Weddingbee Blog

After a quick sprint to the end of our last minute wedding crafts, we packed it in, dressed it up, and re-grouped at the Thimble-In-Law’s house for our improvised rehearsal in the backyard. The most stressful and most rewarding part of planning our wedding was putting together our interfaith ceremony. Part of that stress: The priest thought the rabbi would run the rehearsal and the rabbi told me they don’t rehearse. Huh.

Reading blog after blog of beautiful brides with beautiful weddings and documented rehearsals, and coming from a Catholic perspective where weddings are always rehearsed, I was disappointed and scared. I did not want to wonder what’s coming next while trying to take in and enjoy every moment during our ceremony. We were also among the first in our group of friends and the first of our siblings to get married, which meant that most of our wedding party had never gone down the aisle before. So I enlisted a newlywed friend and called upon my theatre training and led us in a very basic blocking and run-through rehearsal so we could all feel a little more confident. To make the event feel more official and attune to my expectations, I created an e-vite using Paperless Post:

Eager to use our last little rays of sun, I gathered everyone on to the back deck and referred to a program (assembled by LA MOH and I in the back of the car during the ride from NYC- I needed every minute of work time to get the DIY done) for the walking order.

They did their best to pay attention, but you can see Thimble Dad can’t let an opportunity to joke around pass him by…

Once we ventured down the stairs and down the imaginary aisle, The Thimble-in-Laws offered up some Jewish ceremony customs I should know about.  I had asked a LOT of questions over our 2 year engagement and didn’t always get straight answers. So I tried to keep my sass under control with my Fist of Frustration while Mr. Thimble kept his cool and let me do my thing…

Both sets of Thimble parents blissed out that wedding weekend is finally here!

I included the next picture because it says so much: I look like I’m about to loose it while Mr. T keeps out of it and keeps cool with his beer. I was fine in reality, I just made a lot of facial expressions…

Back on the deck, we laugh off round one and gear up for our run-through.

Here goes nuthin! (Check out that awesome bridesmaid-designed ribbon bouquet from my bridal shower!)

Best Man T escorts Momma Thimble…

Mr. T walks in next with both parents, beer still in hand (we all look a lot more awake for the real wedding).

Once we all made it down, we practiced the hand-off.

It’s a good thing we did, because we weren’t supposed to kiss at this part! Oops, old habit I guess…

We decided two run-throughs were enough, as darkness was upon us and because it really is pretty simple to walk down the aisle. Back inside we enjoyed dinner and each others’ company, and then LA MOH and BM Trines gathered everyone for a special presentation.

Trines recapped her version of the story of Mr. Thimble asking me out. (It was high school, and he told Trines that it was about time he started dating. That’s when I walked in the room and he decided I’d be the one to pursue. Or at least that’s what I remember of her delightful interpretation).

Then LA MOH showed off her producing and editing skills with a sweet video of Mr. T and I through the years. It ran the gamut of emotions for all of us and I still watch it every now and then for a pick me up.

If you’ve stuck with me this long, thanks! You get to see a silly video of us. I shared this on Weddingbee already as part of the Bees Then and Now series because it was just too appropriate, but this is where it truly lives in the story of the Thimble Wedding:

video by OurReelLife

After speeches and presentations, we gave gifts to our bridal party and day-of helpers and posed for group pictures. The bridal party headed to our hotel for some bonding time and fun before grabbing that all-important shut eye before the big day!

I’m curious: Does your officiant provide a rehearsal? Or is a rehearsal-free wedding more common than I thought?