Military Wedding

I would not put anything. We are military. I think the tone of your invite will tell them what to wear.

A lot of military people like to wear a suit because they always have to wear their uniforms for everything else.

We are both military. I am Air Force.

There is no formal uniform based on rank. There is: service dress, semi-formal, and mess dress. Which one will he be wearing? In the insert of the invitation cite the uniform you would like them to wear and the civilian equivalent. For example:

"Semi formal uniform invited"

"Mess dress uniform invited"

"Service dress invited"

Do not put formal, since Air Force does not have a "formal" uniform. It is called a Mess Dress. If you have questions, contact your FH's base's protocol office and make an appointment to ask for advice on invitations, etc. They will more than likely help you out. Don't stress too much You can also not put uniform information but let it be known either word of mouth or on the wedding website.

FH is wearing Army mess dress, and my father (retired AF) will be wearing his as well. So will several of our guests. However, we are letting it be known (word of mouth) that they are welcome to change for the reception.

If your protocol office won't help you out, let me know and I'll help you

Also, have you thought about doing the saber team as you exit the church? If so, you need to get with the leader of the team and get on their schedule ASAP. It's free, but remember that if something "more important" (i.e. the memorial of a KIA) comes up, then your wedding might get bumped. But it's a beautiful tradition.

Edited: because I suck at typing

I'm DJing for a military couple in September who are both active. I can't wait!

@TOM- we know how to party

Edited: wait til the guys wearing the mess dress take off their jackets and you see the crazy shirts they wear underneath-- it's hilarious!!

No doubt about that! ))

Trust me, it is hilarious watching a 3 star general (not US, but at a US function) breaking it down to "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas

I can only imagine. Mine are actually Air Force as well.

Yay Air Force

Hey Thanks-

The groom will be wearing a Mess Dress but we are concerned with putting mess dress invited b/c lower invited ranks may not have one. So should we take the semi formal invited route? Thanks for the advice! We are on the saber schedule :-)

Just put "uniform invited" along with" semi-formal attire requested" for your non military guests. They're trained to know which is appropriate for what occasions.

We didnt have a military wedding per se, but H wore his dress blues. We told everyone via word of mouth to wear the equivalent of their dress blues.

Doesn't everyone have Mess Dress? I thought that was the basic suit you got on/after boot?

And I don't think you put these things in an invite. We always used word of mouth, as in groom saying he's wearing such and such, and also by putting each persons formal ranking as their title on the invite. Such as Corporal Ooo-rah, and Retired Chief Petty Officer Cracker Jacks(nickname for Navy's working whites).

This would help show the formality. Also, tmk, on a formal invite, ranks should be completely spelled out, if space available. Semi formal can have abbreviations on the middle or the first portion of rank-

1st Seargent

First Sgt.

First Lt. Dan(hehe forest gump)

Private, or Pvt.

Pfc. Or Private First Class

Each word of the rank is to be capitalized.

Also, I thought they don't encourage an arch with regular enlisted? We always thought it wa funny hearing how a Corp had an arch. Like, seriously? And heads up, talk to your wives club or the local reserve unit. They aren't REQUIRED to so it for anyone other than an officer. And even then, if something more important comes up, have a back up plan.

First of all, why wouldn't enlisted have an arch? And who in their right mind would try to DISCOURAGE it?? A corporal (Cpl) has just as much right to a saber team at his/her wedding as an officer. I hope the way you came across (like, seriously??) is not the way you MEANT to come across. A saber team is not REQUIRED to attend ANY wedding unless it's a general officer, and even then it is a REQUEST, NOT A REQUIREMENT. The wives' club- which is actually a spouses' club- has absolutely nothing to do with the saber team.

And no, enlisted are issued SERVICE DRESS, not mess dress, while in basic training. It is only a required item for officers.

On wedding invitations- whether casual or formal- the rank is not abbreviated. The only thing abbreviated is United States, when referring to branch, i.e. U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force.

FH is in the navy and will be wearing his dress whites. We are saying something like "military guests are invited to wear uniforms." I don't really care what ppl wear if try aren't in the wedding party or sword arch, and we will be talking to those people directly.

Ignore the Wives Club. I did. They're usually a clique. I have to say, Cheetah, that came off super condescending and stuff like that is why so many enlisted spouses feel discriminated against.

Thank you Pan.

So I have been looking this stuff up lately, because FH is in the navy. It looks like sword arches are supposed to be reserved for officers, although there is some online talk of allowing chiefs to have them as well. enlisted are supposed to use rifles or hand salutes. I'm not saying that I agree with this... but that is what the "rules" are. I'm not sure what kind of ass would "tattle" on you as an enlisted having a sword arch, but i would recommend against it if you are inviting officers to the wedding. I know that some people are ALL ABOUT their branch of the military....tradition seems to be everything with them, and they could be really offended by stuff like that. I'm not really sure if there would be consequences, I just wouldn't risk getting in trouble.

i hope that didn't sound bitchy...

Also...i find it really weird that there is a saber team! for every navy wedding i've been to, the sword arch is done by friends of the couple who are in the navy.