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Military weddings are a privilege of those in the
armed forces or cadets. All are formal, with military
personnel in dress uniform and commanding officers
seated according to rank. What most guests at a
military wedding are most likely to remember is
the "crossed sabers," also known as the "arch
of sabers," or the "arch of steel. The
word steel, is synonymous for and used to represent
either sabers for Navy or swords for Army, Air
Force and Marines. Traditionally the bride and
groom walk through the arch of swords. That passage
is meant to ensure the couple's safe transition
into their new life together. The arch of swords
is formed by an honor guard made up of members
of the military who would normally wear a sword
or saber when in dress uniform. Should one of the
honor guard also be serving as a wedding attendant,
in order to conform to tradition, he or she must
be in full uniform.
That includes wearing a sword or saber while in
the wedding party. No one out of full dress uniform
may, when conforming to military procedure, carry
a sword or saber. The commanding officer should serve
as a resource for the prospective bride and groom
for information about who can and who cannot wear
a uniform with a sword. The arch of swords procedure
is a simple and elegant one. The honor guard form
two lines opposite each other. On the command of "draw
sword" or "draw sabers," the steel
is raised with the right hand, with the cutting edges
facing up. The couple enters the arch, kiss, and
then passes through. The newly married couple then
salute the honor guard. Members of the honor guard
then sheath the swords or sabers and return them
to a carry position.
Depending on church rules and on the particular
branch of service, the arch can be formed either
outside or in the foyer of the chapel, synagogue
or church. Yet another tradition relating to the
arch of steel is a gentle "swat to the backside" that
the bride receives from the last swordsman. Grooms
take heed. Should you decide to adhere to this custom,
it would be prudent to inform your bride about the
possibility so that she isn't unpleasantly surprised.
In addition, it is also traditional for the wedding
cake to be cut with a saber or other type of military
sword. Although the ushers usually act as sword bearers,
other officers may be designated as sword bearers--which
would accelerate the arch of swords ceremony following
the wedding ceremony. It is customary that six or
eight ushers (or designated sword bearers) take part
in the ceremony. Although the chaplain's office will
furnish swords (sabers for the ceremony, it is customary,
such as at West Point, for the cadets to furnish
their own white belts, gloves, and breastplates.
If the ushers have removed their swords, they now
hook them on. In an outdoor ceremony, they proceed
down the steps of the chapel where they form, facing
each other in equal numbers. In the NAVAL SERVICES,
the head usher gives the command, "Officers,
draw swords," which is done in one continuous
motion, tips touching. The bride and groom pass under
the arch--and only they may do so-- then they pause
for a moment. The head usher gives the command, "Officers,
Return (swords brought to the position of "resent
arms" swords." Swords are returned to the
scabbard for all but about three or four inches of
their length. The final inches of travel are completed
in unison, the swords returning home with a single
click. When the arch of swords ceremony is held indoors,
it takes place just as the couple rises after receiving
the blessing. All members of the bridal party wait
until the ushers swords are returned to their scabbards
before the recessional proceeds.
In the Army and Air Force, the Arch of Sabers is
carried out in this way: when the bride and groom
rise from their kneeling position after the benediction,
the senior saber bearer gives the command, "Center
Face". This command moves the saber bearers
into position facing each other. The next command
is "Arch Sabers," wherein each saber bearer
raises his right arm with the saber, rotating it
in a clockwise direction, so that the cutting edge
of the saber will be on top, thus forming a true
arch with this opposite across the aisle. After the
bride and groom pass under the arched sabers, the
command is, "Carry Sabers" followed almost
immediately by "rear face," with the saber
bearers facing away from the altar, thus enabling
them to march down the side aisle. They form again
with arched sabers on the steps of the chapel. The
information in this article was taken in large measure
from the book with the answers to all of your questions
on military weddings: "Service Etiquette" by
Oretha D. Swartz.
By Judy Lewis
HudsonValleyWeddings.com
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