Length of rehearsal: how long did you plan between start of rehearsal and start of dinner?

MKM2014

We are planning for the rehearsal to start around 5:00. The drive between the chapel and the rehearsal dinner location is about 10 minutes.

Our ceremony won't be very long (our officiant thinks)- only about 20 minutes. I know there will be a little more than just going through the ceremony (figuring out walking to the songs/placement for standing etc.). I have been in weddings before but don't seem to recall how long this took. Our wedding party is pretty standard size- 4 bridesmaids, 4 groomsmen, and 2 Jr Bridesmaids.

I had planned on dinner starting at 6:30. I'm sure they will have it set up a few minutes ahead of time and if we get there and have to wait 5 minutes or something that isn't a huge deal. But I don't want a big awkward gap where we are looking for something to do (like 20 minutes or more)

southernbelle0915

I'm not sure an average, but I'll tell you about mine. I had 4 BMs, 4 GMs, no FG/RB, 2 readers and two processional songs. Our entire rehearsal probably took 30 minutes.

Our officiant basically just gave tips for doing it - he didn't actually go through what he was going to say. He was like "make sure you don't rush walking up the aisle", "let's try that one more time", etc.

OliveOilsMom

I had a Catholic ceremony, so there was a bit more involved with the rehearsal, but I would say it was 30 mins max.  That allowed my niece to practice her entire reading, even though the other readers only did the first line.  We only went through the processional once.  I have been to rehearsals that had two run throughs, so that depends on your officiant and if everyone "gets it" the first time around.  The first wedding I was in, the rehearsal was longer, since all of us were "newbs" to weddings.  But now that I'm in my 30s and have been in a ton of weddings, I feel the rehearsals just go faster since most people have been in at least 1 wedding.

I would contact the restaurant and tell them the rehearsal starts at 5.  How early can they be ready for your group for dinner.  They may be fine to have everyone set up and ready to go by 5:30 and they just need to wait for you to arrive.

FizzySips

630 sounds good, if everything starts on time. 

We started late because of traffic (one gm was stuck on the ferry) and thus were late getting to dinner. But we also ran through the processional and recessional twice each, along with our officiants tips and walking through the general idea of the ceremony. 

BMoreBride6

I agree with PP's...ours took all of 35 minutes max. I think an hour and a half, given it is only 10 mins away is going to be too much

MKM2014

Thanks! I will contact the restaurant and tell them- the rehearsal dinner is a buffet style so I'm thinking there will be burners etc. and early setup shouldn't be a huge deal. I've attended 3 rehearsals in the last 3 years (all of them for my bridesmaids) and we ran through everything twice at each. So I guess that is why I was thinking longer. But, since 3 out of my 4 bridesmaids have been married in the last 3 years and 1 of the groomsmen I guess that means about half the wedding party has some experience with this. The rest are newbies but I don't ever remember having a difficult time catching on

indianaalum

I think we gave ourselves about an hour. worked perfectly

ashleyep

For us, it's a 20 minute drive from church to restaurant, more if there's traffic. Rehearsal is at 6, dinner is at 7:30. If people get there early, no big deal, they can get a drink and I think the restaurant is going to have some hors d'oeuvres out.

I don't know how long our rehearsal will be so I wanted to give some buffer room.

I will say that my cousin's rehearsal lasted about or over an hour. It took forever. I have no idea why it took so long.

RebeccaFlower

I think that's too long. I would say an hour.

annathy03

We gave ourselves an hour (restaurant was 5 minutes away) and it was pushing it on being too much time. I would have done 45 minutes but the latest we could do the rehearsal was 4:30-5 and the restaurant didn't open until 5:30. Most of the BP was staying at the hotel the restaurant was in, so 15 minute gap (with us there chatting with them) > them transporting themselves to a different restaurant.

Peaseblossom55

Our rehearsal was at our church at 6:00 the rehearsal dinner started at 7:30, it took a little over half an hour to rehearse, sign the marriage certificate and what not.  The dinner location was 15 minutes away.

MKM2014

I will probably bump down to an hour. We will also be decorating the ceremony space during this time- but I don't think that should take too long, the only real "project" is setting up the arch. Tying pew bows etc. shouldn't take very long at all