Reader Question: Navy Uniforms
Posted in elizabeth, what to wear by elizabeth
All this week, A and I will be answering some of the emails we have received from our readers. First up is Loren, who asks:
I would love any suggestions or guidance. My fiance is an officer in the Navy and would like to wear his choker whites (white uniform, top to bottom) to the wedding. He has 7 groomsmen, 4 of whom are also in the Navy. My fiance would like to have those in the Navy also wear their choker whites but we can’t decide what to put the other 3 in. We are having a garden wedding in late summer 2009 with a casual feel. Any suggestions? Ultra light khaki suits? Dark navy suits? I haven’t even started to contemplate what the bridesmaids will wear.. I have always loved burnt orange or chocolate brown…
Well Loren, I think you can go a variety of ways here. If your event was going to be inside or more formal, my suggestion would be dark navy or black suits or even the old stand-by, tuxedos. But since you are having a garden event, I would dress the groomsmen in whatever you love best if the uniforms weren’t an issue. I have always been a huge fan of khaki suits for garden weddings (with a tie the color of your bridesmaid gowns) and I think that would look lovely here!
Some khaki suit inspiration for you:
And for some beautiful burnt orange outdoor inspiration, check out this wedding we featured from Vallentyne Photography.
Readers, any other suggestions for Loren?
E.
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Thank you so much for the guidance! I am leaning towards the khaki suits as you suggested and I fluctuate daily between burnt orange and navy blue for the bridesmaids. I will definitely take y’alls idea and match the groomsmen’s tie to the b-maids’ dresses! Thanks again! Y’all are the best!
Hi Loren,
My fiance is in the Navy also, and half his groomsmen will be in choker whites. We’re putting his other 4 guys in all-white tuxes, to keep the look clean and simple (my girls will be in yellow dresses with white shoes). I’ve been to another Navy wedding where the guys all dressed in white, and it looked BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hope that helps!
My brother and my fiance are in the Coast Guard. For my brothers wedding, the civilian groomsmen wore a white tux and it looked just fine with the dress whites. That being said, for our wedding, the civilian guys will be in light tan suits. You can go either way, but TECHNICALLY, a suit is the equivalent of dress whites, not a tux.
Loren,
When doing your formal wedding photos, it might be nice to break away from the traditional line on each side. Grouping couples around you would look very nice, especially as all the guys won’t be in Navy uniforms. I live near Annapolis, so have been to many Navy weddings and these photos tend to be a trend that looks great!
Ladies,
Thanks for the great ideas! I definitely like the non-traditional photo idea and will likely go with this same idea for the ceremony itself. As mentioned, we’re getting married in a garden and also having interactive vows, so why not nix the traditional line up and scatter everyone on both sides?!
Starry-Eyed, best wishes planning your big day!
Victoria, thanks for the idea - I had not really considered white tuxes but I fear they may be a bit formal for our casual vibe.
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