Would it be horrible to have a Thursday rehearsal (for a Saturday wedding)?

I would speak to your bridal party before doing this. Make sure they are aware ahead of time of extra travel and expense.

I understand the need for a Thursday night, but you really don't want to put anyone in a jam over it if they are not told well before hand.

We are doing a Thursday rehearsal for a Sunday wedding. I'm having no issues with the bridal party.

Our rehearsal is on Thursday because our venue has another function on Friday. Most of our bridal party is also from out of town. I don't think it's a big deal. We told them all we understand if they can't get here by Thursday but would appreciate it. When they are traveling already an extra day is not too much of an inconvenience. I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

Would they allow a friday morning rehearsal? I know that there are people that even do a rehearsal the same day as the wedding. its not a necessary thing really (but I understand that it is important to check the sound equipment and make sure cues are understood.)

I'm thinking about making our rehearsal on the Thursday before too. There's an event on Friday & I don't want to be crowding anyone's space or waiting for things to move. I'd say, just give plenty of notice for the guests OOT. Bonus: It gives you lots of extra help the day before the wedding & more time with the people who have to travel!

**I think you meant Saturday in the last line!

I personally didn't do a rehearsal for my wedding for this exact reason. Everyone was traveling and I didn't want to put anyone out anymore then we already were. I would suggest making the rehearsal optional for those who might not be able to take the extra day. I think most people can understand where to sit and stand without having a rehearsal, my bridal party had no issues the day of the wedding.

My brother had his on Thurs. (their venue would have charged $1500 to have it on Friday). I'm not going to lie, I was NOT happy. I had to take off an additional day from work. And I had to drive separately from my husband because he could not take off Thursday. But, I was the only person out of town. So, I can see why they chose Thursday.

However, it was soooo nice having a day in between. I was able to relax by the pool on Friday, get my toes and feet done without having to keep any schedule or being rushed.

Our rehearsal is on a Thursday because the venue is already booked for another event on Friday.

@MrsStrobe: Our wedding is in September, so hopefully that will be enough time. We can start to inform people now if we decide in the next week or so.

@Jen -- thanks! That's good to hear. Glad it's worked for you.

@happyinlove: Yes, I agree -- we'll also just have to understand if some people can't make it.

@nicole&mikeM P.P.D.: We were going to follow up about a Friday morning rehearsal if we're out by noon, but Friday morning isn't hugely different from Thursday night, too (it would still require extra travel). I'm from an area with smaller airports, so we don't have a ton of planes coming in for late night or early morning flights. For example, there are only one or two daily direct flights from Houston, TX to Grand Rapids, MI, which is where my fiance and I live and have lots of friends in the wedding party vs. where I grew up and the wedding is located (respectively). Also, my mom thought about it and said she actually kind of sides with the venue on this -- she doesn't want random people running around our venue since we rented it all day (the only option). I kind of feel like we're all adults and no one is going to photobomb first look pictures or get in the way of decorators, etc ...

@MrsNewvine -- thanks, you're right! Fixed the typo. We've also been talking about fun things for people to do on Friday for the wedding party. My dad was thinking about renting a fishing charter, there are great breweries in West Michigan, and we could also rent bikes and go cycling (my fiance and I met cycling so a lot of our friends are mutual friends from our cycling group).

Our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner will be on a Thursday (sat. wedding) as well. The venue isn't super close to where any of us live, but we were all fine with that. My OOT bridesmaid is coming in on Thursday morning so she can be there.

Absolutely not. That's actually what we are doing because that's what our venue allows.

Is it bad that I'm kinda thankful for this because it means we wont have to pay for as many people because most won't come in until Friday?!

No there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I've known a lot of people that do not do the rehersal the day before just because they feel like it is going to be so hectic. I am having a Saturday wedding & Thursday rehersal.

We're having our rehearsal on a Thursday at 6:15 PM because that's the only day our venue allows for rehearsals. The only OOT guests for the rehearsal are my parents. The rest of our OOT guests aren't in the wedding and won't be in town till Friday.

My sister did this and it wasn't a problem for anyone! Quite a few of the bridal party had to travel, including me (but I was coming in for the whole week anyway to help her out). No one complained. She just held it slightly later than she normally would so people didn't have to take Thursday off work if they didn't have to travel far.

Bonus: hers turned into an awesome party, and no one had to worry about their hangovers the next day!

I want to do ours on Thursday. I don't want people being hungover on the wedding day.

Our venue also does Thursday rehearsals, since they book Friday weddings. It was all gone over before we signed our contract. We were recently given the option of Friday, as there is no event planned yet and our bridal party is mostly from out of state. We are found Friday but most of our BP is flying in Wed. or Thurs. anyway.

I scheduled my rehearsal on a Thursday by choice. I know myself, and my anxieties - I want to have a calm an evening as possible the night before our wedding.

Talk to your wedding party.

If people are available on Thursday: No problem having a Thursday rehearsal. Just make sure your rehearsal dinner is right after that.

If people aren't available Thursday: There's no rule that says that you have to do your rehearsal at the venue. You could do a rehearsal at someone's home if you'd like. Basically, the goal of the rehearsal is to practice the ceremony blocking a couple times. Have a place designated as your altar and an aisle and rehearse the order that you walk down, and how you're walking back up. Easy peasy.

I do recommend that you have a rehearsal, since it'll make your ceremony so much easier, but it's not required. So if it's looking like you might implode trying to schedule a rehearsal anywhere, then it's okay to forgo it. It's good to do one if you can, though, and afterwards (or right before), provide a meal (rehearsal dinner).

I'm having a Saturday wedding in September and we are doing our Rehearsal/Dinner on Thursday. We told the bridal party and they were like ok and only one person won't be able to make it due to work and he lives in town...lol But I think a day in between rehearsal and the wedding is a great idea because you get to use that day do relax and begin getting ready, like getting massages, mani/pedi and for me my hair is natural so i am using that day to also get my hair straighten.

Not at all, but you have to be ok with the idea your wedding party may not be able to attend.