Is there anything stating women cannot wear their dress uniform instead of a bridal gown?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 14:51:36 -0500

I've seen this post going around Facebook that's a female SM in blues taking a selfie and the caption reads something along the lines of "why can't I wear my dress uniform to my wedding, I've earned it." This makes no sense to me. There is, insofar as I've been able to find, no such restriction. Am I mistaken in calling BS on this as being yet another social justice warrior bit of false indignation or is there really something out there prohibiting a female SM from wearing their schnazzy blue threads at the alter?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 30 at 2016 2:58 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 14:58:01 -0500

I think you are right to Raise the BS Flag on this one! If I could wear my Dress Blues at my Wedding I can see no damn good reason that a Female Service member can't if they desire too!

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jan 30 at 2016 2:58 PM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 14:58:44 -0500

This is laughable. It may be rather unusual, but there is nothing prohibiting it beyond social norms.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 30 at 2016 3:33 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 15:33:36 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I call bullshit. Men wear them to weddings all the time.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 30 at 2016 3:49 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 15:49:33 -0500

There's no reason she can't. Mountain out of a nonexistent mole hill...

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jan 30 at 2016 4:19 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 16:19:06 -0500

Interesting question - would this be a male/female wedding or a female/female wedding? In a female/female wedding, where both were military, one wore a gown and the other wore their uniform.
Here is what a wedding site states:
Remember, wedding requirements vary depending on rank and military branch, so check with your base protocol officer to find out exactly what you need to do.
Wedding Attire - Probably the main distinction of a military wedding is that the bride and/or groom, as well as service members in the wedding party, usually wear their uniforms.
But, here is another source which should be the initial go to for this question - MilitaryOneSource.mil
And here is their initial statement - If you're getting married soon, congratulations! Planning a wedding can be a lot of fun — and a lot of work. If you're thinking about a military wedding, you may be pleased to find that there is no official protocol for military weddings. Instead, you can incorporate as many or as few military traditions into your wedding as you choose.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 5:14 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 17:14:14 -0500

Did the FB post say anything else? Did she actually ask about whether it was authorized or not? I would read her question to mean not that she couldn't wear it by regulation, but more that she was feeling social pressure not to because a lot of wedding traditions revolve around the choosing and wearing of the wedding dress. Like the one about the groom is not supposed to see the bride in her dress prior to the wedding.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2016 2:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 14:29:52 -0500

No, this does not violate the regulation.
If there is a local policy that states this, it is a strange and unusual one. I would have to wonder at the reasoning behind it.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jan 31 at 2016 7:11 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 19:11:39 -0500

Do not, let me say this again, DO NOT contradict a bride on her wedding even less on what she wants to wear!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 12:34 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:34:31 -0500

I have read every comment and reply to this post, and made a few of my own. The bottom line is that regulation doesn't prohibit this. Social norms might prohibit a female wearing a uniform to a wedding, but we live in a time of ignoring and changing social norms. I support it, and so far as I can tell, so does everyone else. I say show off the Uniform you earned, and f**K the haters.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Mar 25 at 2019 11:07 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 23:07:49 -0400

Although this question relates to a specific situation, I've noted other questions about active duty personnel regarding wearing their uniform to social events, on leave, and other circumstances. I'm always left confused.
Granted, some might consider the time I was on active duty akin to Washington crossing the Delaware, but the only active duty people I remember being required to have civilian clothing were those on Embassy Duty, or others who were going to be in foreign countries where there were not provisions for wearing of the US uniforms.
In the states, each of our uniforms was designated as being comparable to a specific civilian social attire, i.e. black tie, white tie, suit, business casual etc. While there were certain organizational or work uniforms we were not allowed to wear off base, there were none of our regular uniforms we were prohibited from wearing to any occasion other than a political event or an occasion that could potentially be embarrassing to the Corps. I even remember being told that our Alphas if we didn't possess Blues were appropriate at any civilian function.
Has our uniforms somehow become restricted?

Response by Lt Col George Roll made Jul 18 at 2020 9:27 PM

Lt Col George Roll — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:27:51 -0400

No a service member may wear their dress uniform at a social event including if they wish. Not at political partican events however.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 29 at 2021 9:08 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:08:11 -0400

BS flag! If the groom could wear dress blues, then the bride could also. Equal treatment. Could make interesting wedding pictures.

Response by 1SG John Millan made Jan 27 at 2024 1:40 PM

1SG John Millan — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 13:40:02 -0500

Of COURSE they can wear dress uniform!