Ummmmmmm...

Yeah, i've been to rehearsals..But i get to kill two birds with one stone. How?

Because when you assemble an edit, it really looks cool matching the before and after scenes. You ending up mimicing something from the show "Cold Case"..But in a tastefull manner...

Hint, Hint....
Now go forth and mimic...(and don't forget to charge for it)

I always go to the rehearsal. One of the very first weddings I did I did not go and I learned my lesson. But, I just got back from one tonight and I'm glad I went because I drew up a floor plan and measured the three aisles. The main aisle is only 44 inches wide and the two side ones are 29 inches. That's pretty tight and it'll be tough with our tripods. I've already had to nix the dolly for the ceremony because of the width. But now I know how things will play and how much space I have to play with for both cameras. I don't charge because it gives the B&G a better video because I know the lay of the land and how the game plan is, along with saving my butt from some possible X-factors like very narrow aisles.

Another great point I forgot to mention. Quite a few times things have changed between rehearsal and ceremony that renders much of what I planned from the rehearsal moot. Case in point, I had a wedding on a lake beach where there was a long pier that stretched out behind the couple. They were getting married on the beach, though.

I decided to take one of my cameras handheld so I could be up close and not distracting. All the bridesmaids and groomsmen lined up on the beach, and then the couple went out onto the pier. Apparently this was decided last minute and no one bothered to tell me. So now I had to film them handheld from about 40-50 yards away. Very difficult!

Don't get me wrong, rehearsals can be great for planning, but just attend them on your own terms and be prepared for things not to go as rehearsed.