Home>>Planning Guide>>Attendants>>Article

The Groomsmen
By Megan Mercer
Last Update: November 5, 2004

The groomsmen are usually the bride and groom’s brothers, the groom’s cousins, or the groom’s closest friends. As the groom’s close friends and relatives, they should support him throughout the wedding planning process.

Here is a list of all of the official duties and responsibilities of the groomsmen …

Ushering Tips:
Before the ceremony, the groomsmen may be asked to usher guests to their seats. At traditional Christian ceremonies, guests of the bride's family sit on the left, and guests of the groom's family sit on the right when looking from the back. At Jewish ceremonies, it's the opposite.

When a couple arrives, the usher should take the woman's arm and escort her to her seat; her escort will follow. The oldest woman should be seated first, if several guests arrive together. The groomsmen should arrive at the ceremony site at least an hour before the start of the ceremony to review special seating requirements.