Things to Know for your Wedding Rehearsal

If you are running your own wedding rehearsal, and don't have a coordinator there to help you out, here are a few quick things to take note of so that the rehearsal proceeds smoothly, and your wedding party knows what they're doing:

1. The Ushers/Groomsmen

The groomsmen often do double-duty as ushers, but if you have separate ushers, ask your groomsmen to stay with the groom and keep him calm prior to the ceremony. Give the following list to your ushers/groomsmen prior to the rehearsal:

Upon arrival at the ceremony site, the ushers/groomsmen should rid themselves of any gum and ensure that their suits/tuxes are lint-free, ties are straight, and boutonnieres are pinned to their left lapel.
The usher should offer his right arm to the lady, if she comes in with her husband or boyfriend. The gentleman should walk behind the usher and his wife or girlfriend.
If two ladies come in together, the usher should offer his right arm to the older of the two, and the younger should walk behind.
The lady should enter the pew first, with the man closer to the aisle.
Unless advised otherwise by the bride and groom, the bride's family and friends should be seated on the left side of the church (looking toward the altar), and the groom's side on the right. If either the bride or the groom has substantially more family members than the other, friends of the couple should be seated on the side with fewer family members to even things out.
Ushers often hand out ceremony programs. Advise them to give one program to each couple, and to hand it to the gentleman after both are seated.
The last people to be ushered in should be the mother of the groom (his father follows behind), then the mother of the bride (her father follows if he is not walking his daughter down the aisle). Sometimes the grandparents of the groom and bride are seated just prior to the parents.
Once all of the guests have arrived and the mothers have been seated, the ushers should take a seat in the back row. If the ushers are also groomsmen, they will either proceed to the front of the aisle to stand with the groom, or meet at the back of the aisle (if processing with the bridesmaids).
Following the ceremony, each groomsmen should offer the bridesmaid with whom he is paired his right arm and recess in reverse order to the processional.

2. The Groom and Best Man

Prior to the ceremony, the groom and best man should be in a secluded area of the ceremony site so the guests don't see the groom before the ceremony. It is becoming increasingly common, however, for the groom to greet guests as they enter.
If the best man is to have the bride's ring or both rings, he must ensure he has it/them in his pocket prior to the processional.
The best man should have tissue in his pocket to offer the groom, should it be needed.
The officiant or coordinator will advise the groom when it is time for him to proceed to the front of the ceremony site - typically once the bride arrives and the ceremony is very close to starting.
The groom stands just to the left of the officiant, who is in the middle of the aisle. The groom faces the back of the ceremony site. The best man stands to the groom's left, followed by the groomsmen in the order determined by the bride and groom.
Following the ceremony, the best man should offer his right arm to the maid of honour, and, after an interval (to allow for photos), follow the bride and groom down the aisle.

3. The Bridesmaids

The bridesmaids traditionally accompany the bride to the church minutes before the ceremony is to begin. They should freshen up, then gather at the back of the ceremony location ready to process.
Bouquets should be held about belly-button height - this will make the bridesmaids look taller. If the bouquets are hand-tied, maids should tilt them slightly forward so that the photographs show more blooms than stems.
Maids may either process with the groomsmen, in which case they should be on the groomsman's left arm, or process by themselves, starting with the maid who will be on the far left.
Bridesmaids should walk slowly, smiling for photos, and leaving lots of time between each maid.
Following the ceremony, the bridesmaids should take the offered right arm of the groomsman and recess down the aisle in the reverse order as the processional.

4. The Maid of Honour

The maid of honour should be the last to process of the bridesmaids. If she is to have the groom's ring, she should put it on one of her thumbs and keep her hand closed to prevent dropping the ring.
The maid of honour should also have tissue wrapped around the stem of her bouquet to provide the bride if needed.
Once the bride has processed to the front, the maid of honour should arrange her train (if there is one) so that it photographs nicely.
When the bride and groom are asked to turn to each other and join hands, the maid of honour should take the bride's bouquet and hold it during the vows. Alternately, if she has the groom's ring as well, she could pass her bouquet to the next maid in line, or have the bride's mother hold the bride's bouquet.
During the signing of the register, the maid of honour should put one or both bouquets down on the signing table so that the blooms show in the photographs.
After the signing, the maid of honour should ensure that the bride picks up her bouquet again for the recessional photos.
Following the ceremony, the maid of honour should take the right arm of the best man, and, after an interval (to allow for photos), recess down the aisle.

5. The Ring Bearer and/or Flower Girl

If there is to be a ring bearer, he should process following the maid of honour and before the flower girl. If both are young or nervous, they may process together, or with an adult in the wedding party with whom they are comfortable.
If the ring bearer carries rings on his pillow, it is recommended that they be fake, to prevent potential loss of the real rings.
The flower girl should be the last to process before the bride and her father, as the flowers she throws are meant for the bride to walk on.
Young children shouldn't be expected to stand at the front for the duration of the ceremony, and arrangements should be made for them to join their parents or grandparents, if they are in attendance.

6. The Bride and Groom

If the first time they are to see each other is at the ends of the aisle, the bride and groom should ensure that the photographer has ample time to photograph both of their reactions.
The bride's father, if he walks her down, should offer his left arm to the bride in order that he may shake right hands with the groom when they reach the head of the aisle. However, you may wish to reverse this so that there is no one between the bride and groom when she reaches the front. If the bride's dress is full, she should grasp her father's left hand, rather than linking arms. This allows their hands to act as a "hinge", so that he will not be so close as to step on her dress.
The bride should hold her bouquet at belly-button level, tilted forwards so that the photographer captures more blooms than stems.
If the bride's mother and father walk her down, she should link arms with both and attempt to center her bouquet as much as possible.
Once the bride reaches the front of the aisle, her father and/or mother traditionally "gave her away", with a handshake to the groom and a kiss to their daughter. This tradition is increasingly being forgone, as it is considered to be old fashioned.
Once the bride has reached the front, her parents sit in the front pew on the left, with her father on the outside.
When the bride joins hands with the groom, she should give her bouquet to the maid of honour, and retrieve it after the signing of the register.
If the ceremony is on a beach, deck, or other uneven or porous surface, the bride and groom should, while exchanging rings, hold their opposite hand under the left hand of their spouse to "catch" a ring if it slips.
After the bride and groom are announced, they should recess slowly down the aisle to allow for LOTS of photos!

Following the rehearsal, relax, enjoy your rehearsal dinner, and get lots of sleep!

Of course, this day and age, in a civil ceremony, you are free to arrange your bridal party as you wish, and can alter any rules you want so that your ceremony flows the way you want it to. Don't feel tied to tradition unless you are getting married in a church that requires it!

It should be noted that in Jewish ceremonies, the bride and groom stand on opposite sides, the bride to the right of the groom.