Future brother in law Marine and his dress blues

If you both decided to ask him and you knew money was tight for him, then I would disagree with your decision. If he already owns a suit or can perfectly afford a new one to match with the other groomsmen, then I don’t see any issue.

Maybe I’m not completely informed on dress blues etiquette, but I agree it would be a separate focal point in the lineup of groomsmen. Is he technically able to appear in formal wear that isn’t his official military uniform? If so, I think having him blend in with the other groomsmen would be ideal for the sake of ubiquity and focus on the couple. Maybe his service could be honored in the ceremony program somehow?

View Quoted Comment Future wife of a marine. He is definitely allowed to wear something besides his dress blues. And my FH thinks he shouldn’t wear his dress blues to the ceremony either lol it will be too distracting.

My brother is USAF and I asked him this question as well, he said not necessary and doesn’t want to. At some point in the career I think it is necessary but that’s probably 15 years in.
if he wanted to wear his uniform we would have proudly had him wear it. We’re thankful for his service. Hell, we moved our wedding up a whole year to work between his deployments lol!

Its totally up to you but he will definitely steal the show. My FH is a marine and he said it would be very distracting if he wore his dress blues but if you're ok with him wearing them then that's great.

Former army here...

What is his reasoning for wanting to wear his dress blues? Is it money? Is he enlisted? Enlisted get paid jack. Some enlisted get paid so low they qualify for food stamps. If this is the case, can you/someone cover the costs? In some areas, it literally was ridiculous. I was an e4 in a really high cost area and I had to go to a food bank. Enlisted being on food stamps is not talked about often but military pay reform is needed.

Is it pride? Because pride is another thing and the reception is a great place for that but the ceremony.

For those not familiar with military, dress blues are like a suit but it's kinda free/required to be maintained for other things.

It’s one thing if he was the groom, by all means wear the dress blues. As a groomsman I would be with you and ask him to wear the same as the rest of the groomsmen. I appreciate him serving our country, but the day should be about you and your FH and him not matching the rest of the groomsmen the is standing with will just bring all the attention to him instead of the bride and groom.

I would say you're right for asking him not to wear them since he would stand out from the other groomsmen and that might not make pictures look uniformed (if that matters to you). He could always wear them for pictures with his brother and parents and you or during the reception. I hope this helps!

I doubt he will change for the reception. I would just let him wear them if he wants to. My fiance is a USMC veteran and so are 2 of the groomsmen, all had the option to wear their blues instead of their suit.

In this, if he wants to wear his dress blues, he is rich to wear them, and not something in any color scheme. Look even at royal weddings: If the king or prince is in the service when they marry, they wear their uniforms, not suits or tuxes. Etiquette convention is that military dress take precedence over any formal dress style.

Right, not rich, to wear dress blues.

No.... The only time someone should wear dress blues to your wedding is if your own FH wants to wear them. My FH is a Marine and we have plenty of his Marine buddies coming to the wedding and none of them are wearing their dress blues... His one groomsmen is in the Army and he's not wearing his uniform either..

I believe he should get permission to wear them from you and your fiancé due to what you said he will stand out. It is y’alls wedding so no one should catch the attention but y’all

Nope. Doesn’t need to wear his blues he can be in normal and if you’re fine with blues for reception, great! Little bit of irony, they are fighting for our freedom, in these moments it’s your freedom to choose.

Military foes not get paid a lot. Tux rentals can be crazy expensive. Does he have a issue with the money?