Rehearsal

No. if I'm understanding the question you for sure do not need a stand in. I've never heard that in my life unless it's cultural.

I've never heard of this, either.

I think it's that you're not supposed to walk down the aisle until the actual day. Not that you need a stand in for the whole thing.

I actually never hear of a stand in for the bride.

Every wedding rehearsal I've ever been to, there has been a stand-in. I used one as well. The idea behind it is that it's bad luck to walk down the aisle before the actual ceremony. It also helps because, as the bride, you can stand back and see exactly how the ceremony will look and where people are placed, etc. From the rehearsals I've been to, the bride typically chooses someone close to her that will be attending rehearsal, that isn't a bridesmaid (a cousin, close friend). It's kind of known as an honor to be chosen to be someone's stand-in. Definitely not necessary, though.

The same old wives' tale that says the groom shouldn't see the bride before the aisle also says a bride shouldn't walk the aisle more than once. Whether you believe it or not is up to you!

We'll be using a stand-in, but mostly because I designed the entire service so I need to be more of a coordinator than a bride.

I have heard that the bride shouldn't walk down the isle at the rehearsal but never that they couldn't be up there

Fascinating! I've never heard of either of these - stand in or not walking the aisle.

I've never heard this either, glad I saw this post!

Nah. Not necessary. YOU need to rehearse and know what to do, too!

That's so interesting - never heard of using a stand-in! I think I'll just be rehearsing instead of using a stand-in.

@whitta. You are absolutely right! I'm also a professional vocalist and have done over 100 weddings/rehearsals. 99% of the time the bride has a stand in for reasons Whitta already mentioned. I will also have a stand in. Probably my sister because she's not in the bridal party.

I have literally never heard of this.

Thanks for the feedback. I also posted the question on Facebook and people said the same thing about not walking down the aisle.

I've never heard of that.

I've heard of this. I plan to have a stand in.

This is so fascinating. I'm also a pastor and so I've officiated a fair number of weddings and no one has ever used a stand it. I had no idea this was a thing. Is there a cultural aspect to it I wonder? Learned something new. Now if someone ever requests this for a wedding I officiate at least I'll have more of a basis for understanding.

I think it may be based in the AA culture. None of my Caucasian friends were aware of it when I asked on Facebook.

Never heard of that and have been to Jewish, catholic, atheist, Protestant weddings all over the country... what's the heritage of the lady who said this?

@ChrisTina I think you may be right based on the ladies even on this thread who responded that they were familiar with the tradition. So interesting.