An usher is responsible for directing and seating guests at a wedding ceremony, often younger than a groomsman or bridesmaid. They are typically younger than the groomsman or bridesmaid and have less responsibility than a groomsman or bridesmaid. In less formal weddings, ushers may offer their right arm to a single woman or couple, allowing the gentleman to follow behind. When escorting a group of women, the usher should extend their right arm to the eldest member of the group and ask the others to follow behind.
When escorting a female guest, the usher should offer their right arm to her and walk her down the aisle to her seat. When escorting a male guest, the usher should step forward and offer their right arm to the lady. When escorting a group of women, the usher should offer their right arm to the oldest member of the group and ask the others to follow behind.
In some cases, ushers may also help open the door to reveal the bride before she walks down the aisle. Handing out the wedding ceremony programs or placing them on every seat before guests’ arrival is another important task for ushers. Overall, ushers play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable wedding experience for all attendees.
📹 The 7 Most Common Usher Responsibilities for a Wedding
In this video I’ll share how to be a great Usher and give you the 7 most common responsibilities of an usher. First you must attend …
Which arm does the bride come in on?
In a Christian or non-denominational wedding, the bride typically stands on the left hand side for the ceremony, Helmstetter says. In that instance, she suggests that the father would walk on her right hand side, separating her from her soon-to-be until the actual giving of the bride happens.
As it turns out, this tradition didnt begin with Christian weddings. The father of the bride typically walks down the right side of the aisle, having the bride on his left arm (facing the altar), Jones explains. Traditionally, this is because in older times, men were supposed to have their fighting hand or sword side free to protect the woman, she explains, so the woman always stands to the left.
But thats not the only option. In a Jewish wedding, the bride typically stands on the right hand side of the chuppah, Helmstetter adds. In this scenario, she says that the father of the bride walks on her left to separate her from the lucky person shes marrying.
Why is the bride always on the left?
After walking down the aisle, the bride usually takes her place on the left side of the altar. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when grooms kept their sword-fighting right hand open for combat with those trying to rescue the bride, who was often kidnapped before the wedding. While marriage by capture is (thankfully) no longer practiced, brides still often choose to stand on the left side at the ceremony-a widely recognized, but not entirely necessary, custom. If youre wondering about positioning for your own ceremony, heed this advice for looking and feeling your best at the altar.
Follow tradition.. While brides usually stand on the left for Christian ceremonies, the opposite actually rings true for Jewish ones. The bride may also be positioned on the right for military and police weddings. Ask your officiant about the guidelines for your specific ceremony so theres no confusion on the big day.
Choose a shady side.. Imagine this: Youre standing in front of your handsome groom at your outdoor wedding, but the sun is so bright that you can barely open your eyes. Try visiting your venue ahead of time to determine where the sun will shine during the ceremony, then pick the perfect spot (for both of you) away from blinding rays.
Who is the brides right hand?
Maid, Matron, or Man of Honor. The maid, matron, or man of honor is the brides right-hand person. Also known as the brides honor attendant, this role is usually taken by a sibling or best friend. The role of matron is designated if the person in this role is married.Its the highest honor in the wedding party and comes with a fair share of responsibilities. The maid, matron, or man of honor helps the bride with all aspects of the wedding, from planning to selecting the bridesmaids dresses. In the lead-up to the special event, they are responsible for things like attending dress fittings and planning the bachelorette party. On the wedding day itself, they are there to offer emotional support to the bride as well as provide hands-on help with things like bustling the gown or affixing the veil.Occasionally, a bride will choose to have both a maid and matron of honor to split up responsibilities.
Best Man or Woman. The best man or woman has many of the same responsibilities as the maid of honor, only their job is to support the groom. For that reason, a sibling or best friend is usually tapped to fulfill this role. This person will stand by the grooms side during the wedding and will also offer any support thats needed throughout the day. The best man or woman has a couple of core duties, including planning the bachelor party, writing a speech for the reception, helping make wedding arrangements, and, in some cases, holding onto the rings until the wedding ceremony.
Bridesmaids and Bridesmen. Bridesmaids and bridesmen are close friends or relatives of the bride. While the bridal party was traditionally made up of women, mixed-gender bridal parties have grown increasingly common. This group takes an active role in the planning of the wedding. They are also expected to help plan the bridal shower and, in some circumstances, split the cost of this event. On the wedding day, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle ahead of the bride. Bridesmaids often take on other responsibilities during the wedding as well. For instance, they may show guests to their seats or hand out favors.
What are the rules of a usher?
- An usher should always display a positive warm smile to everyone who comes into the church or anyone they may assist.
- An usher must display a servants heart, willing to always serve anyone, no matter how big or small the request.
- An usher must avoid long conversations that could overlook providing a handshake, smile, and greeting to everyone who is in attendance.
- An usher must never place his/her hands on the opposite sex other than a friendly handshake or helping someone at their request. Ask before touching.
- An ushers conduct should be above reproach and should reflect a gentle Godly spirit to all they serve.
- Only females will place and remove modesty cloths on women around the altar.
In the event of an emergency, the safety of the church members is every ushers first responsibility.Most emergencies are for medical attention or some kind of disturbance with an individual. In these cases, please follow the instructions listed below.
- Clear the area to allow assistance.
- Always assign one person to call the police, ambulance or fire brigade where need be.
- Conduct a scene survey and casualty assessment.
- Station one person to help emergency personnel to the person who needs help. Have another usher make sure the isles are clear for emergency personnel.
- Keep either an usher or experienced medical person from the church, next to the afflicted person at all times.
- Encourage others to pray.
- Assign one person to remain close to the family members and friends.
- Monitor and make sure the area is not crowded by on-lookers.
Is it an honor to be an usher at a wedding?
Its generally considered an honour to be chosen.
At a wedding, an usher or groomsman is one of the male attendants to the groom. Usually, the groom selects a handful of close friends and relations. It’s generally considered an honour to be chosen.
From this group, the groom tends to single out one usher to be his best man, although it’s becoming much more common for multiple friends to take on this role and sometimes there are male and female ushers, sometimes called ‘usherettes’.
The role of an usher may not be as central to the wedding as that of the best man, but they still have important duties to carry out.
What is the proper etiquette for wedding ushers?
- On the Wedding Day. Man the doors and welcome guests with a smile as they enter the ceremony venue. Good manners and cleaning up nicely for the day is key.
- Answer the guests questions—where the restroom is, where the coat check is located, where the guest book is placed, and where they can drop the cards. Since the couple (and the rest of the wedding party) are most likely taking preparation photos, the wedding usher serves as a host during pre-ceremony.
- Direct guests to their seats. Usually, the ceremony venue is filled from front to back, so the user directs them to the first open row. But, if the guest requests to be seated elsewhere, the usher should comply. He should also let guests know if there are any reserved seats, especially in the front, so that they can avoid them.
- Be polite and offer their arm to escort guests, especially the elderly, down the aisle.
- Hand out the wedding ceremony programs, or put them on every seat before the guests arrival.
- In some cases, the wedding ushers also help open the door to reveal the bride, right before she walks down the aisle.
- Seat the guests who arrive late. He should guide them where to walk, which is around the side, and not through the middle of the aisle, especially once the ceremony has started.
- After the ceremony. If the wedding reception includes a sit-down meal, ushers may also escort guests to their seats at the reception.
- In some cases, wedding ushers may escort guests to their cars as theyre leaving the wedding.
Unlike the bridesmaids or best man, at the reception, the wedding usher usually sits with their family or friends—and not at the head table, as they also wont be doing any speeches or dances.
What is a female usher called?
Usherette Add to list Share.
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘usherette. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback.
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What do the ushers wear at weddings?
WHAT DOES AN USHER WEAR?. The traditional wedding usher outfit includes a dark-coloured suit with a white shirt, tie, and vest. Some ushers also wear a fedora hat. The suit can be either formal or informal, depending on the weddings style.
As an usher, you will go to fittings at various stores and it will ultimately be the grooms choice when it comes to your outfit. Hell probably have colours in mind (or strict instructions from his bride-to-be!) to compliment the bridesmaids so you can leave it in his capable hands to kit you out.
As an usher, your suit will usually be the same as the groom and best mans suits, so that you are easily identified as part of the grooms party. Now it doesnt have to be identical, sometimes the groom will have some sort of distinguishing feature such as a contrast waistcoat or a different tie to set them apart.
Do wedding ushers walk down the aisle?
Regardless of the size of your wedding venue, its customary to have your ushers stand at the back of the wedding aisle. From there, they can walk guests down or around the center aisle and direct them to an open row.
If youre having asmall, informal wedding, we recommend having at least one usher to direct guests to either side of the aisle.
Reason 2: Some of Your Guests Might Need Escorting to Their Seats. Having ushers to escort guests to their seats is more than just a wedding day formality — its a way to ensure that all of your guests get to their seats safely.
Elderly family members and disabled guests will certainly appreciate having a steady hand to help guide them to their seats at your ceremony venue. But if youre getting married on unsteady terrain (grass, sand, etc.), any guest that arrives in heels will surely appreciate the extra assistance too!
Who do ushers walk down the aisle at a wedding?
Ushers walk the guests down the aisle to their seats on the respective sides. They are also the escort for the mother of the bride and the grooms parents.
Where do ushers sit during a wedding ceremony?
During the Ceremony. In some cases, as an usher, youll be part of the processional and either be seated at the front of the ceremony (in which case youd take your seat after all guests and family have been seated), or standing up front with the other groomsmen. Most likely, though, youll be tasked with a couple remaining duties, and sit near the back. In that case, after the bride has walked down the aisle, youll often be asked to close the doors (if the venue has doors to be closed). From there, youll take a seat yourself, direct any late guests to find a seat (using the side aisles), and make sure the door closes quietly after theyve entered. Once the ceremony has concluded, youll open the doors back up, and again, depending on the wishes of the bride and groom, you may be asked to dismiss rows of guests, starting from the front. If the bride and groom wish to dismiss guests themselves (a modern trend), you can stand near the doors to be sure exiting happens smoothly, and to direct guests if they have questions about what follows the ceremony.
After the Ceremony. As with everything above (hopefully this cements the idea into your head), what your role is after the ceremony depends on the specifics of the wedding youre a part of. So just ask, ask, ask. Dont just assume you can leave, and dont just assume that youre required to stick around for pictures or for the party bus to the reception. You will often be asked to be a part of pictures, but not necessarily as extensively as the formal wedding party. Just do what youre told and smile.
Once you get to the reception, your duties are largely over. You may or may not sit at the head table (I never have as an usher), you wont be giving a speech, and you no longer are playing the part of “host” — at this point that becomes the bride and grooms role. So take off your jacket, loosen your tie, and cut a rug on the dance floor — its time to celebrate!
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