Walking down the streets of Downtown Annapolis you’ll always find a pack of midshipman passing by in uniform. The presence of the United States Naval Academy has shaped the waterfront city for centuries, making military weddings a large part of Annapolis’s history. But how are military weddings different from civilian wedding? I was able to gain some insider’s information on these military weddings from Claire MacCallum of the USNA Chaplain Center and found that for the most part they are the same. But when planning a military wedding, like I’m trying to do, there are certain traditions, etiquette, and customs that should be noted.
Above Images by: Liz and Ryan via Naval Academy Wedding
The first thing everyone pictures for a military wedding is the tradition of the Arch of Swords. It’s the moment the bride and groom exit the chapel doors and they walk through the iconic arch created and held up by six to eight commissioned military officers, standing opposite one another. These officers can be made up of the groomsmen, ushers, and even sword arches of many different branches. At the Naval Academy there have been Sword Arches comprised of the British Navy, Austrailian Navy, Coastguard, and graduates from VMI. When the swords are raised, it is customary that one of members of the sword arch, tap the bride on the shoulder and say to her, “Welcome to the Navy!” Macullum explains the reason behind the Arch of Swords as “a way to welcome the couple to the military lifestyle and to the life they are starting together.”
Another great use of the military sword at weddings is the cake cutting. This is when the groom (or bride if she is military) will take their sword and hand it to their spouse. The bride will hold the sword out in front of her and the groom will place his right hand over hers so that they are holding the sword together. Then the two will cut the cake with the saber.
Abby Grace Photography via Naval Academy Wedding
When it comes to the proper dress attire for weddings there are several considerations to take notice of including the season, time of day, and formality of the event. There are pages upon pages in military etiquette manuals defining what they should wear for very formal occasions, daytime formal occasions, evening occasions, etc. With all the information out there the most important thing to remember is to “follow the current version of uniform regulations for levels of dress,” says MacCullum. A good resource for what uniform to wear for your wedding is the Protocol Officer on any base.
Military invitations are not as daunting as they appear. Just remember, that when writing to military personnel that you address them by their title and position. So an outside envelope would read Ensign and Mrs. Gerred Michael Olona for a married couple or Ensign Gerred Michael Olona for addressing one guest. MacCullum recommends working with invitation vendors and specialists that know how to address military invitations.
By incorporating these age old traditions and etiquette into your special day, you’ll be sure to have a wedding full of style and the unique pomp and circumstance known to military weddings.
