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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You can find Military cake toppers at http://www.miscaketops.com
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!
You can do the swords but calling his recruiter and if they have sword they can do it!
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!
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 !!!!
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!
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….
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.