Patriot Brides and Grooms: Planning A Military Wedding With All The Pomp And Circumstance
May 25, 2017 12:56 PM Back
Arm in arm you will become husband and wife…and if you’re marrying someone in the armed forces…consider adding some or all of the abundant and rich military traditions to your significant celebration.

While each branch and division has its own distinct customs there are some basics that will help make set the stage for your military soiree and showcase your national pride and allegiance.

1.  Locations That Pay Homage To National Loyalty: Forget fancy catering halls and go for the gusto; hosting your pre-nuptial parties at or on a military base, exchanging your vows at one of many magnificent military chapels and parting patriot style on military grounds. Just remember that in order to host your nuptials at one of this fabulous chapels or sensational service academies you must : Be a military graduate; a dependent of a graduate;  an officer or enlisted individual assigned to the academy complex; an active or retired staff or faculty member;  a dependent of an active or retired staff or faculty member.

Use of the chapel is typically FREE, though a donation is “expected”. Décor is typically arranged and conducted by the Chapel Alter Guide and are “universal” for all military weddings. However, some chapels do not provide this service and allow the couple to take care of these details themselves. The reception traditionally follows and takes place at the on-site officers’ club.

2.  Securing Your Official Officiant: Military weddings are customarily conducted by the chaplain (that is available for your wedding date). So, you WILL want to have a meeting or two with those available to conduct your wedding ceremony to ensure it goes as planned and goes smoothly.  Since chaplains are commissioned officers there is no fee associated with their services. However, making a donation to the chapel is always appreciated. And, if you are having an assisting outside officiant  it is customary to offer him or her an honorarium.

3. Rank and File: Guests, especially military personnel should be seated according to rank, with those with the highest ranks seated in positions of honor at both the ceremony and the reception. Furthermore, a prominent position should be reserved for the commanding officer (of the bride or groom). Military guests should also be seated according to rank.

4. Rank and Style: If the groom is THE military member, then he should wear his official military uniform for the ceremony and celebration….and depending on his rank and the branch he is in the groom may also opt to add some extra  elegance to his ensemble with a sabre or cutlass and  traditional white gloves.  His bride traditionally stands to his right (the reverse custom typically seen at non-military weddings in an effort to avoid the sword). If it is the bride who is the military member, SHE get a choice: either  her official military dress uniform or a traditional white wedding gown. In either case she get to walk down the aisle with a customary bridal bouquet.
 
5. Golden Arches: The arch (formed by  commissioned military officers) symbolically creates a safe passage for the couple to enter their new life as husband and wife.

The arch is formed following the ceremony with ushers lining up along both sides of the aisle or steps of the chapel (weather permitting) and raising their blades in an arch for the couple to pass through. Non military ushers simply stand respectfully at attention during this part of the ceremony. Once the couple had made their way past the sabres and the command is given to return sabres to their sides, the cutlass are “put away” and ushers escort bridesmaids down the aisle.

Note that while aspects of this pomp and protocol may vary according to branch it is seen as one of the major highlights of a military wedding.

There are also some modern variations to this tradition including:

*Officers breaking from “tradition” and announcing the couple by saying: “Ladies and Gentlemen…may I present Colonial and Mrs. Jones”

* Lowering the last two sabres to block the couple’s “safe passage” until they kiss

* A Marine Corp tradition (often also adopted by the Air Force) in which the last sabre to be lowered gently taps the new Mrs. and the officer holding it says: “Welcome to the Marines / Air Force Ma’am”.

6. The Well Received Groom:  Military pomp and circumstance calls for the gallant groom to precede his bride most often with national colors and flags flying in the background.

7. Delicious Traditions: For commissioned officers fellow officers stand in formation by the wedding cake allowing the bride and groom to pass through. The groom then hands his new wife/bride his unshielded sabre and together hand over hand (his over hers) they cut the wedding cake together.
 
 
 
 
Patriot Brides and Grooms: Planning A Military Wedding With All The Pomp And Circumstance
  • Chat With Local Long Island Brides
  • Lessings Waterfront Mansions
  • Larkfield
  • The Riviera-The Riviera
  • Tony Lante Photography & Cinematography-Tony Lante Photography & Cinematography
  • Trolleys-
 
Welcome New Vendors
Category
fall weddings wedding favors #splurgevssave #weddingdosanddonts #weddingplanning 2019 wedding affordable vacations after hours music armenia armenian wedding ideas autumn autumn wedding bachelor bachelor parties bachelor party bachelorette bakeries bakery bands barn wedding beach wedding beach weddings best bands best man advice best wedding bands black tie black tie wedding bouquet bridal bouquet bridal extravaganza bridal gown bridal gowns bridal hair bridal makeup bridal nails bridal party gifts bridal planner group bridal planning bridal reflections NYC bridal show bridal showcase bridal shower bridal showers bride bride and groom bride-to-be brides bridesmaid bridesmaid gifts brunch wedding cakes catering cellists centerpiece centerpieces ceremony music charitable gift chignon classic music cocktail hour cocktail hour music cocktail party code bleu comfort food cultural weddings cupcakes dance dance lessons day of coordinator decorations dessert ideas destination wedding diamond diamond promotion diamonds djs doc donation gift double ceremony edible favors elegant wedding elopment engaged engagement engagement looks engagement session english wedding traditions entertainment etiquette event decor event planning Eyebrows fade to black ny fall fall bride fall harvest fall wedding fancy wedding fantasia bridal father of the bride father of the groom favors florist flute players food stations food truck food trucks good behavior gown green wedding green weddings groom groom pampering groom style grooms groomsmen gifts guest book guitarist hair styles hairstyle harvest harvest wedding headpieces honeymoon honeymoon ideas Hotel Blocks Hotels invitation invitations invites irish weddings italian wedding customs jewish wedding traditions Kleinfeld Kleinfeld Hotel Blocks latin dance LI vineyards LIBE limos limousine liw liwedding liweddings long island long island bachelor party long island bakery long island beach Long Island Beach Wedding long island beach weddings long island bridal extravaganza long island bridal gowns long island bridal show long island catering long island diamonds long island engagement photographer long island fall wedding long island groom long island photographers long island vineyards long island wedding long island wedding dj long island wedding favors long island wedding gowns long island wedding photographer long island wedding photography long island wedding rings long island weddings makeup maltese wedding manscaping mansions marriage marriage advice marrriage mehndi menu middle eastern wedding traditions military military wedding mirror beauty ring MOTB mother of the bride multicultural entertainment multicultural wedding nail polish national bridal sales event new york city wedding dress new york city wedding salon ny diamonds nyc diamonds off premises catering outdoor celebration ovation photo booth Paris Parisian party favors party planning long island weddings patriot brides Permanent Makeup photography photos pianists program quartet Rain reception reception location remarried resort rhapsody ring bearer gift roslyn hotel russian bride russian groom sale second wedding semi formal shuttle buses signature drinks skyline southern wedding ideas spring wedding spring wedding ideas spring weddings st. patricks day string duos string quartets string trios thank you note the black horse event traditions transportation travel trolley trunk show tuxedo updo vegan wedding cake vegan wedding dessert veils vineyard vineyard wedding vineyards vintage music violinists violists wedding wedding advice wedding band wedding bands wedding beauty wedding beer selection wedding bow tie wedding budget wedding cake wedding cakes wedding centerpiece wedding coffee wedding dance wedding dances wedding dancing wedding dessert wedding destinations wedding DJ wedding donation wedding donuts wedding dress wedding drink ideas wedding drinks wedding entertainment wedding favors wedding food wedding food ideas wedding gown wedding guests wedding hair wedding hair styles Wedding Hotel Blocks wedding ideas wedding invitations wedding invites wedding kids wedding limo wedding makeup wedding menu wedding music wedding nails wedding party wedding photography wedding planner wedding planning wedding ring wedding seating wedding showcase wedding suit wedding thank you wedding tuxedo wedding wheels wedding wine wedding wines weddings weddings splurge vs. save what to wear white tie who to invite wild west wedding wine wine suggestions wine types winery winery wedding winter wedding winter wedding ideas wooden place settings #weddingbudget Aeki Beki affordable vacation after hours dj entertainment armenian wedding Aruba at home bridal shower Autumn Weddings bachelor bachelorette parties backyard weddings bakery barn wedding beach beach getaway Beach Wedding Beachfront Ceremonies best man bridal bridal accessories Bridal Expo bridal gown bridal reflections Bridal Show bridalshow bride bridesmaid ceremony music children fashion cocktail hour music country club wedding couture weddings daytime wedding decor dessert table destination wedding Destination Weddings donors unite e-ring elope engaged engagement engagement parties engagement rings english wedding escort cards event planners exotic cars fade to black new york Fall Bride fall wedding Fall Weddings favors first dance First Dance Wedding Song florist flowers gentleman groom groom groom gifts groomsmen hair high voltage entertainment honeymoon honeymoon planning hvdj hvdjsny imakeupyou Indian Weddings invitations invites irish wedding italian wedding jewish wedding letterpress LGBTQ wedding LIBridalExtravaganza live entertainment; LIW liweddings long island Long Island Bakeries long island bridal extravaganza Long Island bride long island engagement long island mansions long island photography Long Island Theme Weddings Long Island Wedding Traditions and Customs long island wedding venue long island weddings long island weddings. liweddings Magna Sutra makeup; hair; aesthetic; airbrush; airbrush makeup; makeover; malta wedding ideas married life marryoke Mendi Microblading middle eastern wedding military wedding multicultural nails outdoor wedding Pandit perfume photo booth photogaphy place settings planning form ring bearer russian wedding Saptapadi skyline orchestras south asian weddings southern wedding spring weddings summer wedding summer weddings texas wedding Thank you Thank You Card the lombardi bride the roslyn hotel tropical wedding tuscan wedding tuxedo tuxedos unique wedding vegan viana hotel villa lombardi's vineyard Vineyard Receptions vintage weddings waterfront wedding wedding wedding advice wedding bands wedding blog wedding brunch wedding car wedding costs wedding dance wedding date wedding dates wedding dress wedding drinks wedding favors wedding food wedding games wedding gifts wedding gowns wedding guest wedding ideas wedding music wedding photography wedding planning wedding prep wedding rings wedding signature drinks wedding style wedding tradition wedding traditions wedding transportation wedding trends wedding venues wedding vows weddings wine winter wedding winter weddings
X
X
X