Your guide to the wedding rehearsal at Zion Springs

Is the anticipation of your wedding day building up?

Wondering how to ensure everything goes smoothly during the ceremony?

Navigating the ins and outs of wedding preparations can be daunting, and this includes the wedding rehearsal. 

At Zion Springs, we've been privileged to host couples celebrating their rehearsal dinners for over 15 years, and we are focused on every aspect of making your wedding meet your dreams. Our highly professional team works cohesively to make sure you are relaxed and stress-free at every step of your celebrations, and this includes your rehearsal ceremony and dinner. 

This guide walks you through the pivotal steps of the wedding rehearsal, from understanding its purpose to mastering the rehearsal dinner. With sections dedicated to each important aspect of the rehearsal, you'll feel confident and prepared for your big day. 

The purpose of the wedding rehearsal

The wedding rehearsal is a practice run for the real event.  Much like actors preparing for their show, you run through the program for your wedding.  It is a time for everybody in the ceremony to get the feel and timing for each stage, practice walking up and down the aisle, and check for issues that could cause hiccups on the wedding day.  It can help alleviate the stress on your wedding day as you have already done a practice run.  

After the ceremony rehearsal, you get to relax among family and friends at the rehearsal dinner.  This is where personalized speeches are given to those who have been a major part of the wedding planning, as well as gifts given to the wedding party. 

Who should attend the wedding rehearsal?

Unlike the wedding day celebration, this is a more intimate moment for those directly involved in the ceremony. It is a much smaller affair that affords the couple time to share with close family and friends. There are four parties who should be in attendance:

1.  Bridal party

Joining the bride and groom are:

• Bridesmaids and maid of honor
• Groomsmen and best man
• Flower girl and ring bearer

2.  Immediate family

You might include relatives or friends included in this section: 

• Parents
• Siblings
• Grandparents
• Special close friends or family who have a role in the ceremony

3.  Officiant

We can provide an officiant if you do not have somebody specific you wish to conduct your ceremony. 

4.  Ceremony musicians

We recommend that your musicians use this opportunity to practice for the big day.  This familiarizes them with the sound system and acoustics of our setting and pre-empts any issues they might have with getting set up and plugged in.

What can you expect during the wedding ceremony rehearsal?

This is your opportunity to clearly understand what happens and when, and what it looks like.  Remember that on your wedding day, you will probably feel a little anxious, so it helps to run through the process a few times in advance. 

Arriving at Zion Springs

On your arrival, park in the gravel area next to the barn and join us at the bar and Cucina for welcome cocktails. If you are staying overnight, you will have already checked in and can walk over to the barn. Our photographer will capture all the special moments of the evening.

Ceremony

Heading over to the barn stairs, we give you a brief overview of amenities you can enjoy during your stay and a review of the agenda for your wedding celebrations.  

Our events director begins by positioning you at the archway so everybody knows where they are seated or standing for the ceremony.  Grandparents and parents, along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, are seated in the front row.  Everybody gets to see where they are sitting or standing for the ceremony. This is important, especially for those who have not been part of a wedding party before. and might be a bit unsure of how it works. It also means that any problems are ironed out in advance. 

You want to do sound checks to make sure you are heard through the mics.  This is all about practice; you practice exchanging rings, practice the readings and any other key elements of your ceremony.

Order of entry

Once everybody is comfortable with the ceremony, we move back to the entrance of each party. Everybody gathers in the Green Room with our events director, except the bride and her father/escort are inside the barn at the top of the stairs. 

The procession traditionally begins with the grandparents and other close family members. Following them are the parents of the bride and groom. Next, the groomsmen make their entrance and are followed by the bridesmaids.  If you include them in the wedding, the flower girl and the ring bearer take their place.  Our events director waits with each group at the stairs to let them know when to proceed. 

Finally, it is the bride’s turn to enter from the barn, walk down the stairs, and glide down the aisle to her awaiting groom under the arch.  If she has been escorted down the aisle by her father, or other significant person, they will take their place in the front row seats. 

What if it rains?

We have you covered. Literally!  In the event of rain or snow on your wedding day, we move the procession inside the barn.  We follow the same order of entry, with everybody walking in through the side entrance of the barn to the officiant, who is standing in the middle and  in front of the barn doors.  We arrange the chairs in the open space at the center of the barn to create an aisle for the procession. 

 Recessional

The newly married couple is the first to head down the aisle, followed by the maid of honor and best man.  They have an important position to hold as they head up the steps; they form the front boundary of the group photo on the stairs.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen gather behind, along with the parents and the rest of the guests.  While they are being assembled, the couple head into the barn for the ringing of the bell.  Remember to be quite firm when pulling that rope, as the bell is quite heavy.  You will then head back to join in the group photo. 

This is the end of our ceremony rehearsal.  You might find you want to go back and practice or run through a couple of things, and if so, now is your time to do it.  Ask questions: if you are unsure at any point, now is the time to get the answers you need.  We are here to make sure you are comfortable and confident in the wedding day schedule. 

Wedding celebration and dinner

While the guests head inside the barn, the wedding party assemble outside the main doors of the barn for the individual  introductions of the bridesmaids and groomsmen and the fanfare announcement of the wedded couple.  You take your seats at a 45° angle at the head table as parents present their speeches.  Remind everybody to hold the mic close to their chin at all times, otherwise the sound is lost. 

Dinner ensues with the maid of honor and bestman speeches afterwards.  

Practice your first dance as a couple, as well as the daughter and father, and son and mother dances. Run through the timing of the cake cutting near the head table, and the bouquet toss, before the final last dance. 

Your wedding rehearsal is now complete, and everybody can head over to the bar for cocktails and charcuterie as you await your guests for the rehearsal dinner.