Come the day of any wedding, ushers have a lot of responsibilities, and the head usher even more. I thought it would be helpful to post this wedding day usher responsibility list, compliments of Emily Post.
Are expected to attend the rehearsal and are included at the rehearsal dinner
Contribute to the ushers’ gift to the groom
Review any special seating situations with the head usher before the ceremony begins
Greet guests as they arrive
Seat the eldest woman first if a group of guests arrives simultaneously
Ask guests whether they are to be seated on the bride’s side (left from the back) or the groom’s side (right from the back)
Offer their right arm to female guests (with the guest’s escort walking behind) or ask couples to follow behind (leading a couple to their seat)
Walk to the left side of a male guest
Know the order for seating: special guests, grandmothers of the bride and groom, groom’s mother, and bride’s mother last
After the recessional, excuse pews for the receiving line, starting from the back
Remove pew ribbons one row at a time, after the ceremony
Check pews for programs or articles left behind after the ceremony
Are prepared to direct guests to the reception site (having extra maps if available)
Dance with bridesmaids and other guests at the reception
Look after elderly relatives or friends
Coordinate return of rented apparel with head usher or best man
While the duties of an usher may seem overwhelming, fear not; the head usher will be there to answer any questions you may have and carry the bulk of the more stressful responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities of head usher include:
Is expected to attend the rehearsal and is included at the rehearsal dinner
Contribute to the ushers’ gift to the groom
Receives any lists of guests who are to be seated in a specific pew and is aware of the importance and sequence of seating special guests such as mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom
Check that all ushers are dressed properly and wearing their boutonnieres on the left side, stem down
Greet guests as they arrive
Seat the eldest woman first if a group of guests arrives simultaneously
Ask guests whether they are to be seated on the bride’s side (left from the back) or the groom’s side (right from the back)
Offer their right arm to female guests (with the guest’s escort walking behind) or ask couples to follow behind (leading a couple to their seat)
Walk to the left side of a male guest
Makes sure that the seating is balanced, so that one side—whether bride’s or groom’s—has no more people than the other; instructs the ushers to ask guests whether they would mind sitting on the other side
Know the order for seating: special guests, grandmothers of the bride and groom, groom’s mother, and bride’s mother last
After the recessional, excuse pews for the receiving line, starting from the back
Remove pew ribbons one row at a time, after the ceremony
Check pews for programs or articles left behind after the ceremony
Are prepared to direct guests to the reception site (having extra maps if available)
Help gather wedding party for photographs after the ceremony
Dance with bridesmaids and other guests at the reception
Look after elderly relatives or friends
Coordinate return of rented apparel
