Service Dress for the Ceremony, Changing for the Reception?

sweetlilpsycho

So, my finace and I are planning to have him wear his SDW's for the ceremony, and I in a rented gown, and then changing into something more comfortable for the reception.  My question is: will this send mixed signals to the military guests?  Are they going to get upset if they come in Whites and my man changes into something else?  Should he just suck it up and wear the whites all night?  I didn't want to banish him to the uniform for seven hours or so, but he looks so handsome in it, and since I used to be in the Navy as well, I want to keep it in the ceremony, what to do???

LetsHikeToday

Does he want to wear it at all? Your post makes it seem like its your decision. Personally, I didn't even ask H if he wanted to wear his uniform. His outfit was up to him and he wanted to wear a suit or tux.

iluvmytxrgr

If I was asked to wear my dress uniform and wore it only to see the groom change out of his later, I'd be pretty miffed.  Those things are damn uncomfortable.  If you ask people to wear uniforms, either let them know he is changing for the reception so they might also have that option or he just needs to suck it up and wear it all night. 

crownsuperstar

The guys at ours wore their uniforms then entire time.  They really didn't seem to bothered by it.  They were all able to "get down" on the dance floor without a problem.  

calindi

My FI plans to change into a suit after the cocktail hour (maybe, maybe not - we'll have it available and he can choose that day what he feels like doing).  Most of our military guests are close friends, and we've told them all face-to-face (or over the phone) that they are welcome to wear their uniforms if they want and to participate in the arch of swords if they want, and they are also welcome to wear civilian attire if they prefer or to change into it after the ceremony and we'd keep their uniforms in the bridal suite for them during the reception.

sweetlilpsycho

Well, my FI would probably be uncomfortable either way, unless we had a super casual wedding, but then I would be uncomfortable! I'm trying to compromise a bit, but since we met in the military, I'd like to have that little nod during the service, and he recently made FC1, so he'll look really sharp in his whites (the new ones, with the piping, not the ugly pajama ones they have now, I hate those, and I especially hated wearing them!). He doesn't seem too bothered about wearing them for the ceremony, but when I mentioned the idea of both of us changing after, he seemed really intrigued by the idea. I kind of like the idea of contacting the military members personally and giving them a heads-up about the change, and then letting them make the decision, thanks for the idea calindi!