Military Wedding Etiquette: What Your Guests Should Know Before the Ceremony

The beauty of a military wedding is unforgettable. For brides and grooms who choose to incorporate military traditions on their special day, there are specific protocols to follow. 

Here’s what your guests should know before the ceremony. 

What the Bride and Groom Should Wear

Should one or both partners be in the military, they can choose to wear ceremonial dress instead of regular civilian clothes. For grooms, their clothing depends on the season. If it’s winter, they can wear their dress blues. If it’s the summertime, the groom can wear their dress whites. Brides can wear their ceremonial uniform or the usual wedding dress. The clothing also depends on their rank in the army. If the bride and groom are officers, their evening dress are used for white tie affairs, dinner uniforms are for black-tie affairs. 

What the Guests Should Wear

If the guests are also in the military, they should be notified on what the bride and groom are wearing. This is to make sure their outfits match the level of formality as the groom and bride’s attire. Of course, the uniforms do depend on the branch, but should still have the same level of formality. If any of the guests attending the wedding is carrying a saber, they must wear white gloves.

How to Include Ranks in the Invitations

When addressing members of the army, it’s very important that they are addressed by their rank before their name. Of course, this is only if their ranking is captain or higher. Guests who are in the Navy with a ranking of lieutenant senior or higher must also have their rank put first. Anyone with a lower rank has to be listed after the rank of the personnel. “Mr.” and “Mrs.” is considered informal to any personnel who is still on duty.

Seating

Military weddings are some of the most prestigious ceremonies you will ever experience. Regardless of whether you choose to have traditional wedding or nontraditional theme, military ceremonies are symbolic. When it comes time for the reception, seating arrangements needs to considered. Every branch of service needs specialized seating. As such, each branch of service does have specific guidelines for seating.

Steeped in history and tradition, a military wedding is a moment to remember. And although are wonderful, none surpass the beauty of a well-organized wedding. If you are in a military family and have military loved ones around you then you can learn from their wisdom about how to keep a healthy relationship with distance and hardship. You can have journals at each table for them to write advice. They can say what online university for militaryhelped them get their career, how to make room for date nights, how to keep romance alive when deployed etc. You have a well of knowledge from loved ones. Use it and enjoy you day.