Ushers are not mandatory at a wedding, but do help in keeping order at the ceremony. It doesn't matter what size your guest list is - ushers can help with the smallest or largest ceremonies. Even if you have a small ceremony, it's nice to have an usher to walk the guests to their seats. Who should be an usher? Naturally, it's up to the bride and groom, but usually they are cousins, friends, in-laws, brothers, some use grandpas...Whoever you want. It helps if they aren't too shy and have energy. The bride and groom should be specific with what they want the ushers to do so they aren't confused the day of the wedding.

• Typically you will need 1 usher for every 50 guests.
  
  
• Attire depends on the bride and groom. They can wear tuxes, dress pants and dress shirt, etc. so check with the bride and groom for their preference.
  
  
• If money is a factor and the bride and groom want you to rent a tux, be honest with them and see what can be done from there.
  
  
• Arrive at the ceremony site at least one hour before the wedding starts (earlier if you will be included in pictures). Guests will usually begin arriving 1/2 hour before the ceremony starts, some earlier, but you should be there - ready- when the guests start arriving.
  
  
• Ask the bride, groom or parents of the bride or groom if there are special seating requirements. If there are VIP's or those coming with pew cards; elderly or disabled guests who will be seated up front, etc. so there won't be any upset guests if you don't know what they are talking about.
  
  
• Help set up at the ceremony if needed.
  
  
• If there is an aisle runner - roll out before the guests arrive.
  
  
• Be available to answer any questions by the guests at the ceremony or reception.
  
  
• Help out at the reception if needed.

Some Helpful Tips:

• Traditionally, ushers will escort women to their seats by their arm. When a couple arrives, or a family, the usher should escort the women (oldest first) and the men can follow you.
  
  
• If many guests arrive at one time (and there isn't an apparent line to enter the sanctuary/room), escort the oldest women first.
  
  
• If you have junior ushers, they can accompany the older ushers when seating families or a large group of guests that are sitting together.

Special Seating:

Some religious ceremonies may have particular seating arrangements that need to be followed. Check with the bride or groom or their parents at the rehearsal or before the ceremony if they have certain preferences. Traditional seating isn't always used or wanted, so just make sure you know what those in charge want.

Below are traditional seating arrangements.

• Christian ceremonies: guests of the bride are seated on the left (when facing the stage) and guests of the groom are seated on the right.
  
  
• Jewish ceremonies: guests of the bride are seated on the right and guests of the groom are seated on the left. Some Jewish ceremonies require the women to sit on the left and men to sit on the right.
  
  
• At a Jewish ceremony, the parents of both the bride and groom will stand under the Huppah for the duration of the ceremony.
  
  
• If the bride's parents are divorced and remarried, typically the parent who raised you, along with their spouse or guest, will sit in the left front row. The other parent, along with their spouse or guest, will sit in the third row on the left side.
  
  
• If your parents are divorced and are still cordial with one another, they can sit in the front left pew together.
  
  
• For the grooms parents, do the same as the bride's parents, but on the right side of the aisle.
  
  
• Grandparents usually sit in the row behind the parents, but if the front row has enough spaces, they can sit there.
  
  
• Space should be left open on the front row on both sides in case any of the bridal party needs to sit down during the ceremony.
  
  
• Any reserved seating (for ring bearer or flower girl, disabled, elderly, etc) should be marked with something that the usher will recognize so he can sit guests behind those rows.
  
  
• If anyone arrives late to the ceremony and after the mother of the bride has been seated - they should find a seat behind the other guests so they do not interrupt the ceremony.
  
  
• If there is not preference to seating, seat the guests so the it fills up evenly on both sides and evens out the seating. This will make it look better on film and on video.