Dress Blues or Not?

brr81607

So I have a dilemna.  My husband and I are having a wedding 2 months from now. We essentially eloped a year ago and we are currently in NC.  My mom knew before we got married and we told the rest of our families afterward, but we've been talking about having a ceremony back home since then.  We are from PA and in June we are getting stationed in Cali.  The wedding is in PA.  It is by no means going to be a "military wedding."  It is going to be pretty informal and the ceremony is going to be pretty short and in the same place as our reception.  The site is a church park that we rented for the day.  My dress is an ivory tea length dress and I have a bird cage veil, so it has a little bit of an old school feel.  My Marine husband is very set on having a very dark purple for our wedding color with bright/light blue accents (David's bridal colors are Regency and Malibu/Pool if you want a reference).  I'm totally ok with that, but I told him I'm not sure how I feel about him wearing his dress blues if the main color is going to be purple.  I can't find any pictures to see if I even like it for sure or not.  I'm very proud of my husband and I love his dress blues so I feel bad telling him no.  Plus a few of my family members are upset that he may not be wearing them.  If I'm being completely honest, even I'd probably be a little upset about it.  He would more than likely change for the reception even if he did wear them because it will be hot and humid!  Anyways, if anyone has thoughts, they would be greatly appreciated.  Or if you have a picture with dress blues and purple colors, please share them if you don't mind!!  Again, I'd really appreciate your thoughts!

calindi

I wouldn't worry abou the dress blues clashing with purple - I think that would be just fine.  It's a uniform - it goes with everything.  The only thing I'd try not to do is Navy because then it's too matchy-matchy and likely won't be the same shade, but I'm sure someone else could pull it off beautifully.

Through the power of Photoshop, it isn't even close to clashing:





The issue I'd think of would be that since you're wearing a tea length gown, and admittedly it will be informal, the dress blues would be too formal for the occasion. 

shan87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_dress-blues-or-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:ffd9b6cb-8971-4107-bf99-bdce2da7ea42Post:9ef1422f-cf80-496f-8afe-a98799def549">Dress Blues or Not?</a>:
[QUOTE]So I have a dilemna.  My husband and I are having a wedding 2 months from now. We essentially eloped a year ago and we are currently in NC.  My mom knew before we got married and we told the rest of our families afterward, but we've been talking about having a ceremony back home since then.  We are from PA and in June we are getting stationed in Cali.  The wedding is in PA.  It is by no means going to be a "military wedding." <strong> It is going to be pretty informal and the ceremony is going to be pretty short and in the same place as our reception.</strong>  The site is a church park that we rented for the day.  My dress is an ivory tea length dress and I have a bird cage veil, so it has a little bit of an old school feel.  My Marine husband is very set on having a very dark purple for our wedding color with bright/light blue accents (David's bridal colors are Regency and Malibu/Pool if you want a reference).  I'm totally ok with that, but I told him I'm not sure how I feel about him wearing his dress blues if the main color is going to be purple.  I can't find any pictures to see if I even like it for sure or not.  I'm very proud of my husband and I love his dress blues so I feel bad telling him no.  Plus a few of my family members are upset that he may not be wearing them.  If I'm being completely honest, even I'd probably be a little upset about it.  He would more than likely change for the reception even if he did wear them because it will be hot and humid!  Anyways, if anyone has thoughts, they would be greatly appreciated.  Or if you have a picture with dress blues and purple colors, please share them if you don't mind!!  Again, I'd really appreciate your thoughts!
Posted by brr81607[/QUOTE]

<p>Some one may have to correct me.. but are Marine Dress Blues equivalent to a Civilian Suit? If so, then I wouldn't think that would fit the "informal" vibe you've stated above.

Regardless, your H is allowed to wear whatever he wants (as long as the uniform rules are followed). You got to pick your dress, now do him the same and let him pick his outfit. The Uniform is not going to mess up any color scheme you have going on. </p>

calindi

Marine Dress Blues are equivalent to a civilian tux.  They're "black tie" formal.

And here, I found a wedding with purple bridesmaids.  It looks awesome, in my opinion.

http://www.jessicafreyphotographyblog.com/tag/usmc-wedding/

amh04

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_dress-blues-or-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:ffd9b6cb-8971-4107-bf99-bdce2da7ea42Post:82aecc31-3d14-4747-9c20-ea3ade98faeb">Re: Dress Blues or Not?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Dress Blues or Not? : Some one may have to correct me.. but are Marine Dress Blues equivalent to a Civilian Suit? If so, then I wouldn't think that would fit the "informal" vibe you've stated above. Regardless, your H is allowed to wear whatever he wants (as long as the uniform rules are followed). You got to pick your dress, now do him the same and let him pick his outfit. The Uniform is not going to mess up any color scheme you have going on.
Posted by shan87[/QUOTE]

This. Completely this.

Let your husband wear what he wants, and his uniform doesn't need to be matching the colors of your VR.

kyrgyzstan

Also, and this is just an aside, Marine NCOs DO NOT rate white trousers regularly. There are a couple units where they are required for all ranks ceremonial units like silent drill and the band but even those special units do not rate them below E6 for liberty wear. Also, they are the summer trousers, so E6 and above DO NOT wear them all willy nilly in, say, November. This is all per Paragraph 2003.1 of the Uniform Regulations. Because it looks like the Corporal above is in a social setting, he is wearing them incorrectly.

iluvmytxrgr

I am on the lines of the blues = formal and shouldn't be worn to a casual or informal wedding.  I don't think they will clash with a purple dress, but I would skip it and have him wear a suit. 
Congratulations on your marriage and up comming vow renewal. 

lrh17

Hi brr!  I don't really have anything to add that PP's haven't said, but wanted to say congrats and welcome!

Irishcurls

Hm, I'd have to agree on the formality thing, though the link Cal posted it pretty!! Also hi and welcome!

kyrgyzstan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_dress-blues-or-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:ffd9b6cb-8971-4107-bf99-bdce2da7ea42Post:47afcb2c-9c47-4be5-8911-3060f8204708">Re: Dress Blues or Not?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hm, I'd have to agree on the formality thing, though the link Cal posted it pretty!! Also hi and welcome!
Posted by Irishcurls[/QUOTE]

<div>The white trousers do look really nice! While I generally think the uniform (even with the blue trousers) looks great with everything too, I doubt the OP's H is an E6 or above (just by sheer numbers, there are more E1-E5s. I'm also not trying to be obnoxious, I just don't want anyone reading this post to get the idea that any rank rates the trousers. Brides always want them, they think they're more wedding-y, but it's only allowed for E6 and above (including officers, obviously). </div><div>
</div><div>I'm not harping on this to criticize Cal for posting the photo, btw. Her FI rates them! The kid in the photo above does not rate them for liberty wear (weddings and whatnot). The ignoring of regs for whiny brides/photos makes me Cahrazy!</div>

Irishcurls

Oh yeah I get where you're going Stan! Valid point for sure. But I think if the "navy and red" with the purple was an issue, the pic still gives a good idea of what the whole look might be like, minus the pants. Though I guess I vote it's moot, if the ceremony is more casual....

calindi

Stan, I wouldn't think you were chastising me, but it's a good point and one I didn't think to make!  You have to be E6 or above to rate the white pants, and even then it has to be summer months, though the blue pants look great, too, and will also work with purple.  A uniform is a neutral - it's like black or white - you don't try to match it, it coordinates with everything.

Also, your FI has to be E6 or above to rate an arch of swords, if that's something you were thinking of doing. 

kyrgyzstan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_dress-blues-or-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:ffd9b6cb-8971-4107-bf99-bdce2da7ea42Post:31cce9cd-10e1-4b2d-8d6f-d5aaa277d0ac">Re: Dress Blues or Not?</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, your FI has to be E6 or above to rate an arch of swords, if that's something you were thinking of doing. 
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>In the MC, it's E4 and above. :) 

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