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Wedding Ushers Duties

Wedding Ushers Their Duties, Role & Responsibilities

It is suggested that there should be at least four wedding ushers and five or more for larger weddings.

The Duties of a Wedding Usher

Wedding Ushers should arrive at the wedding service venue at least an hour before the ceremony time scheduled or about half an hour before the groom.

Reserve enough seats at the front to accommodate the bride and groom's families, left and right.

Collect the order of service sheets ready to distribute to each guest or couple, making sure the vicar has a copy.

Enough extra order of service sheets should be left at the end of the front rows for the bridesmaids.

Wedding ushers distribute buttonholes to the friends and family who have not got their own (if available).

Have at least two umbrellas standing by or If it is raining on the day escort guests into the wedding venue - particularly ladies.

Form a greeting line on the left side of the wedding venue entrance and greet the wedding guests.

When the ushers greet the guests, advise them about any restrictions concerning confetti, photography, etc.

The chief wedding usher stands by the venue door and gives out the service sheets.

The second usher stands at the beginning of the aisle and, if he does not recognise a guest, politely enquire whether he or she is a guest of the bride or the groom. The bride’s family members and guests are directed to the seating to the left hand side of the aisle and the groom’s to the right. Be prepared to use some discretion if there is a proportionally large difference in guest numbers between the two families.

The third usher stands half way down the aisle and directs the guests to their seats.

Seats should be allocated with some sensitivity. Mothers with young babies may feel happier nearer the back or on the ends of rows, where they may find it easier to leave if necessary. The elderly should be seated near the aisle. Ladies with large hats should not be seated directly in front of small children if this can be avoided.

If ushers are made aware of any sensitive problems concerning divorced or warring family factions, seating should be dealt with as carefully as possible.

The fourth usher waits at the venue entrance to escort the bride’s mother to her (reserved) seat.

The first two rows of seating having been reserved for close family members earlier. The groom and best man wait in the front row.

The groom’s parents occupying the second row on the right.

The mother of the bride occupies the front row on the left, with a space beside her for the bride’s father. (Where the bride's parents have remarried, then the mother sits in the usual position with her new partner and the ex-husband and partner in the row directly behind.

An available usher should escort any lone guests to their seats, in the case of a lady he should offer her his left arm.

At a large wedding there should be a fifth usher directing arriving guests to the parking facilities.

When the bride’s mother arrives, she must be escorted to her place. This is the signal for the service to begin and if the bride has arrived - to make her entrance.

Ushers take their place near the back of the venue during the ceremony and quietly escort any late comers to the nearest available seats.

After the wedding ceremony, the ushers are responsible for supervising the guests’ transport to the reception.

The last usher to leave should make a thorough check of the church to make sure no guests have left any property behind.

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