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Military Decorations without looking like 4th of July

SmithBuss2012SmithBuss2012
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in Military Brides

My fiance and I have been wanting to incorporate a little something military into our decorations. My issue is that I don't want it to look like a 4th of July party instead of our wedding. Help?

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Re: Military Decorations without looking like 4th of July

  • Beachy730Beachy730 member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    What would you be thinking of doing?  And what are your colors?  You could do subtle touches like a military cake topper, him wearing his uniform, a miltary garter, etc.  Are your colors red, white, and blue? 
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  • SmithBuss2012SmithBuss2012
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    edited December 2011
    We are going to have the military cake topper (He and a few groomsmen will also be in uniform) Our colors are royal blue, black, and white. I've kinda come up blank on anything else to tie in the military. I thought about adding an American flag in our decorations somewhere, but I was afraid it would be too 4th of July.
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  • sprtychick10sprtychick10
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    edited December 2011
    What about doing a sabre arch?

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  • Beachy730Beachy730 member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Yeah the arch of sabres is a good way to go too.  When I think American flag as a decoration I definitely think of 4th of July.  I guess I'm just thrown off a little by what you mean for decorations.  Are you doing an outdoor wedding?  Or just looking to spruce up your venue a bit? 
    Maybe you could do the seal of his branch on the invites, or the place/escort cards.  It's definitely up to you and your FI how much you want to incorporate it.  And if you can't think of anything else, I think you have pretty good ways of incorporating already.  Uniforms alone make it a military wedding.

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  • iluvmytxrgriluvmytxrgr member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    What about using pics of old recruiting posters as table cards?  Maybe you could ask family for coppies of old pics of other vets in your families.  You could copy them to be black and white or sepia toned, put them in small frames and incorporate them into the table decor. 
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  • ldubbs04ldubbs04 member
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    edited December 2011
    It's a worry of mine too! Having too much focus on the Marine Corps and not on our wedding and, not to sound narcissistic, me. We want to incorporate some things because it is who my fiance is and I am so proud of him but I am finding it difficult to be both patriotic and wedding elegant. We still have eleven months before our date and are only beginning the planning, but we have so far decided to have red cocktail napkins with the Marine insignia embossed on them, toothpicks with mini Marine flags (also for cocktail hour), and a few mini flags of the Marines and the US on the bar, where guests pick up their the table card things, and by some pictures of us on a different table. My colors are primarily gray and navy blue (he's wearing his uniform) with color pops of brushed gold. Oh, and white of course! I feel like my colors compliment my Marine while still being my own. Our favors are kind of rediculous, blueberry flavored fortune cookies with white chocolate and red sprinkles! That is the only red, white and blue thing we are having. I want blue and white flowers for my bouquet as well. For me, the Marine Corps is in the details and the day is wholly about my fiancee and me!
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  • truegirl89truegirl89
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_military-decorations-looking-like-4th-of-july?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:a00b3caa-ab5b-4aea-be4d-b636052a4570Post:b766bdbb-8e54-4658-92ed-e682c48123cb">Re: Military Decorations without looking like 4th of July</a>:
    [QUOTE]What about using pics of old recruiting posters as table cards?  Maybe you could ask family for coppies of old pics of other vets in your families.  You could copy them to be black and white or sepia toned, put them in small frames and incorporate them into the table decor. 
    Posted by iluvmytxrgr[/QUOTE]

    I think that this is a really good idea. It is a great way to incorporate the military, and to personalize.
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  • SmithBuss2012SmithBuss2012
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all the input and great ideas!! He will have a few of his buddies coming to do the saber arch for us, and I love the idea of putting the insignia on the place cards! Glad I'm not the only one with this problem
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  • seasidebride24seasidebride24
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Did you mention what branch he's in?  My FI and I wanted to incorporate things from the military but didn't want it to be all we did.  Since he is in the CG and I'm from a Navy family, we decided to use royal blue, white, black and silver as our colors.  And instead of doing anything too over the top, we went with a vintage nautical theme since that suits both of us perfectly.  The invitations have a compass rose on them and the envelopes are lined with vintage map paper (both relatively easy DIY projects).  My best suggestion is to find symbols/icons associated with your FI's branch and incorporate those so they don't overwhelm the wedding. 

    BTW, I love the suggestion for the old recruiting posters and pictures of family in uniform. 
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  • SmithBuss2012SmithBuss2012
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My FI is a West Point cadet while my dad and my oldest brother were both in the Army. His brother is in the Navy, and I know I have a few great uncles who were in the military but I'm not sure which branch. The nautical theme is cute! (obviously wouldn't work out for us though) I mentioned the insignia to a friend and they asked about it not being legal or copyright or something. Is that an issue? or was she thinking of something else?
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  • VraechelVraechel member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Maybe a grooms cake with a military theme? I've been teasing my husband we are going to have a submarine for his. Or one in the shape of the island of Guam since he was there 4 times on deployment. I don't think using the insignia is an issue. I got navy molds to make chocolates for the top of some cupcakes from a retail site. Right now I have ice cubes in them. I thought it was hysterically funny, but they arrived the same day my honey had a long day at work...
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  • mlesleevmlesleev member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Without looking like the 4th....That is the trick isnt it!! :-D  My fiance works on the KC-135 Stratotanker for the Air Force.  I'm having a Groom's cake made for him in the shape and design of the tanker.  My groom and his merry men are also bringing their headsets and flightline reflector belts to take funny photos in.  I'm sure there are lots of ways you could incorporate his job in to the wedding.
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