Are you having ushers? How many? What do they do?

We didn’t have ushers at all, but in every wedding we’ve been to in the last 5-10 years the groomsmen acted as ushers until it was time for them to go to the altar/processional.

We didn’t have ushers and I haven’t been to a wedding in at least a decade that did have them. Ushers typically help seat guests, but from what I read on here, it seems like one of those roles that couples use just so that the friends who didn’t make it in the wedding party feel special. Unless you have like 500 guests, 6 ushers feels a bit like overkill.

View Quoted Comment I have seen that too. We only have 2 in the groom's party. That's what I was going for with the girls. I don't have alot of bridesmaids and thought it would be a special thing for the girls. I'm probably projecting though... They might not even care lol

View Quoted Comment Agreed. It would only be 3, either the girls or the guys. But I'm leaning toward not at all. We're having 150 guests and they really shouldn't have a problem finding a seat.

I also haven't been to a wedding with ushers in.....ever actually. Guests can just seat themselves for the ceremony, especially since there isn't a "bride's side" and "groom's side" anymore. On occasion, there has been a person who works for the venue who helps welcome guests as they walk into the ceremony space, but that's about it. Being a guest is honor enough. You don't need to give people various titles outside of picking a bridal party.

View Quoted Comment Great points. I definitely don't want people picking sides. I will have the first row reserved for immediate family members and we're not having parents on the processional. So I think I'll just tell them to sit in the first row, and not worry about them needing an escort.

We had ushers and they greeted and seated guests. Also they pulled the aisle runner down the aisle I can walk on when it was time. You could have the young ladies greet guests as they are coming in and had out any favors that you giving guests. The guys take guests to their seat and do the aisle runner.

We’re not having ushers but it’s a small wedding (50 guests). I figure the groomsmen can help out until the ceremony starts, but being that we don’t have a brides side and a grooms side I don’t think it’ll be necessary. In my opinion, unless your ushers are going to have a significant job to do then I’d skip it. Adding to many people to the mix can complicate things

In our families and social circles, the groomsmen do double duty as ushers. We also don’t create roles to fit random people into because they prefer to be guests with no responsibility beyond enjoying themselves. The only duty that the ushers do is act as greeters and seat guests as they arrive before the ceremony. They may pass out programs if the guestbook attendant does not. Beyond that, there is nothing they need to do.

View Quoted Comment I wouldn't create a role for a random person. I was considering assigning people to be ushers, seeing that has been a standard role that I've seen others have at their weddings.
So who acts as guestbook attendant? I don't believe I've ever seen that needed.

View Quoted Comment Well, we are not having favors or programs to pass out. And we don't have an aisle runner either. I think I'll pass on the ushers and have "reserved" signed in the front row which is for our immediate families.

View Quoted Comment I'm leaning toward that. Thank you!

View Quoted Comment Guests don’t always need or want to work at the wedding and they aren’t hurt or offended if there isn’t a job for them to do other than enjoy themselves. In most cases, ask the groomsmen to usher because they are standing idle at that time.


A guestbook attendant is common in some circles and unheard of in others. That would be for the teen who wants to be involved but you don’t have something specific for them to do. Many guestbooks, while a majority don’t sign them, can use a real person rather than a sign to explain what the couple wants if it’s different from the standard signing their names on one page of 50 page book. The same way that signage has taken the place of people greeting guests as they arrive or showing them where to go if things are unfamiliar because you are going outside the box. Again, most people are not confused when there are no signs, etc.

View Quoted Comment That is a great idea that you have for your wedding to have reserved signed. I do believe that you should make the rights for you. Wedding planning is about exploring new ideas and ding out what is best for you and your wedding. Good luck on your planning and that you will have the most beautiful we’d ever.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much 😊

View Quoted Comment Gotcha. I was just wondering about the need for ushers, not trying to think of jobs for guests. But since it sounds like I don't really need ushers, I won't worry about it.

I would skip the ushers. Many times guests have preferences in terms of who they’d like to sit near or how close they’d like to sit based on how well they know the couple.

View Quoted Comment You are welcome

We had 2 ushers. We definitely needed them though. First they handed out programs (and in our case, also yarmulkes to the men because we had a Jewish wedding). Then each of them escorted our grandmothers down the aisle during the procession. Our grandmothers were elderly and needed somebody to help them out.

View Quoted Comment Completely understand. For example, watching wedding videos for various vendors, it’s pretty common to see entire multiple rows that are empty towards the front and middle. Having ushers would prevent that, or at least a greeter to tell guests as they arrive to sit towards the front, save for the first row of reserved seats.