there) to practice before everyone gets there

I'm not but I don't have a wedding party either. I'm not really into all the pre-wedding events.

Yeah, neither are we. (into all the extra events) I'm just wondering how we can ensure people have a sense of what it will look like without actually walking through it. I will ask my day of coordinator and my officiant what they suggest as well!

I like your written rehearsal idea. Sometimes people don't read directions well, or have a good sense of detail- maybe you could spend just a few minutes at the beginning of the dinner to go over it. Simply read over the 'lineup' and answer anyone's questions. I think a quick verbal run-through might prove helpful. It's good you'll have a coordinator to help queue people who might forget or get nervous, too

Thanks katrina-good call about reading it over before dinner starts. We have the room to ourselves for dinner so perhaps we can see about arriving a little earlier than dinner starts so that we can just run through it quickly. Even letting them know that there will be someone to queue them in I imagine will help to settle any nerves.

I think run-throughs are a very good idea. You might see something that needs addressing before the actual wedding takes place. We visited our venue today for some color comparison and measurements of tables..and did a mock timed walk for the bride so we had an idea for music and where to start it for her,etc. My vote is 'yes'.

I don't think we are going to have one. It seems unnecessary to me. I am just having my girls walk down alone and then my dad will walk me down. Groomsmen will stand up front with FH. Officiant will marry us, then we will party the night away

I might not do a rehearsal because of the same reason. I do like your idea of letting ppl know their parts. If you have a small wedding party it should be ok.

We had our wedding outside at a gazebo and I didn't want to have a rehearsal, we didn't see a need to have one, but then we ended up having one anyways, well sort of.

We had a small wedding, 50 guests, my sister was the MOH, my BIL was the best man, we had two jr. bridesmaids (his oldest niece and my oldest niece ages 11 and 13) and that was it. I just wanted the people that were involved with the wedding to see the gazebo and how it was going to be laid out. It was just our siblings, nieces and nephews, and our parents there. We didn't have our officiant come. I didn't see the point in it. She knew her part in the wedding, she does it for a living!

I did ask our photographer to come though. She came out free of charge and she actually coordinated the whole thing! She was a newlywed and knows weddings, obviously, so she helped us arrange how everyone was going to walk. I was so thankful she was there because we didn't really know where everyone should go!

You don't have to have an "official" rehearsal but it is good to run through things with everyone before the wedding.

We didn't have a DOC, the fact that you have one may eliminate your need to have a rehearsal, but it will make things run smoother if you rehearse.

Afterwards, we all went out to a pizza buffet that had a game room for the kids and everyone still talks about how much fun they had that day. This also helps to break the ice between the two joining families.

Rehearsals and rehearsal dinners don't have to be something fancy and formal.

I don't plan on having a rehearsal dinner. My fiancee's family, as well as mine, are both rather informal, so I don't think it will bother anyone any. Also, I'm not too particular about things being "perfect" - I'd much rather have fun with it.

We aren't doing a rehearsal. We are having a dinner with our parents the night before the wedding.

No rehearsal here either... our wedding is informal (just like us) and we didn't see the point in doing one. It's just us and our 5 bridal party members. Pretty dang simple if you ask me.

I have found the hardest part is getting the BMs lined up. If you can figure out ahead of time the order they will walk (by height, paired w/groomsmen or not, etc.), that will make it easier.

Just remember your MOH stays closest to you and Best Man stays closest to groom. If you'll have a flower girl, she'd be between MOH & you.