The groomsmen may serve as ushers, or the groom may choose other individuals to serve as ushers. Plan on having one usher for every 50 guests. If people other than groomsmen serve as ushers, they should be dressed in tuxedos that are similar to those worn by the groomsmen, or in matching suits. Ushers should not be dressed in casual shirts and slacks unless the wedding is casual. The primary responsibility of the ushers is to seat the wedding guests before the ceremony. Ushers will be given instructions at the rehearsal about where honored guests, such as mothers of the bride and groom and grandparents, are to be seated.
If the reception is being held at the same location
as the ceremony, one of the ushers may be asked to accept gifts
at the door, then give them to a person who has been designated
to take gifts to the reception area. At the end of the ceremony,
after the wedding party has exited the sanctuary, the ushers will
return to escort the mothers out and to dismiss the guests, unless
the bride and groom choose to do it themselves. The ushers should
be able to direct guests to the location of the reception, whether
it is being held in another room in the same building or at another
location. They should also be familiar with the location of coat
racks, rest rooms, nursery, and any other areas that guests might
inquire about. If the reception is being held in the same location
as the ceremony, the ushers may be asked to assist in moving chairs,
setting up tables, putting out centerpieces, and other necessary
activities to quickly prepare for the reception.
While it is not necessary to have an equal number of ushers and bridesmaids, it does balance nicely if they walk in pairs in either the processional or recessional.
Advance Help
Groomsmen usually help the best man plan the bachelor party for
the groom.
Groomsmen attend pre-wedding parties.
Groomsmen attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.
At the Wedding
The main Job of the usher is to seat guests. They should arrive
at the ceremony site at least one hour in advance and should have
a clear instructions on the seating plan. In Christian Ceremonies,
the bride's family and guest sit on the left and the groom's on
the right. In Jewish services, the seating is opposite, with the
bride's family on the right. Female guest are escorted by having
the usher offer his right arm to her. Her date or spouse walks behind.
Male guest are lead to their seats. If there are pew cards being
used or a special reserved section, ushers should pay special attention
as they escort these guests to their seats.
Ushers distribute any programs or ceremony handouts at the ceremony. Ushers direct those bringing gifts to the ceremony to a gift table.
If there is a guest book at the ceremony, ushers direct guests to sign it.
After all guests are seated, the ushers escort the groom's parents to the front row on the groom's side (Unless they are part of the processional.) Lastly, they escort the bride's mother to her seat, unless she is accompanying her husband in the processional.
Once everyone is seated, the groomsmen unroll the aisle runner in readiness for the processional.
The Groomsmen may be part of the processional or they may take positions in the front with the best man or groom.
They stand near the groom during the ceremony.
They are in formal Photographs of the bridal party.
They Escort the bridesmaids from the ceremony in the recessional.
One of the ushers should be responsible to roll the aisle runner back up after the ceremony and have it cleaned and returned.
One of the ushers should collect any leftover handouts
or programs and see that they get returned to the couple who may
want to send them to family or friends who were unable to attend.
At the Reception
Ushers may be part of the receiving lines in the very formal wedding.
Ushers may be seated at the head table or a table of honor at the reception.
During the reception, groomsmen mingle with the guest.
Groomsmen dance with the bridesmaids at the reception.
They assist by encouraging single young men to participate
in catching the garter.
Expenses
Groomsmen or ushers pay for their own formalwear and accessories.
If travel expenses are involved, they pay their own costs involved in getting to the wedding and staying in town during the celebration.
Although groomsmen may attend several pre-wedding parties, only one shower gift and one wedding gift are to be expected.
Groomsmen may share the cost of the bachelor
party with the best man.