Wedding Ushers have different duties that allow them to perform in many ways, depending on the party. Some will be more involved than others and all of this is up for negotiation beforehand between the bride and groom. The best way to make sure you get hired as a wedding usher is to know how much experience you’ve had with previous events of your type (i.e., if it was a garden party or an outdoor summer reception). Other key things people might want from their wedding ushers are what they’ll do during breaks, how long they think they can keep going without taking a break, any special skills/talents that don’t fall under “parties” but would still help them out at weddings, etc.).
The “wedding usher proposal” is a very unique way to propose. It is also a great way to show off your personality and creativity.
The wedding season is rapidly approaching. Over two-thirds of weddings take place during the spring and summer months, and if you’re fortunate, you could be invited to perform at one of them. We’ve already gone over the ins and outs of being the best man, and now we’ll take a look at the duties of an usher. The usher, after the best man, has the most practical obligations on the wedding day. While it may seem to be a straightforward duty, if you don’t pay attention to your responsibilities, the day may not turn out to be all the bride and groom had hoped for – not something you want to be responsible for.
Let’s have a look at the tasks you’ll be given.
Prior to the Big Event
It’s an honor to be asked, so treat it with respect.
Ushering may not seem to be the most glamorous duty to perform at a wedding for a friend or family. However, you can be certain that it is one of the most significant and useful. As the groomsmen frequently merely stand up front and look nice, the ushers are responsible for seating guests, monitoring doors, and ensuring that everything runs properly while the bride is preparing to walk down the aisle.
For the bride and groom, planning a wedding is stressful, and part of that stress is determining who among friends and family will perform which function. Being invited to be a part of a wedding is an honor, so take it seriously.
Inquire about your responsibilities with the couple.
While we go over the fundamentals of ushering below, the duties of the usher(s) will vary depending on the wedding. The usher plays an important role at some weddings; in others, it’s more of a ceremonial title given to you by the newlyweds to “formally” engage you in the festivities. Before you do anything else, find out what your obligations will be on the big day from the bride and groom. Make sure to inquire about the rehearsal, groom’s supper, and any other events you’ll be attending. Your timetable commitments as an usher are a bit more hazy than those of a groomsman.
During the rehearsal, pay special attention.
While you may not be invited to every wedding event, as an usher, you will almost certainly be requested to attend the wedding rehearsal. This usually occurs the night before, and it is just as it sounds. Everyone involved in the wedding — the bride and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen, officiant, parents, and so on — gathers at the wedding venue to plan the ceremony. Pay close attention since you’ll almost always be given explicit directions for seating and dismissing guests after the ceremony is over. If necessary, jot down your directions in the small notepad you always have with you.
Throughout the Big Day
Prepare yourself.
This should be self-evident, yet I feel compelled to state it. Arrive when you’re advised to, which is usually an hour or two before the ceremony. Dress in the manner in which you have been instructed. Make sure your clothes are nice and ironed – no muffin-top tucking. Make sure you’ve had a snack, since wedding celebrations might leave you hungry for many hours, and you’ll need energy to be bright and focused. Again, obvious sense, but something that might be overlooked while you get ready on the morning of the event.
Your Attitude Has an Impact on the Wedding
You will most likely be the first wedding “representative” that visitors see on the wedding day. The tone of the wedding is influenced by your demeanor. Is your clothing nicely ironed? Is your back straight? Do you have a grin on your face right now? If you’re sloppy with your clothes and demeanor, your guests will notice and acquire an instinctively negative impression of the event, and may even reflect your sloppiness in their own behavior. The tone of the whole ceremony will be set if you welcome them cordially and escor them with all the regality you can summon.
Before the ceremony, take on the role of host.
The bride and groom will most likely be rushing about with last-minute preparations in the last hour before the wedding. Inquire about how you may assist, and do whatever the bride or groom requests as soon as possible. As guests begin to arrive, you will most likely be requested to “work the room,” collecting coats, leading them to toilets, explaining where gifts/cards should be put, ensuring that they sign the guestbook, and so on. You’ll be serving as the host of the pre-ceremony reception at this point. Don’t waste time chatting with your friends and family; you’ll have plenty of time afterwards. You’ve come to help with the wedding planning.
Guests’ Seating at the Wedding
This is frequently the most essential and greatest role of an usher at a wedding. You’ll have the pleasure of handing out programs and guiding visitors to their seats when they arrive for the ceremony. Before doing anything else, ask the bride and groom where they want their guests to sit. Frequently, the bride’s friends/relatives are on one side (typically the left, as you gaze at the altar/stage) while the groom’s friends/relatives are on the other (usually the right).
You’ll most likely be waiting for your visitors right outside their seats. When they approach you, ask whether they’re a bridesmaid or groomsman’s guest, and take them to the first open row at the front of the venue where the ceremony is being held. Give the visitor the nicest seat available on each side if they are a friend of both the bride and the groom. (Keep in mind that the first few of seats are often allocated for intimate relatives.) If one side fills up quicker than the other, it’s OK to start seating people on the opposite side.
When escorting a single lady or a couple, extend your right arm to the woman and let the guy to trail behind. When guiding a group of ladies, extend your right arm to the oldest member of the group (or the woman nearest to you if they’re all around the same age). When escorting a single guy or a group of men, just ask them to accompany you to their seats rather than giving your arm. Normally, guests will be escorted down the middle aisle, but after the ceremony has began, latecomers should utilize the side aisles.
Your arm should be at a 90-degree angle when you offer it (see image above). There will be no straight-arm escorting permitted. It just looks bad.
There should be no meandering or rushing down the aisle. Move in a natural, polite, yet efficient pace instead.
Offer some light pleasantries as you accompany visitors, such as, “What a lovely day for a wedding,” or, “Too bad it’s raining, but at least it’s good luck!” There’s no need for profound seriousness or whispering, so keep your voice low.
You may be requested to lead the grandparents or other direct family members to their seats in the front after all the guests have been seated and before the bride goes down the aisle, depending on the wedding. Ushers used to seat these family members, but at today’s weddings, it’s more frequently than not done by a bride or groom’s sibling (usually a brother).
A few things to keep in mind while planning a wedding (in other words, ask the bride/groom):
- Are there any disabled or elderly people who will need further assistance?
- Are there any expectant or new moms present? If that’s the case, it’s preferable to give them an aisle seat so they may swiftly exit the ceremony.
- Is there anything going on in your family that you don’t want to talk about? It is possible that divorced parents may not be sitting together. Be mindful of any unusual family circumstances and follow the bride and groom’s strategy for handling them.
Throughout the Ceremony
As an usher, you may be a part of the processional and will either be sitting at the front of the ceremony (after all guests and family members have been seated) or standing up front with the other groomsmen. Most likely, you’ll be charged with a few more responsibilities and assigned to a seat towards the back. In such instance, you’ll most likely be requested to lock the doors once the bride has gone down the aisle (if the venue has doors to be closed). You’ll then take a seat, lead any late visitors to a seat (using the side aisles), and ensure that the door shuts gently once they’ve arrived. You’ll reopen the doors when the ceremony is through, and depending on the bride and groom’s desires, you may be requested to dismiss rows of guests beginning from the front. If the bride and groom choose to dismiss guests alone (a recent practice), you may wait near the exit doors to ensure a seamless departure and to advise visitors if they have concerns about what occurs next.
Following the Ceremonies
What your job is after the ceremony relies on the details of the wedding you’re a part of, just like everything else above (hopefully this solidifies the notion in your brain). So just inquire, inquire, inquire. Don’t automatically think you’ll be able to go, or that you’ll be compelled to stay for photographs or the party bus to the reception. You will very certainly be requested to participate in photographs, albeit not to the extent that the official wedding party is. Just smile and do what you’re instructed.
Your responsibilities are mostly completed once you arrive at reception. You may or may not sit at the head table (as an usher, I’ve never done so), you won’t be delivering a speech, and you won’t be performing the role of “host” – it is now the bride and groom’s responsibility. It’s time to celebrate, so take off your jacket, loosen your tie, and cut a rug on the dance floor!
The “how many ushers in a wedding” is a question that has been asked by many brides-to-be. There are different numbers of ushers in weddings, but it’s important to know how many there are before the big day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a wedding usher?
A: It is a function of the job to greet guests as they arrive. You may also be asked to help them find their seats, serve food and drinks, or arrange transportation for guests that need it. Depending on your role at wedding receptions you will likely work with other people such as bridesmaids and groomsmen who are assigned similar roles during weddings
What do ushers at a wedding do?
Who is usually an usher at a wedding?
A: A wedding usher is typically a person that helps the bride and groom during their big day. They help make sure everything happens smoothly, from being there to greet guests waiting in line for the ceremony, to helping them prepare for important events like walking down the aisle.
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