Duties of the Wedding Party Part 3

Groomsmen/Ushers

The groomsmen are usually friends or relatives of the bride and groom. They can also act as assistants to the best man and are usually dressed in the same attire as the best man. Groomsmen will usually serve as the ushers at the wedding – a very important duty – as they will be responsible for seating the guests as they arrive for the ceremony.

Following are some general instructions for the groomsmen, a.k.a. ushers.

1. Meet the Wedding Coordinator at the doors 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
2. Greet early guests and converse with them but do not seat them until the doors are opened.
3. One-half hour prior to the ceremony start time, the doors will be opened and you may begin ushering in all female guests. Offer a strong right arm. Ask each guest if they are a friend or relative of the bride or groom. Friends or relatives of the bride are seated on the left and friends and relatives of the groom are seated on the right as you are facing the altar.
4. When seating a female guest on the right, turn clockwise to stand in front of the row as she enters it. When seating on the left, the lady should be allowed to walk across in front of you. Make a counter-clockwise move to stand in front of the row and face her as she enters. When she is seated, proceed immediately to the back to continue ushering. All guests should be seated from front to back. You should walk beside a single man to his seat. If a guest is disabled or handicapped, you may offer your arm if needed. Proceed ahead of a couple who wish to walk together. Variation: If there are several ladies together, the more elderly should be ushered in first. The others may follow or wait to be ushered in separately.
5. Ushers assigned to light candles, candelabra, etc.: Wait for the Wedding Coordinator’s signal to begin lighting the candles. Watch as candles are lit to safeguard against the wick going out. On the candelabra, light the candles from lowest to highest, synchronizing with the other usher. Watch the other usher out of the corner of your eye so you stay together. Light the candles slowly. If one usher is having trouble lighting a candle, the other usher should wait until he is ready to proceed.
6. Ushers assigned to escort mothers, grandmothers or special guests: At the designated time, usher in the groom’s grandmother(s) first to the second row on the right side. Then the grandmother(s) of the bride are ushered in and seated in the second row on the left side. At the designated time, the mother of the groom is ushered in and seated on the first row on the right side followed by the father of the groom. Then the mother of the bride is ushered in and seated on the first row on the left side. After the ceremony, you may be asked to escort them back out. These arrangements should be decided upon prior to the ceremony.
7. Groomsmen and/or ushers assigned to unfurl the aisle runner: Grasp the outside corner of the rope and pull firmly, making sure not to jerk, and roll out slowly. Face forward while going down the aisle, glimpsing over your shoulders occasionally to check that the runner is straight. Groomsmen, as soon as you are finished, you will then join the groom and best man and line up to enter for the wedding. Ushers, see #8.
8. Ushers who are not groomsmen: After your ushering duties are complete, you should remain in the back in order to direct late arrivals to be seated off the side aisles, not the center. However, if the processional has already begun, do not direct them to be seated until after the bride has made her grand entrance and is all the way down the aisle. Then, after all late arrivals are seated, you may be seated.
9. Ushers assigned to dismiss rows: As soon as the recessional is complete, go to the front of the center aisle, turn to face the guests. Wait until the officiant is finished with any announcements and when he indicates that the guests will be dismissed by row, you begin by standing next to the first row of guests and place your hand on the pew or chair to indicate it is time for the guests to leave. When one row is complete, move to the next row and repeat until all rows are dismissed.

Now, you have one excellent group of guys. (Sorry about the picture above being a little blurry. I was using a pocket digital and my hands weren't too steady, I guess.)