Groomsmen & Usher Responsibilities

The number of groomsmen/ushers is usually determined by the size of the wedding. One usher can comfortably seat about fifty guests. Groomsmen and ushers are usually brothers, relatives or best friends of the groom. In inviting people to serve as groomsmen/ushers, make sure that they are aware of the expenses involved.

While it is not necessary to have an equal number if groomsmen and bridesmaids, it does balance nicely if they walk in pairs in either the processional or recessional.

Advance Help

Groomsmen usually help the best man plan the bachelor party for the groom. They attend pre-wedding parties, the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

At the Wedding

Groomsmen

The Groomsmen may be part of the processional or they may take positions in the front with the best man or groom. They stand near the groom during the ceremony. They are in formal photographs of the bridal party. They escort the bridesmaids from the ceremony in the recessional.

Ushers

The main job of the usher is to seat guests. They should arrive at the ceremony site at least one hour in advance and should have clear instructions on the seating plan. In Christian Ceremonies, the bride's family and guest sit on the left and the groom's on the right. In Jewish services, the seating is opposite, with the bride's family on the right.

Female guests are escorted by having the usher offer his right arm to her. Her date or spouse walks behind. Male guests are lead to their seats. If there are pew cards being used or a special reserved section, ushers should pay special attention as they escort these guests to their seats.

They distribute any programs or ceremony handouts at the ceremony. Ushers direct those bringing gifts to the ceremony to a gift table. If there is a guest book at the ceremony, ushers direct guests to sign it.

After all guests are seated, the ushers escort the groom's parents to the front row on the groom's side (Unless they are part of the processional.) Lastly, they escort the bride's mother to her seat, unless she is a accompanying her husband in the processional. Once everyone is seated, the ushers unroll the aisle runner in readiness for the processional.

One of the ushers should be responsible to roll the aisle runner back up after the ceremony and have it cleaned and returned. One of the ushers should collect any leftover handouts or programs and see that they get returned to the couple who may want to send them to family or friends who were unable to attend.

At the Reception

Groomsmen may be part of the receiving lines in formal weddings. They may be seated at the head table or a table of honor at the reception. During the reception, groomsmen mingle with the guests. They can dance with the bridesmaids at the reception. They assist by encouraging single young men to participate in catching the garter.

Expenses

Groomsmen or ushers pay for their own formalwear and accessories. If travel expenses are involved, they pay their own costs involved in getting to the wedding and staying in town during the celebration. Although groomsmen may attend several pre-wedding parties, only one shower gift and one wedding gift are to be expected. Groomsmen may share the cost of the bachelor party with the best man.