Ushers have more details to attend to. So be sure they are qualified to do the job.
They should be specifically instructed as to their responsibilities.
They pay for their own wedding attire.
They should arrive at the church 30-45 minutes before the ceremony.
They light the candles about 15 minutes before the ceremony begins (if this assignment is given to them by the
clergy).
The ushers should obtain from the Wedding Liaison a list of guests for special or reserved seating.
If there is an aisle runner, they should be aware of how and when it is rolled down the aisle.
If there is no Program Hostess, the ushers distribute wedding service programs to the guests while seating
them. Programs can be used to reserve seats for immediate family or important guests.
They stay in the back of the ceremony site and greet late guests.
They choreograph the opening and closing of certain doors for the bride and the married couple.
The bride's guests are traditionally seated on the left side and the groom's guests seated on the right side.
Sides are reversed in an Orthodox Jewish wedding. Ushers may choose to balance the sides if one is filling up
much faster than the other.
The Processional
Most processionals in the St. Louis area follow this protocol, but it is at the discretion of the officiant and the
couple.
Grandparents are seated by the ushers first.
The groom's parents are seated next.
The bride's mother is last before the wedding party. After the head usher escorts the bride's mother to her
seat, no more guests are seated until after the bride with her escort.
After carefully unrolling the aisle carpet, the ushers should take their places.
Recessional
The ushers can escort the parents of the bridal couple and any special designated guests out of the church
after the wedding party, if appointed to do so.
The ushers then indicate to other guests pew by pew, when they may leave their seats following the
recessional.
Check over the church/synagogue to see that it is clean and orderly.
At the reception, ushers generally do not sit at the bridal table(s), but sit with the other guests.
They should be specifically instructed as to their responsibilities.
They pay for their own wedding attire.
They should arrive at the church 30-45 minutes before the ceremony.
They light the candles about 15 minutes before the ceremony begins (if this assignment is given to them by the
clergy).
The ushers should obtain from the Wedding Liaison a list of guests for special or reserved seating.
If there is an aisle runner, they should be aware of how and when it is rolled down the aisle.
If there is no Program Hostess, the ushers distribute wedding service programs to the guests while seating
them. Programs can be used to reserve seats for immediate family or important guests.
They stay in the back of the ceremony site and greet late guests.
They choreograph the opening and closing of certain doors for the bride and the married couple.
The bride's guests are traditionally seated on the left side and the groom's guests seated on the right side.
Sides are reversed in an Orthodox Jewish wedding. Ushers may choose to balance the sides if one is filling up
much faster than the other.
The Processional
Most processionals in the St. Louis area follow this protocol, but it is at the discretion of the officiant and the
couple.
Grandparents are seated by the ushers first.
The groom's parents are seated next.
The bride's mother is last before the wedding party. After the head usher escorts the bride's mother to her
seat, no more guests are seated until after the bride with her escort.
After carefully unrolling the aisle carpet, the ushers should take their places.
Recessional
The ushers can escort the parents of the bridal couple and any special designated guests out of the church
after the wedding party, if appointed to do so.
The ushers then indicate to other guests pew by pew, when they may leave their seats following the
recessional.
Check over the church/synagogue to see that it is clean and orderly.
At the reception, ushers generally do not sit at the bridal table(s), but sit with the other guests.
Formal Etiquette
Convention dictates that the usher should offer his right arm to the
woman guest when they arrive. If the bride and groom consider this to
be politically incorrect, the usher should be instructed simply to greet
the guests and request that they follow him to their seats.
If several women arrive together, he should offer his arm to the eldest in
the group or, again, request that they follow him. If desired, he should
ask the guests whether they would like to be seated on the bride's or
the groom's side of the aisle. Other members of the guest group walk
slightly behind as the usher escorts them to their seats. Single men may
simply walk beside the usher.
Convention dictates that the usher should offer his right arm to the
woman guest when they arrive. If the bride and groom consider this to
be politically incorrect, the usher should be instructed simply to greet
the guests and request that they follow him to their seats.
If several women arrive together, he should offer his arm to the eldest in
the group or, again, request that they follow him. If desired, he should
ask the guests whether they would like to be seated on the bride's or
the groom's side of the aisle. Other members of the guest group walk
slightly behind as the usher escorts them to their seats. Single men may
simply walk beside the usher.
Duties of the Ushers
| Copyright © 2009 Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison |
