Bridal Party members not attending the rehearsal?

I'm slowly getting emails from bridal party members saying they can't attend the wedding rehearsal and dinner. It's completely understandable, especially since:

A. our rehearsal is on a Thursday (wedding is on Saturday, but the church only holds rehearsals on Thursdays)
B. some of them live over an hour and a half away, and
C. some of them are working.

However, I don't wanna be stressed out telling them what to do the morning of the wedding...have any of you encountered this? Any suggestions?

well the good thing is that somebody will be by the door that can tell them what to do right before. Its not alot they have to do, they just have to be told when its their turn to walk. I had a DOC that stood by the doors and told them 'ok walk out now' but then again also had a limo driver right there that was there holding the doors for everybody walking out and telling them when to walk, they do this believe it or not. Also bring this up to your priest, he can have somebody from the church doing this if you dont have a DOC. They will also instruct them quickly before the ceremony. I was a bm at a wedding where the ceremony was at the RH and they dont do rehearsals, so we were told quickly beforehand what to do thats all.

Are they all not coming or a large amount? I know its thursday but i also had mine on a thursday and wedding on a saturday. Maybe ask if theres any possible way they can make it, not like they have to drive to you again the very next day, they have a day in between. We had RD in queens and alot of our bp lived in LI, some in queens yes but also had from jersey too. They should be able to make it but just in case they cant it will be fine dont worry

I was at a rehearsal where neither the Bride or Groom made the rehearsal and I was the only BM (out of 4) that made it....you can meet with the girls (because we all run the show anyway) before hand. Maybe a weekend or 2 before the wedding.

Set the order of who comes out when and with who- write it out. Make a script- who the readers are, what gets read ect. Have 1 BM or someone who does attend rehearsal brief them throughly the morning of the wedding- it should NOT be you.

People rise to the occasion. My Cousin's procession this past Saturday was perfect. Sure....the flower girl and ring bearer looked bewildered- but they are kids...it was cute. Everyone else fell into step. Ironically, the Limo driver was VERY helpful in helping us line up! He's done this a million times. Also, the video guy would queue each couple as it was time to walk down.

You'll be fine

That's great advice, thanks! Also great to know the limo driver will help.

I was just getting discouraged because they're also readers, etc, and will have to do a bit more than just walk down the aisle. I think I will prep some detailed notes and give this to them the week before.

Yes, so far 5 BP members/readers can't make it. Some live in NJ, another lives in TX and won't be in until Friday, and another lives in PA and can't get there on time. I'm gonna try to work out a carpool from NJ since most of my family will be coming from there anyway..hope that will help. Another BM is working that night and can't take the day off...up until two weeks ago, my own FH couldn't make the rehearsal because he couldn't take off work! He has to work on Friday though...how sad my own FH has to work the day before his wedding. Oh well...

Thanks!

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Posted by riapots

That's great advice, thanks! Also great to know the limo driver will help.

I was just getting discouraged because they're also readers, etc, and will have to do a bit more than just walk down the aisle. I think I will prep some detailed notes and give this to them the week before.

Yes, so far 5 BP members/readers can't make it. Some live in NJ, another lives in TX and won't be in until Friday, and another lives in PA and can't get there on time. I'm gonna try to work out a carpool from NJ since most of my family will be coming from there anyway..hope that will help. Another BM is working that night and can't take the day off...up until two weeks ago, my own FH couldn't make the rehearsal because he couldn't take off work! He has to work on Friday though...how sad my own FH has to work the day before his wedding. Oh well...

Thanks!

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dont worry about the readers. One of my readers couldnt make it bc she lives upstate and came the day of. I just gave her the sheet with her verse and it was fine. All they do is walk up to the front when they are asked to and thats it.

It will work out, dont stress about it

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Posted by riapots

I'm slowly getting emails from bridal party members saying they can't attend the wedding rehearsal and dinner. It's completely understandable, especially since:

A. our rehearsal is on a Thursday (wedding is on Saturday, but the church only holds rehearsals on Thursdays)
B. some of them live over an hour and a half away, and
C. some of them are working.

However, I don't wanna be stressed out telling them what to do the morning of the wedding...have any of you encountered this? Any suggestions?

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Is it possible to have the rehearsal for the church still on Thursday and then just have the dinner on Friday night? Maybe more of your BP will be able to make dinner and you can talk about the rehearsal then? Just another option maybe.....

Honestly,
I was a BM is my friends wedding two years ago and the rehearsal was such a blur. The electricity even went out at one point lol. So it was like you are going to do this and I'm going to do this and by the time it was through I was like how is everybody going to remember all that (luckily all I had to do was walk down the aisle). But during the wedding its pretty clear. I was a reader at a funeral last winter and there is no rehearsal for that but they cue you when to go.
It will be fine. :)

I really wouldn't worry. There's not much for the bridal party to do except walk down the aisle and back again. As above said it will more than likely bein your photographer telling your pary members when to walk.

As for readings...again nothing complicated. The only good thing about the rehersal is that the reader gets used to using a microphone, and even that won't be much of a problem.

I've been in several weddings, and beleive me the bridal party won't even be paying much of attention during the rehersal.

Worry about you and FH for rehersal; you two have the difficult part!