military wedding?

Question

i'm trying to plan a wedding during my fiance's leave from iraq. but i was wondering if anyone could tell me when to expect to know the exact dates of when his leave will actually be? it's hard enough planing a wedding, but trying to plan one when you don't yet know what date you are going to get married is really tricky. also, if anyone has any tips or hints on last minuet wedding plans or something, because i'm afraid that's what it's going to come down to if we don't find out untill a week or two before he comes home.

he's Army, and he's been in about 2 years now. he's already gone, and we are hoping for the date he chose, but i don't know what the chances are of him getting his requested date.

Answer 1

Talk with other brides & fiance's of military in your area to see who is most flexible with plans. An outdoor wedding , if weather permits, is easiest to make time flexible. A church willing to work with you can solve all problems - many have chapel, minister & lovely reception halls ( the large churches do). If not, a small wedding for leave home with a large wedding when he is home for longer period of time. Good luck & tell him thank you!

Answer 2

You don't know. You really don't. My husband's leave dates were pretty close to what he'd expected, but you never know when another guy is going to take emergency leave, or something mission-related is going to happen.... We did manage to plan my son's birthday party during my husband's leave, but I wouldn't go for anything bigger than that (and the birthday party could have gone on ahead without him... not so your wedding!).

I would really suggest that you wait another few months and plan the wedding for after he returns. He'll have longer leave then, and be over the stress of deployment. It'll be so much better.

If you have to go ahead with this on R&R, don't have a big wedding. You just can't. You can hire a justice to come to your parents' backyard with only a few days' notice. Anything more than that, and you'll spend the precious few days you have together stressing out over the plans. It's just not worth that.

Answer 3

I would agree with past posts-- and being a military wife for 6 years now, I have learned. The military plays by thier own rules. Its true you or your soldier will not be told an exacte date til like a week prior. Its better that way for your soldier, and his whole unit. My husband just returned from the sandbox about 2months ago, and we were not told til about 6 days in advance.
What branch is he in? How long has he been in?

Now as far as leave goes.. they will know. When my husband left they (all the soldiers) were told to put in- for the time that they wanted. and then they went by rank. My husbands first choice was denied, but his second set of dates worked, so thats when he came home on leave. Your fiance will be able to tell you when hes taking leave.

Answer 4

You can't be guarenteed anything with this situation. He may be scheduled to come home & it be delayed, or even early. The military goes by their schedule, not yours. :(

This is going to take some severe organizing skills. Dependig on the size of your wedding & the formality, you could choose a venue that doesn't require reserving, like someone's home. If you can get your family & friends involved, make the reception food & freeze it. It may be scattered all over town, but what the heck. Same goes for decorations. Gonna put alot more work on you but it is do-able.

Answer 5

Girl, I am in the same boat as you. Accept my Marine is leaving around March/April and won't be back til about October. This will be his second time in Iraq. Usually, depends on MOS job, soliders should have an estimate time of tour of duty being stationed. My fiance's MOS is rotation of every 7 months. Therefore, at least 4 to 6 Radar Tech every 7 months and switch out. There is only 50 some odd Radar Tech's in the whole Marine Corps. (I belive something like that. either 50 or 500. Memorie isn't too good at the moment of what my fiance said about it. All I know it is a very high demand right now for Radar Tech's) So, it is no shock that my fiance is going for second tour. Surprised they didn't do one already as he was stationed in Japan as main base for 2 years after 29 Palms when he first joined.

Him and I set a month we know he will be home with the year (Feb of 2008). Whjich is just a few month's shy of his contract is up. Reason why we choose Feb, which we know it is obligated that USMC start the whole process to allow those who are getting out to find jobs, housing and all in advance. etc.

Right now we are getting the basic's out of the way: Location, clothing, food, asking family/friend who will most likely attend so we can make up announcement and invitations.

When he comes back in October, we will finalize the date and set up reservations at the resort beach (Hawaii). So, that gives us 4 months in advance to make reservations and critique what we have settled for so far.

Military life goes day by day, hour by hour. One minute he has orders and the next day the orders are changed.

We plan to go in December of this year to check everything out. He won't know if he will get the leave he requests til a week or even a few days before flying over there. It is a risky choice we are making, but if he isn't able to go since USMC can deny request of leave, I will have to go with out him.......I hate how that goes by until he is out the military, they have complete control over his personal life.

My step sister's husband in Army and her are stationed in Germany right now. Very same thing on never knowing the next day event.

As my mom told me. Always have a back up plan. If you make reservations, prior to do so, see their policy about changing dates and all. When it comes to the situation of military, they usually will have a policy due to that issue. Just make sure you understand their policy and I wouldn't recommend fully doing something with out a good changing policy.

Sometimes you just have to have an idea of what you two want and how you two want it. Then when he does come home, pretty much go for it with the time you two have. To make it less stressful of doing all in short period of time, assign jobs to those who are helping you put together the wedding so, you know you all have to just piece it together. Which can easily be done better if communicate and develope a system of doing so.

I have seen it done where a bride, her two bridesmaids, her mom and dad, plus some family put together a wedding in 2 days when her groom was home from Afgan for 1 week before going to training for 4 months. Just have the resources and take it a step at a time. No need to rush and make it something you will feel you wouldn't of done it this way later down the road.

Answer 6

Miltary is so tricky. Honestly, it can change at anytime at the last minute! I would try to schedule it almost a month ahead of time. He has to go away for a while for intense training before he goes over so that will take some time. And I'm sure you are going to want some time with your husband before he leaves :)

Answer 7

We have been given married a twelve months in the past. The third groomsman, not even the best guy, wore his gown blues in our formal Catholic church wedding ceremony. He did not "take place" the bride, nor "outshine" the groom and take all the attention. He appeared incredibly effective. NO, he did not conflict with the different adult males wearing tuxes. He did not appear as if a "clone", yet he did not conflict the two. We, the couple, asked him to positioned on his gown blues in our wedding ceremony. We felt commemorated to have a US Marine in our wedding ceremony; and by potential of wearing his gown blues, it grow to be additionally a thank you to honor him and instruct our appreciation to him for serving our u . s ., combating for our freedom, and dodging bullets and bombs in Afghanistan. i don't understand the place you study that gown blues are irrelevant for a marriage, yet that is not genuine. military adult males positioned on their formal uniforms constantly in weddings, and in formal weddings. bypass determine... a suited uniform in a suited wedding ceremony. The "husband" and bride are obdurate. i'd tell your buddy to rigidity greater approximately completely ruining the relationship with the brother than the way it is going to seem in photographs. . .

Answer 8

I don't have any suggestions except remember the reason you're getting married, and don't let the clutter of details get in the way.

My wife and I just sorta planned it on the fly and worked out wonderfully.

Good Luck

Answer 9

As a former Marine, my best suggestion would be to get ahold or go in person to his admin( S-1) office and talk to the S-1 Officer. explain the situation and bring proper I.D.(of course). You should be good with that.