Don’t Forget to Invite Your Wedding Musicians to Your Rehearsal

Don't Forget To Ask Wedding Musicians To Attend Your Rehearsal Make this mistake and you’ll be asking for a wedding day disaster.

Think about this as soon as you schedule your wedding ceremony musicians, or even earlier, if possible.

Which musicians will you need at your rehearsal? Figure it out now.

Can’t this wait until the wedding is closer?

Why think about this so early? So that your musician(s) can reserve the rehearsal time in their calendar. They also have busy schedules.

This is especially important if your wedding is during the busy “wedding season” of May and June!

If you’re using our Wedding Music Planning Checklist that’s included with our Guide to Selecting Memorable Church Wedding Music, you’ll be reminded to figure this out.

But only ask them to attend if you’ll need them. You don’t want to waste their time or incur extra cost (some professional musicians will charge extra for attending the rehearsal—be sure to ask about this).

Which musicians do you need?

The most important musicians to have at the rehearsal are those playing the processional(s) and recessional. If you have different musicians playing during seating of family (mothers, grandmothers, etc.) just before the ceremony begins, it may be helpful to have them attend as well.

Others, such as vocal soloists singing during the ceremony, can be considered optional. One reason to perhaps consider inviting them would be if they’re not used to performing before an audience and might be nervous. While this is more likely true for younger musicians, it really could apply to any family member, friend or amateur musician. Playing during the rehearsal helps them calm their nerves.

Even if you’re using the church’s own musicians, still talk to them about the rehearsal and let them know what you need!

But shouldn’t they already know?

The church’s musician(s) should be experienced enough to know that they need to attend, but they’ll still need to put it in their busy calendars. Reminding them will help ensure they do so.

Many experienced outside musicians will also be prepared to attend, but some might not. Even those expecting to be needed will still want to know for sure.

Some musicians (depending on their role in the ceremony) may assume their part is minor and that they don’t need to attend. If you feel otherwise, you need to tell them.

I participated in a wedding last year where one of the musicians was traveling from another state the morning of the wedding. It would have been helpful if she had been at the rehearsal and we searched for her. It turned out that she had not been asked to be there.

Be prepared and you’ll be better off

It’s much, much better to be prepared and deal with this up front rather than have to deal with an unexpected, but preventable absence just before your wedding day. Your nerves will already be fragile enough at that point.

I want to do everything I can to make your ceremony music go smoothly!

My Guide to Selecting Memorable Church Wedding Music goes into much more detail on working with musicians. Check it out!

Don’t wait

If you haven’t decided which musicians you want at your rehearsal (or haven’t asked the musician yet), do so now.

Also, please leave a comment and share with us which musicians you want at your rehearsal.

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Don’t Make The Mistake of Not Asking Wedding Musicians To Attend Your Rehearsal