Military Wedding Attire - Advice Please

Comment by AbbyBlue on September 30, 2009 at 6:13pm

long grows and tux would be the dress for a formal military wedding

Comment by AbbyBlue on September 30, 2009 at 6:15pm

WEDDING ATTIRE
Probably the main distinction of a military wedding is that the bride and/or groom, as well as service members in the wedding party, usually wear their uniforms. The type of uniform depends on the style of the wedding, the time of day, the season, and most importantly, the government-issued uniform manual:


Mess dress uniform is worn for both ultra-formal and formal weddings (i.e., a white or black-tie affair). For most branches, this means a dark-blue uniform, but during the summer months, the army and navy men may wear white pants.


Class-A or Service dress uniform is appropriate at a semiformal event (comparable to a suit). Like the Mess dress uniforms, these are also dark-blue and sometimes with white pants.


The bride and bridesmaids can wear their uniforms (if applicable) but many military brides opt for a traditional white wedding gown. Bridesmaids might wear navy bridesmaids' gowns to complement the colors of the men's uniforms, or any other color dress the bride prefers.


If any of the groomsmen are members of a different service than the groom (Army instead of Navy, for example), they simply wear a uniform of comparable formality to his. The groom and best man do not wear gloves because they will be handling the rings, but the other ushers wear white gloves throughout the ceremony. Boutonnieres are never worn with uniforms; instead, officers wear their military decorations.


Should the fathers of the bride or groom be active or retired officers, they may wear uniforms. So may mothers, although they usually choose to wear traditional mother-of-the-bride attire.

Any non-military wedding-party members simply wear traditional wedding clothes of the same level of formality as those in uniform.


Military guests (active or retired) may wear their uniforms or traditional formal attire. For a black- or white-tie affair, put "Mess dress uniform invited" on the invites to request that your guests come in uniform. For a semiformal wedding put either "Class A uniform invited" or "Service dress uniform invited."

Comment by SueS (ABF Mom) on October 1, 2009 at 8:22am

If the guys are in their white/dress uniforms I would assume it is formal and wear long. My niece had a military wedding (Navy) and it was formal. Congrats!

Comment by Anti M on October 1, 2009 at 2:26pm

Something nice, a semi-formal cocktail dress, and comfortable shoes if dancing will be involved. A long gown would be too "prom", pants would be too casual. Choose from the bride's colors, a few shades off so you don't match the bridesmaids. Check with the bride's mom as to what she's wearing if you can, so you two won't match exactly! Alternatively, choose a shade of blue, always good for photos and goes nicely with the uniforms.

May I suggest dad and brother find nice ties in the bride's chosen colors? A thoughtful gesture on their part. And no white socks. LOL. (old family joke, would take far too long to explain)

Congratulations. We expect pictures.

Comment by LisaG-WA (PeteG's Mom) on October 1, 2009 at 3:40pm

My husband and I were married in a full Roman Catholic Mass in the late afternoon as well, with a full reception, sit down dinner and dancing following....when we were both active duty Naval Officers. My husband wore his dinner dress blues...the short coat tux with gold cumberbund, complete with sword, which he used to cut our cake. I chose to wear a traditional wedding dress. My brother, a Navy Senior Chief at the time, also wore his dinner dress blues. The rest of the wedding party were civilians. The men in the wedding party wore the dark tuxes similar to the Navy ones. The women in our wedding party wore dresses in a fabric and colors I had chosen. My mother-in-law, the mother of the Groom, wore a nice evening gown. As I remember it was of a gold tissue material with pearls, a formal to below the calf. My mother wore a pink evening suit. The colors of my wedding were pink, burgundy and emeerald green in velvet fabric and it was a December wedding.

Comment by Jackie on October 3, 2009 at 3:55pm

You my wear anything that would be appropriate at any other wedding. Ask your soon to be daughter in law if there is a certain color that she would like you to wear. But any nice dress should be fine.

Comment by Kalena on October 5, 2009 at 2:23pm

I am not an officer mom but, wear what ever you are comfy in. Ask the mother of the bride what she is wearing? Or if you can go shopping with your future daughter in law. Good Luck with what ever you decide on and have a good time at the wedding.

Comment by J from O on October 5, 2009 at 7:21pm

What are the bridesmaids wearing? This is the advise I can give you. At all military balls that I have been to (my husband is a retired O6) the miltary men were in dress blues and the women were in a mixture of short and long dresses, but all formal. So....I would assume you could wear short or long but formal. However, you do not want to be more formal than the brides mom rule of thumb so contact her to see what she is wearing before you decide. I would assum at 5pm it will be formal. Hope this helps and enjoy!

Comment by flowermom (ship 12 div 383) on October 6, 2009 at 11:55am

good morning, I am actually a florist. The norm is for the mother of the bride to select her dress first. Then the groom's mom. The groom's mom is not to wear the same color as the MOB. Also if she pick a short dress, then you should also. I would keep in mind what the bridesmaids are wearing also.
Congratulations!

Comment by Mom25 on October 6, 2009 at 11:11pm

It's a great chance to dress up, although wedding customs in your area could affect your choice. There is not a hard rule that says you have to wear formal wear just because the men in the wedding party will be wearing their dress uniforms. I'd ask the bride and her mother if they have a preference and follow their lead. The last two weddings I've attended, including my daughter's had Naval officers present in dress uniforms, which is unusual in my part of the country. The ladies felt special being ushered to their seats by someone in dress whites. Congratulations! - Chris in CO

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