George Boyle
Planning a military wedding ceremony can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation, it can be a memorable and special occasion. From choosing the right venue, such as a military base or service academy, to deciding on the role of the commanding officer, there are many unique aspects to consider. Military weddings are steeped in tradition, from the Guard of Honour with the arch of swords to the ceremonial cutting of the wedding cake with a sword. Music and uniforms also play an important role, with military music and full uniforms adding to the pageantry of the event. Whether you're an officer yourself or marrying one, understanding military wedding etiquette will ensure your big day goes off without a hitch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Permission | The bride and/or groom should get permission from their commanding officer |
| Location | A military base or one of the service academies is a good option |
| Music | Military music could herald the beginning of the ceremony |
| Seating | The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should be seated towards the front of the ceremony near the parents |
| Uniforms | The couple should consider whether they would like their ushers to attend in full uniform and whether they would like to form a Guard of Honour with the arch of swords |
| Cake | The bride and groom may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake |
What You'll Learn
- The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should be seated near the front of the ceremony
- Military music can be played at the beginning of the ceremony
- The bride and groom may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake
- The Guard of Honour with the traditional arch of swords is customary pageantry
- A military base or one of the service academies is a great option for a venue
The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should be seated near the front of the ceremony
Planning a military wedding ceremony requires permission from your commanding officer. You should consider who to appoint as your ushers and whether you would like them to attend in full uniform. You could also have a Guard of Honour with a sword of arches for you both to walk through.
If the bride or groom is an officer, they may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake. Traditionally, the groom presents the sword over his arm with the blade pointed outward, to his bride. Then, holding his hand over hers, the couple cut the cake together. This makes for a great wedding photo opportunity.
A military base or one of the service academies is a great option for a military wedding. If you're hosting your ceremony at a base chapel, speak with the chaplain ahead of time about flower arrangements and music selections, as you'll need to get their permission for altar arrangements and any non-traditional music choices.
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Military music can be played at the beginning of the ceremony
The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should have a special place reserved for them towards the front of the ceremony, near the parents. You could also consider appointing ushers, and whether you would like them to attend in full uniform and/or form a Guard of Honour with the sword of arches for you both to walk through.
If the bride or groom is an officer, they may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake. The groom presents the sword over his arm with the blade pointed outward, to his bride. Then, holding his hand over hers, the bride and groom cut the cake together. The sword makes a great wedding photo opportunity, so be sure to let your guests know in advance.
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The bride and groom may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake
If the bride or groom is an officer, they may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake. This is a great photo opportunity, so be sure to let your guests know in advance. Traditionally, the groom presents the sword over his arm with the blade pointed outward, to his bride. Then, holding his hand over hers, the bride and groom cut the cake together.
You may want to appoint ushers to attend in full uniform, and they could form a Guard of Honour with a sword of arches for you both to walk through. If you are hosting your ceremony at a base chapel, speak with the chaplain ahead of time about flower arrangements and music selections, as you'll need to get their permission for altar arrangements and any non-traditional music choices.
The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should have a special place reserved for them towards the front of the ceremony near the parents. Military music could herald the beginning of the ceremony.
A military base or one of the service academies is a great option for a military wedding.
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The Guard of Honour with the traditional arch of swords is customary pageantry
Planning a military wedding ceremony is an exciting task, and there are many ways to incorporate military traditions into your special day. One such tradition is the Guard of Honour with the traditional arch of swords. This is a customary piece of pageantry that can be included in your wedding ceremony.
If you are planning to include the Guard of Honour, you should consider who to appoint as your ushers and whether you would like them to attend in full uniform. You can also decide whether you would like them to form the Guard of Honour with the arch of swords for you and your partner to walk through. This is a great photo opportunity, so be sure to let your photographer know in advance.
In addition, you may want to consider other military traditions to include in your wedding. For example, if the bride or groom is an officer, they may use a ceremonial military sword to cut the wedding cake. This makes for a memorable photo opportunity, so be sure to let your guests know in advance. You could also have military music herald the beginning of your ceremony.
When it comes to choosing a venue, a military base or one of the service academies is a great option for a military wedding. If you're hosting your ceremony at a base chapel, be sure to speak with the chaplain ahead of time about flower arrangements and music selections, as you'll need their permission for altar arrangements and any non-traditional music choices.
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A military base or one of the service academies is a great option for a venue
If you or your partner, or both of you, are in the army, navy or air force, you are entitled to have a military wedding, in full uniform. Although you are no longer required formally to ask your Commanding Officer for permission to get married, you may still be expected to. The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should have a special place reserved for them towards the front of the ceremony near the parents. Military music could herald the beginning of your ceremony.
You should also consider who to appoint as your ushers, whether you would like them to attend in full uniform, whether you would like them to form a Guard of Honour with the sword of arches for you both to walk through, and if you want to have any other military traditions included in your ceremony. If the bride or groom is an officer, they may use a ceremonial military sword to cut their wedding cake – a great photo opportunity.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditions of a military wedding include the bride and/or groom cutting the wedding cake with a ceremonial military sword, the Guard of Honour with the traditional arch of swords, and military music.
You should consider who to appoint as your ushers, whether you would like them to attend in full uniform, and whether you would like them to form a Guard of Honour. You should also consider the venue, with a military base or one of the service academies being a great option. If you're hosting your ceremony at a base chapel, speak with the chaplain ahead of time about flower arrangements and music selections, as you'll need to get their permission for altar arrangements and any non-traditional music choices.
Although you are no longer required formally to ask your commanding officer for permission to get married, you may still be expected to. Once you have been granted permission, you can go about planning your military wedding ceremony. The commanding officer of the bride and/or groom should have a special place reserved for them towards the front of the ceremony near the parents.
Hiring experienced pros, such as wedding planners with knowledge of military life and weddings, is an important step in ensuring the big day goes off without a hitch.
