How Does a Military Wedding Ceremony Go?
Other People Are Reading
-
Dress
-
Military officers or enlisted men and women are encouraged to wear their uniforms to the ceremony. However, most brides in the military choose to go with a traditional wedding gown instead. The gentlemen in the wedding party are also expected to wear white dress gloves, especially if they're going to be saber bearers, though the groom can remove his gloves for the exchange of the rings. The formality of the uniforms depends on the dress code for the wedding and each soldier's rank. Officers are always expected to wear dress blues.
Saber arch
-
The most recognizable aspect of a military wedding is the crossing of the swords, or sabers. However, this tradition actually occurs after the official religious ceremony is over. This is partly because most religious establishments don't allow brandishing of swords in holy sanctuaries. As the couple exits the church, synagogue or other wedding venue, soldiers flank them on both sides, forming a receiving line.
Once in place, the soldiers raise their swords high overhead with their right hands, angling the blades at about 45 degrees to form an archway over the aisle, except the last two soldiers in the line. These soldiers cross their swords directly in front of the couple until the groom kisses the bride. Then they raise their swords to let them pass through. Some couples choose to practice this tradition as they enter the reception hall instead or even to do both.
-
Cake cutting
-
While the cake cutting ceremony is important to most wedding celebrations, it takes on additional significance in a military wedding. The bride and groom use a selected officer's or the groom's saber to make the ceremonial first slice. The bride places her hand on the hilt and the groom covers her hand with his. Then they cut the cake together.
Additional traditions
-
There are numerous further traditions that the couple can choose for their military wedding. Most of these traditions depend on the branch of the military represented in the ceremony and the rank of the bride or groom. See the Resources section below for further details.
-
