Although not known as “military marriage pay,” service members do receive a pay increase as part of their housing and cost-of-living allowances after they get married.

Wedding Attire For most branches, this means a dark-blue uniform, but during the summer months, the army and navy men may wear white pants. Class-A or Service dress uniform is appropriate at a semiformal event (comparable to a suit). Like the Mess dress uniforms, these are also dark-blue and sometimes with white pants.

If you are in the military yourself, you have the option of wearing your dress uniform just as your soon-to-be spouse will be required to wear his. Military members within the wedding party typically wear full ceremonial dress uniforms with their military decorations serving as boutonnieres.

Chaib adds that both veterans and retirees of the military can wear their service dress uniforms for weddings and other special occasions of the same caliber. Guests who are not in the military should wear clothing that matches the dress code and formality of the event.

Authentic military uniforms can be worn by any of the bridal party or wedding guests. The men should not wear buttonholes in their unifiorm but should instead wear their military decorations.

Military weddings are an honor reserved for any man or woman — whether enlisted, officer or cadet —who is serving or has served in any branch of the United States military. And each branch has its own traditions. They can wear dress uniforms, or they can opt out while still having elements of a military wedding.

Even if your wedding is a “civilian” wedding, you can allow any active military members of the bridal party (or guests) to wear their uniforms. Formal dress protocol and uniforms vary across the different military branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps).

“Marriage is deliberately made to be compatible with military life because this is an important way to retain personnel. The conditions of military employment also lead naturally to marriage. There’s stable employment, comprehensive family benefits, and economic mobility in an entry-level job.

Retired personnel may wear uniforms at ceremonies or official functions when the dignity of the occasion and good taste dictate. Retired personnel may wear the uniform of their grade while instructing a cadet corps or similar organization at approved Naval or Military academies or other approved academic institutions.

There are no laws governing military marriage. Military members can marry whomever they want, including same-sex partners.

Free Chapels One of the best perks of being in the military when it comes to tying the knot is that the base chapel is typically free including chaplain performing the wedding ceremony with a variety choices including almost any religious denomination, non-religious, military, civilian and casual.

To answer your question, there is no stipend, no monetary benefits for military spouses. Service members can choose to give a monthly allotment to a spouse or whoever, but the money is deducted from their own pay. It does not come from the Department of the Army or Department of Defense.

Mess dress uniform is worn for both ultra-formal and formal weddings (i.e., a white or black-tie affair). For most branches, this means a dark-blue uniform, but during the summer months, the army and navy men may wear white pants.

The groom and best man do not wear gloves because they will be handling the rings, but the other ushers wear white gloves throughout the ceremony. Boutonnieres are never worn with uniforms; instead, officers wear their military decorations.

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. The type of uniform depends on the style of the wedding, the time of day, the season, and most importantly, the government-issued uniform manual:

Boutonnieres are never worn with uniforms; instead, officers wear their military decorations. Should the fathers of the bride or groom be active or retired officers, they may wear uniforms. So may mothers, although they usually choose to wear traditional mother-of-the-bride attire.