Military Wedding Favors
After all, few events can out-glamour an officer's wedding with attendants and ushers in full “mess” dress, smart white gloves and those gleaming decorations.
And you and your honey's passage through that arch of sabers or rifles? Civilians are so jealous, they've devised all kinds of creative ways of getting in on the experience: arches of golf clubs, fire hatchets, fishing poles ...
Not to mention, "tears of joy" packs never work quite as hard as they do at a wedding full of American flags and flowers. (And bridesmaids are never quite as thrilled to serve as when they're standing opposite young men in uniform.)
But what to choose for favors?
Anything stars and stripes are right up your alley. Consider sweet sugar
cookies in red, white and blue, or star-topped votives.
But the cutest idea we've seen so far: clear-top favor tins wrapped in a slender satin ribbon and filled with red, white and blue jelly beans (or M&Ms). Or give this idea the gift box look: fill white cube boxes with sweets of your choice, and tie off with luxe satin ribbons (half the boxes in blue, and half in red).
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Insider Intelligence
Q: How can I add a few military touches to my wedding without having a "military theme"?
Nod to the service in your Groom's cake. Add a military pin to your garter, or a camouflage garter. Sneak in a few military hymns during your recessional or reception. Put out a scrapbook filled with military photos and mementos. Cut the wedding cake with a saber. Grace the cake with a custom military topper.
Q: Where can I find discounts on my military wedding?
A: Almost everywhere. Perhaps the most dramatic discounts are found when it's time to book your honeymoon, but you can also find deals on accessories and invites.
Tag an easy 10-20% off online purchases with sites that aggregate this information, such as this military.com women's discount page.
If you live in a big military town and are in the service yourself, try shopping vendors after work while still in uniform — you may find them offering discounts unasked.
Q: And the honeymoon?
Good news: you won't have to look hard to turn up substantial discounts on airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises.
Thinking Disney? Pleasant in-park accommodations are yours when you book at "Shades of Green," a military-friendly hotel that sets their room rates according to rank. The booking soldier can sponsor up to three rooms at discount. Don't forget — you'll be able to buy discounted tickets to surrounding theme parks, too.
Carnival Cruise also offers generous discounts to military couples — ranging from 10-40% or even higher. The discount applies only to those residing in the couple's cabin, but for a small party, the price can't be beat.
Marriott has good military discounts, offering "special rates at or below your US government per diem."
To hunt for specific discounts, head to Military.com's Deal Center or call the companies directly.
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Q: How do you choose your colors for a military wedding? Do you have to match the service colors, or stick with red, white and blue?
A: Many, but certainly not all, brides start with some element of the grooms/best men's "dress mess" or full dress attire.
Otherwise, white and red is a popular choice. Not surprising, since it's elegant, classic and carries an appropriate whiff of patriotism. As for brides whose groom are wearing all-white? They often turn to pink, to capitalize on the fairy tale feel.
Of course, many brides go with colors close to their hearts — seafoam, lavender, periwinkle — whatever tickles their fancy. Either approach is fine! There's no need to match your wedding colors to a uniform unless you want to.
De-Classify Your Finds!
Planning a military wedding is tough work — where the burden often falls on you, the bride, even more than usual. Delight someone else who's just starting the process by sharing your ideas, plans, finds and photos below.You Might Also Like ...
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Tags: military wedding 
March 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I know what you mean. I went traditional as well, from the White dress to the veil, dress blue’s uniform for my husband, etc. It was awesome! The dress color is totally up to the individual. There is really no right or wrong color anymore….in fact I have seen Red wedding gowns! My husband was in Iraq for two tours and we had to push our renewal back several times. I am glad I waited to see where he was going to be before we put money down on the hall, flowers, etc. When it is all said and done, everything will be gorgeous and memorable for you both! I am so glad our 3 kids were involved in the entire ceremony! GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Hi All,
My fiance is currently in Afghanistan and I am trying to decide when to plan our wedding. We are hoping to have it in April 2009, but are afraid that he won’t be back in time. What do you suggest? Pushing it back or just trying to move the date.
Additionally, he doesn’t want to be married in his blues, but I would like to incorporate something Army-ish because it has been a large part of his life. Please help me with ideas… as you all have said it is hard to plan a wedding alone.
Thanks!!!
Shani
February 21st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
We are renewing our vows this May on our 7th anniversary. My husband is currently in Iraq as well.. and I have been planning this wedding with him helping as much as he can from there. We looked at bridesmaids dresses online and by chatting online about it I was able to have him help out with the final decision. Guys don’t always want to be a part of some decision making.. so you sometimes have to do the major leg work and once you have narrowed your choises to a few, then ask for their opinion.
As this is a renewal of vows, I chose to go with an ivory dress. We had the shotgun wedding in the courthouse and this is our chance to have the wedding we never had.
We are going with a military feel all the way down to the ring bearers dressed to match the guys dress blues.
For centerpieces…. I decided to go with white and navy napkins in a twist under a mirror tile and a candle in a hurricane globe to top it off.. Simple yet elegant enough to match the theme.
Bottom line ladies… You can choose to do your wedding how you want it.. 1st, 2nd marriages, find the dress YOU like and go with it. Afterall… it is your day.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
We are having an Air Force Wedding. Colors are red/white/silver with the Air Force dress blues. Since wedding is July 5th the only blue will be the guys… don’t want over-kill on the red white & blue!! Arch of sabres and patriotic music for “grand entrance” into reception hall
January 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
KATIE, if you are having multiple branches of the military represented then the “odd” man out could always dress in the Airforce mess dress without rank or insignia…it would basically be a dark blue suit. Otherwise a traditional black tux would look fine.
Best Wishes!
November 14th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Ok…I have a bit of a dilemma. The colors I chose for my wedding are periwinkle blue and yellow. I kind of have a blue rose theme going, but only slightly. My bouget will have blue roses and the invitations have blue roses on them.
My fiance is in the Army and his unit is 1st Cavalry. I found out after choosing my colors that his units colors are royal blue and gold (so the colors i pick actually kind of go). We will have the Sabre Salute (arch of swords) so I was wanting to incorporate Army/military. I am so lost about what to do for centerpieces. Should I just go with my color theme, or is there away to mix in the Army side?
October 20th, 2007 at 8:18 am
I am engaged to a soilder who is curently stationed in Iraq he is deployed for a while. He wants to get married within the first three months that he is back from Iraq in 2009. We picked a date tententively it is Feb 6, 2009. I wanted to plan this wedding with him next to me not half way around the world. So I have been trying to look at things on the website because he has been really talking about planning our wedding. I guess I am just not sure how to plan a wedding with the groom so far away. I know that he is going to wear dress blues also, I am not sure what I should were because I have children and this will be my second wedding?
October 13th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I am engaged to an US Army Solider who is currently in Iraq, and will be home in either March or July–for our wedding. My colors are black, pink and white, I just picked out my dress and bridemaids dresses today. And I will be making the flowers. Daises of course but I am really wanting
pink rose too, any suggestions for this would be apprectiate, and decortaions for the reception I need help with too, Thanks and God Bless our soliders!!!
October 12th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Hello,
I am already married, but was a small quick court thing because she was leaving for iraq. He comes home in July and i have started planning for our wedding. My question is i see alot invitations with the wedding dress and tux. Where do you think i fing one with the dress and one in the green class a’s??
September 24th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hi Katie,
My husband and I renewed our vows and he and his bestman were the only ones who were in their uniforms. The rest were in their tuxes. (The pictures from my wedding were so awesome and brought tears to my eyes, cause the uniforms set them off!!) As far as your fiance’ looking silly, quite the opposite. He will be the one that people will be focusing on, so it is fitting that he be the one that “stands out.” Just remember this is something you both will do once, and it should be what you both want. Good luck! You both will look wonderful.
September 24th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I am marrying a national gaurdsman in 2009, we are also paying for everything ourselves. All the men he has picked to be ushers are in some branch or other, except one, I think he will look silly being the only one in uniform, but my fiance is die hard military and won’t settle for anything less than uniform. what should the ‘odd one out’ wear? any suggestions. It is also hard to plan colors because the gaurd is changing formal uniforms next year. help!
September 9th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
My daughter is getting married in Nov. to a Marine. She wanted an Italian theme for the reception and food, so we ended up with going with
white dress, red embellishments, flowers up at the front for the ceremony with black wrought iron accents throughout, and adding grapevines, etc. in the back. Ceremony and reception are all being held in one room, in our City Auditorium.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I am marrying a marine in march 2008, my color is burgundy, im having a sword ceremony, and my man is wearing his dress blues, My advice to anyone who is planning a military wedding is just to search for ideas on the net, look for any unique military stuff that will make your wedding yours…you only get married once so you should do it exactly how you want it!! I have been searching everywhere to do things that are unique….I am also on a budget but there are so many ways you can cut costs…. ebay, garage sales, internet stores, just do your research and you will be in great shape…trust me! Im all for a bargain ecspecially when theres so much to pay for that have to do with the wedding… just search under google and type in military wedding apparel, etc. you will be surprised with all you find!! Good luck!
July 30th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I am also marrying a Marine in 2008 and I am at a total loss at where to even begin! I wanted to have my colors white and lilac and then I was thinking of doing the reception red,white, and blue but I’m not sure if that’s appropriate????? Any suggestions??
July 28th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I am marrying a MARINE, and we are unsure of the theme…. I was wondering if the whole Red, white, and blue idea is actually a good one.. Ideas would be great too!! Thanks!
July 17th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I’m Marrying a Marine in May 2008!!!! He doesn’t want red white and blue but he’s going to be wearing his blues and the bridesmaids are gonna be wearing red. so i was thinking red and gold but i can’t think of decorations that won’t look overdone red and gold
June 25th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I am marrying my MARINE in December 2007.
I have been wanting to do “antique/light antique pink” color theme, for years.
But “now” that he is a marine, would it look stupid with his untiform? Any suggestions? To help out the situation?
Thanks!!!
May 20th, 2007 at 2:50 am
My fiance is in the NAVY. We’re getting married in December, and for my favors I wanted to get mine and my fiance’s name and the date embroidered on miniature sailor caps. Does anyone know where I could find some mini caps? Thanks!!
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
You can find Military cake toppers at www.miscaketops.com
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Hi Hollie, we are contacting the local Marine Reserves Unit out here since we aren’t active duty anymore. (We got out of the Marine Corps in October of last year.) If we were still active duty, we would have contacted our Gunnery Sgt or Master Gunnery Sgt. to get the permission to sign out the swords. I don’t know if you need an officer’s permission as well, but the chain of command should know all of the details. Good Luck!
April 17th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
You can do the swords but calling his recruiter and if they have sword they can do it!
April 17th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I’am getting married in sept. 2007 and i need to find a wedding cake topper with the groom wearing his dress whites. I’ve been looking and i havent found one yet. If anyone has any suggestions please share!
April 13th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
hey i am getting married july 14th 2007 and i was wondering if anyone knew where i could get some marines to do the sword arch as a suprise toward my fiance?? if so please contact me back asap thanks !!!!
March 4th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
I have been married to a MARINE for the past 10 1/2 years now. We are renewing our wedding vows this year, and are planning on having a military wedding. Our colors are Red, White and Blue, of course, but the red color will match the Marine Corps’ “Scarlet” stripe on the blue’s pants of those in the Sword Detail. My husband is wearing his Dress White pants, to distinguish him as the Groom. My Maid and Matron of honors are wearing White, my Junior Bridesmaids are wearing Blue, and my Bridesmaids are wearing Red.
Our wedding budget is small as well being that we have three kids, have recently bought a home, and have gotten out of the Marine Corps after 12 years of service, and two tours in Iraq. We are using the invitations from Wal-Mart and having them printed at the local printing store which charges .10 cents per copy. I punched holes in the tops of the invitations, and threaded red, white and blue ribbon through the holes and tied them into a bow. It dresses up the invitations without having to spend the enourmous amount of money that comes with weddings sometimes.
I have also began making my bouquets for the bridesmaids, which are very simple. It isn’t very hard to make your wedding the most beautiful without having to spend a ton of money. Good Luck to you and your Marine, Semper Fi!
February 28th, 2007 at 5:59 am
I am engaged to a UNITED STATES MARINE he is deploying to IRAQ in Auntgust and he wants to be married on leave in June. We have a very small budget . He and I are paying fro everythign ourself…. My family wont help and I myself don’t have very much money and his parents are unable to help…. he has two brothers and a sister still at home.
He wants to give me the world and I amtryoingto figure out and plan ths wedding… I cant come up with a theme…I donthave any idea how to really get started, and my budget is small. Everyone has an opinion anf what everything has to be like, but we are just gettign started and I dont want to start our life togethre in debt… any suggestions would be great… Thank you a very confused and scared Bride to Be….
August 25th, 2005 at 9:54 am
I am marrying a former Marine and I choose to do a black tie wedding party. The actual wedding “color” will be maroon which will match the ribbing in his dress blues. It looks great with matching flowers and table linens at the reception.