Quote Originally Posted by pastorsteve View Post
Maybe it's just a phrasing issue but the groomsmen ARE the ushers. That's how weddings are generally done world-wide. It's not an exception for Chicago. Thus as an usher or Groomsman- you are the wedding party.

From Wikipedia (not always perfect but correct here) A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the bridegroom in a wedding ceremony. The term groomsman is more common in the United States, and usher is more common in the UK. Usually the bridegroom selects his closest friends and/or relatives to serve as a groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be selected. From his groomsmen, the groom usually chooses one to serve as best man. The duties of the groomsmen are to help guests find their places before the ceremony and to participate in the wedding ceremony.
In Chicago, at Catholic wedding masses, we never called the groomsmen "ushers", but I think we're splitting hairs here. To clarify, I have not been asked to "stand up" with the groom in a tux, I'm simply being asked to escort famiy members to their pews in church, along with one other person.