Duties of the Ushers
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. (Does not have to match wedding party - suit is fine.)
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.
 |
| Take the Usher's Right Arm |
Duties of the Ushers
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. (Does not have to match wedding party - suit is fine.)
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 s 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 walks with her escort.
After carefully unrolling the aisle runner, 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. They can also simply pass out the wedding programs and be a friendly greeter.
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.
Copyright © 2009 Carolyn Burke STL
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 s 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 walks with her escort.
After carefully unrolling the aisle runner, 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. They can also simply pass out the wedding programs and be a friendly greeter.
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.
Copyright © 2009 Carolyn Burke STL