A charming Knight In Shining Armour

Military weddings are a spectacle to behold, with lasting visuals images imprinted in the minds of all guests. The military bands’ rendition jostle’s most guests as each rhythm and crescendo goes off and you may wish they never stop playing. Regardless of the type of wedding solemnization a service member chooses to contract, the bridegroom and their guests enjoy a state of the art military parade as prescribed for such an occasion. Personally, I would like to think that the icing on the cake for military weddings is the sword party; where the newly wedded, the bridal train and the parents of the bridegroom exit the building where the marriage was celebrated into a formation of officers lined facing each other, with swords raised and crossed above them in an arch and the blades almost touching each other as they walk through, with a swarm of other guests watching on the other end. The colour blend of the ceremonial dresses at a military wedding is the brightest and most colourful scene, after the rainbow.

The military groom is indeed a knight in shining armour. He is decked in a pair of clear, high gloss, long lasting mirror shined toe caps, looking truly elegant and sophisticated. Adorned on a brightly coloured ceremonial dress (colour may differ, depending on arm of service), ornamented with lanyard, a shoulder piece used as insignia for rank ,a bright colour sash, lampasse on the side of the trouser, a peek cap almost concealing his face and a sword hanging by his waist.

He is gracefully charmed and perfect looking. This charm is such that you cannot wait to be taken home to begin your happily ever after journey. You could barely contain your excitement, while your family, friends, and well-wishers enjoy the glitz and glamour and admire with expressive approval.  You can be rest assured that your prim and fault-finding aunties would approve too. Your fecund imagination runs wild with ideas about the home you’d build together and the memories you’d make. Indeed, nothing compares to this celebration, it feels surreal. The jewel in the crown of your fantasies is here, a moment to cherish forever.

At the wedding reception, the bridegroom cuts their cake with a sword presented to the groom on behalf of the President and Commander in-chief, thereafter the bride is led to conduct the military band among other funfair. As the reception winds off, you would have observed so many differences between your wedding and the many other non military weddings you may have attended in the past. And that my dear ‘Ma’am, is also how different your new life is going to be going forward.