What Does an Usher and Guestbook Attendant Do?
Help guests sign the guest book and find a seat.
Is this all your guestbook attendants and ushers will do on your big day?
When your guests arrive, who's the first person they see? Maybe it’s the parking attendants, the guestbook assistant, or your ushers. Whoever it is will be the first impression your guests have of your big day. Give this some thought. Your guests likely have never been to your wedding venue before and may need help knowing what to expect or what to do.
Get inside your guest's head for just a minute. They arrive on your wedding day, usually early because they aren't sure about the location or parking, and as soon as they walk through the front door what's going through their minds?
What do I do with my gift? Where should I sit? My lipstick seems off - where’s the restroom? Do you sit upstairs or on the main floor? Is there reserved seating? Why are there only two rows of chairs near the stage? I can’t wait to see my friend/niece/grandchild get married!
Don’t assume that your guests know "the plan". They don't. When they walk in they deserve a warm smile and welcome, some simple instruction and a polite usher to guide them to their seat or direct them to the outdoor ceremony site.
Parking Attendants
When guests pull in to the parking lot they will want to make sure to park in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of traffic. Traffic flow and dust clouds probably aren’t on your mind, but they do play a role in your wedding day! Ask your wedding coordinator to connect with Emerson Fields staff on the correct way for vehicles to park so that information is given to your parking attendants. If someone arrives late to the wedding, there might be dust settling as you walk out to the ceremony site. Your parking attendant can ask cars to wait and ensure that your big reveal isn’t interrupted.
Greeting Your Guests: Guestbook and Gift Table
Make your guests feel welcome when they arrive! They are already excited to see you and a friendly smile will reinforce that warm and fuzzy feeling! One person may not be able to handle the greetings and questions from your guests as they arrive.
The guestbook isn’t a great place to include your shy, 12 year old niece in the wedding day. She could certainly assist with handing out programs, but you need someone that can give instruction in a polite but authoritative tone. You need your outgoing friend from college to welcome people, your direct aunt to give some polite instruction and then your niece to remind guests to sign the guestbook.
Assign someone to stand by the gift table and receive gifts from your guests. This should be someone you trust and someone who can carefully carry that new microwave to the gift table. Ask your wedding coordinator to instruct the gift table attendant on where to put the gifts when the ceremony is over. Plan on keeping your gifts and cards full of sweet notes and even sweeter checks in a secure location. Are they riding in the car with you after the night is over or going with a family member while you’re honeymooning?
Royal Treatment from Your Ushers
Now, once the guests leave the venue foyer or walk up to the outdoor ceremony space, where should they sit? Your ushers are important people! They need to know an overview of the day's timeline because, even though you've printed cute timeline programs, your guests will ask them questions. Your ushers’ duties include: helping your guests feel at ease, guiding guests to their ceremony seating, and possibly seating family members during the processional. Your ushers need to know if you want family members seated in specific row, if there is a seating chart for the reception tables, and if they will be walking any specific family members down the aisle during the ceremony. Just because your uncle said he would be an usher for your wedding doesn’t mean that he knows exactly what his role looks that day. Ask your wedding coordinator to give all these specific details to your ushers so they are well informed when the time comes!
Hire a Wedding Coordinator
It’s been a said a lot throughout this blog - “ask your wedding coordinator.” This person will make your day go so much smoother! A coordinator or planner knows how to run a tight ship, give polite but clear instruction, and knows all the ins and outs of your wedding day timeline. Check out this other blog post to learn more about your wedding coordinator!
“I needed to hear that a wedding coordinator/planner was a must to make the week of the wedding as smooth as possible. My stress was limited significantly by having a neutral third party take care of everything with days leading up to the wedding. I became frustrated at times with others who I had asked to help me with certain wedding projects. They tended to do their own thing rather than what I wanted. That’s when I figured out having a wedding coordinator/planner is truly a must. ”
These "first impression" people, like guestbook attendants and ushers, need to know an overview of the wedding timeline and be aware of how you want your day to flow. Your coordinator or planner can help facilitate that all of this happens correctly and at the appropriate time. The coordinator can also be the one to give your first impression team (parking attendants, guestbook, greeters, ushers) the rundown on their specific role and what to say. You want your wedding to start with zero complications for your guests.
All of that to say, choose the appropriate people to be the first ones that your guests encounter and have your coordinator inform them about all the pertinent details. Your first impressions team is very important to the flow of your wedding day and we advise that they be in place at least one hour before the ceremony’s start time. Get them a special little gift or signify who they are with a simple corsage or boutonniere and they will feel appreciated and represent you well.
Your wedding day should reflect your love for your spouse as well as your family and friends attending! Remember these important roles as your ask people to join your wedding day team. Looking for more wedding advice? Check out our Ideas for Your Wedding Reception Head Table blog!
Photographers featured in this blog:
01/04/2023 - Gabrielle Isom
