- Before the wedding day meets with the best man to work out duties. Plan parking arrangements and get to know where the nearest toilets are
- Collect order of service sheets from the bride or best man
- Provide umbrellas in case of rain
- Arrive first at the ceremony venue
- Organise parking
- Ensure that the approach is clear for the Bride’s arrival
- Greet guests and distribute buttonholes, order of service sheets and hymn books.(At a formal wedding the ushers have a list of guests so that close family and relatives are escorted to the front seats)
- Make sure all guests switch off mobile phones
- Explain situation regarding flash photography
- Escort the bride’s mother and elderly guests to their seats
- Provide guard of honour
- Helps photographer/ videographer organise people for group shots
- During photography have a picnic hamper available with cool drinks and fold up chairs for elderly guests
- Help best man organise transport for the guests to the reception
- To prevent a long queue arrange for a few guests at a time to go along the receiving line
- Be responsible for a few tables each at the reception to check on a regular basis that everyone is happy
- Make sure all guests are seated for the speeches
- Greet evening guests
- Get guests applauding during bride and grooms first dance and then get everyone up and dancing
- Line up guests when bride and groom leave
But remember: these are only the traditional wedding roles! If you want to change them, go ahead!
