A military wedding is a fascinating way to make the most important day of your life memorable. If you or your loved one is in the military, you should definitely consider arranging a military wedding. In San Antonio, hundreds of people decide to get married in a military setting. Compared to ordinary weddings, military weddings are very different. They are unique in the sense that the groom usually wears the military uniform. Being such a huge city, there are many ways to arrange military weddings in San Antonio. If you have decided to opt for a military wedding, here are a few things that you should consider:
The Venue
Rather than simply head out to the courthouse or a church, consider getting married at the Academy Grounds or a Military chapel. Generally, a military chapel is an on- demand ceremony site. You will need to make the reservation at least a year prior to the marriage (since they are usually booked round the year). Reservation can be done by writing the office of the chaplain. If you are already in the Armed Forces, it is unlikely that you will have to pay any fees for using the military chapel or the academy grounds. However, you will be expected to make a donation to the in- house fund. Military weddings will look perfect at such venues. Do keep in mind that in certain places, you will have to furnish the decorations yourself.
Find an Officiant
An officiant is a person, usually a priest, who will officiate the marriage. Usually, religious officiants are ordained by their respective religious denominations. If you decide to get married in a military chapel, a chaplain will officiate the weeding. When you file an application for reserving the chapel, you will arrange a meeting with the chaplain. In some cases, you will also be required to hold a few sessions of counseling. These sessions are essentially important in order to get an idea of post- wedding marriage life. The chaplain will guide you about the changes in your life, as well as your religious and social responsibilities. As per custom, you will have to offer an honorarium to the clergyman.
Traditional Military Attire
The third step that you need to keep in mind is to wear traditional military attire. If the groom is a military man, he must wear the appropriate military uniform. If the groom is a commissioned officer, he may even be required to wear a cutlass or a saber on his belt. White gloves are also customary. Whereas wives traditionally stand to the left of the groom at the altar, she will stand to the groom’s right in military weddings.