Who goes to the rehearsal

Anyone who is participating in the ceremony should attend the rehearsal - wedding party, parents, grandparents, readers (if you have people doing readings during the ceremony), officiant, etc.

Anyone that needs to rehearse the ceremony.

View Quoted Comment We only have 4 people in the bridal party, our officiant, and then the flower girl. My mom won’t technically have a part in the ceremony other then being escorted to her seat on my older brother, so do they need to come? And then obviously my dad will need to be there since he’s walking me down the aisle. But FHs family isn’t having a part in the ceremony, would they still need to come to the rehearsal? My little brother is playing the guitar for when I walk down the aisle so I’m having him come as well.

Anyone who is participating in the ceremony; however, my sister-in-laws who were not participating also attended, since they were going to the dinner afterwards.

View Quoted Comment It’s looking like our rehearsal will be in the morning but my parents are still wanting to do a dinner that evening

View Quoted Comment Will your mom be escorted to her seat during the beginning of the ceremony? If so, I would invite them to the rehearsal, so that they know when to walk down the aisle and where to go. If your fiance's family is not walking down the aisle at all during the ceremony (and that they'll seat themselves prior to the start of the ceremony), then they probably don't need to attend the rehearsal.

View Quoted Comment Technically my mom will be seated as a cue that the ceremony is going to start, so yes I guess lol I’m sure she’ll be there either way. It’s just FHs family comes with a lot of drama, and the less things their involved in, the better

View Quoted Comment That makes sense! Yeah, if your fiance's family members aren't participating in any part of the ceremony (including being formally seated), I think it's fine to not invite them to the rehearsal. I would maybe suggest inviting them to the rehearsal dinner though.

View Quoted Comment They’ll be invited to the dinner for sure

Anyone involved in your ceremony (bridal party, officiant, parents/grandparents, etc.).

Usually, since seating occurs before the processional and the ceremony begins, seating pf gramdmonthers

Sorry grandmothers, mothers from both sides is not practiced. It is the same as seating in any ni e restaurant or theatre, and most people know it. The escort offers his arm to the mother, walks beside her, with the husband or SO/ date following behind. Much of the time it is done by ushers. The rest it is usually groom's brothers or uncles who volunteer, then take their own seats as guests. Many parents prefer to not have a special escort, but for the grandparents, and parents, to walk together as a couple after most others are seated. Usually rehearsals start after mother's seating,or really parent's seating, with the procession. Grooms may wait at the altar, with BM and GM beside them, and have only the
children ( if any), bridesmaids, MOH and bride and her escort, usually FOB or father and mother . (Most common.)
Next most common, GM walk down the aisle ahead of or beside BM. Many venues and churches allow no extras to be inside, so any date pr SO waits, or meats them at the RD .Rehearsals are rarely actually needed. People usually do not arrange to fly in early a day, or drive for hours, for a rehearsal. Sometimes less than 5 minutes spent on a particular person.

I think in most cases parents who are supportive of the marriage would love to be a part of the rehearsal, whether there’s anything for them to rehearse or not. 😊 I know I appreciated mine being at the rehearsal. and they took lots of cute candid photos as well 😂 it was very sweet.

Anyone who is directly involved in the ceremony. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride and groom, any escort of the bride, flowergirl/ringbearer if you are having them. Musician, day of coordinator and minister optional. Some attend for an extra fee and others don't attend at all.


For the rehearsal dinner, the only extra people invited are significant others of bridesmaids/groomsmen, etc.

View Quoted Comment My parents will be there. We just don’t necessarily want FHs there because his parents are divorced and not very civil

Anyone in the ceremony!

If you all are mentioning music, should the DJ be there if they're providing the music for the ceremony?

Anyone who will be walking down the aisle and officiant. Also sometimes significant others of people in the wedding if theyre also invited to the dinner