Welcome to Wedding Ezine -The Online Magazine!

Issue November 1-15, 2003
Happy Veteran's Day!

Our Brides and Grooms have danced the night away at their fairytale weddings! Let us help you plan Your 1st Dance and MORE! Offers the most full service Bridal Dance Packages. We hope you enjoy our Wedding newsletter, full of fun and useful information to help with your wedding day planning. Don't forget to book your wedding dance lessons!

Table of Contents
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This issue is dedicated to the Courageous
Men and Women of the Armed Forces
in honor of Veteran's Day

1) A New Bridal Themed Wallpaper for your computer desktop!

Now your computer screen can be dressed up too! Simply right click your mouse on our background and tell your computer to save ("set") as wall paper, BUT be sure you have saved the current background on you computer desktop first, if you want to get it back! If the background does not show up immediately, right click on your desktop background and click on refresh.

2) A Different Celebrity Wedding Photo from Past or Present!

Gotta love a man in uniform! Continuing with our military wedding theme, we have two former presidents who got married in their dress uniforms. First we have a newly married Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter smiling for the whole world to see, followed by George Bush Sr's First Dance with then new wife Barbara.

3) Poems, Prayers & Promises

A romantic quote to elevate your mood or to help you find the right sentiment for your vows or ceremony.

"Of all earthly music
that which reaches farthest into heaven
is the beating of a truly loving heart."


Henry Ward Beecher

4) Kim's Wedding Tips!

Marrying Military...

1) Timing your wedding can be important in a military marriage. If you have PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders, and get married before you actually make the move, you can have your spouse added to your orders and the military will pay for the relocation of your spouse and her/his property. However, if you report to your new duty assignment first, and then get married, you will have to pay for the relocation of your spouse out of your own pocket. Actually "making the move" means reporting into your new base. So, you may be able to leave your old base, take leave to get married, report into your new base, get your orders amended to include your new spouse, and the military will pay for the spouse's move. However, if you report to your new base, and then take leave to get married, you're on your own, when it comes to moving expenses for the spouse. You might then also have to change your housing and allowances for it. My advice is to get married in between postings rather than during if it is in any way convenient for you to do so. My husband and I were actually legally married two months before our wedding (I told no one!) in order to resolve these kinds of PCS problems in our move to Korea. Leaving the country will result in a much longer wait in paperwork so make sure you have the timetable straight!


4A)Wedding Dance Tip
"Get Rid Of The Sword!"
While perfect for the ceremony and photo shoot, the saber or sword will not be an asset on the dance floor. We tend to move in a very different way when we are dancing and it will make the sword sway back and forth uncomfortably and unpredictably. Perhaps a good solution is to have the Groom ceremonially present the sword to the Best Man to hold for the first dance and then he can return it in kind immediately afterwards.

5) A Wedding Tradition Explained!

What is "The Arch Of Steel"?

Military weddings are a privilege of those in the armed forces or cadets. They are normally very formal which would translate to black or white tie for non military personnel with all military personnel in dress uniform and commanding officers seated according to rank. Often the most memorable military wedding tradition is the "Crossed Sabers," also known as the "Arch of Sabers," or the "Arch of Steel". The word steel is more general can be used used to refer to either sabers for Navy or swords for Army, Air Force and Marines.

Lynda Bird Johnson & Chuck Robb passing under the "Arch of Steel"

Traditionally the Bride and Groom walk through the Arch of Steel. This symbolizes the couple's safe transition into their new life together. The Arch of Steel 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. White gloves are a necessity for all saber or sword bearers. 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 Steel procedure is simple and elegant. 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 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.

A word of warning! Another tradition relating to the arch of steel is a gentle "swat to the backside" of the Bride from the last swordsman. Grooms, PLEASE discuss this with your Bride to be 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.

6) This issue's Featured Vendor!

FIRST DANCE IMPRESSIONS

That's right! It's us! Click on the banner above to go to our home page. Inspired by Veteran's Day and in support of all of the Armed Forces we are offering a 10% discount to all military couples who book their first appointment and send us a deposit before January 1, 2004! Have you got two or even four left feet? Are you dreading that first dance where everybody will be staring at you? YOU CAN DANCE and we will prove it to you. You will not only enjoy dancing with each other but you will also impress your family and friends. Years later the guests may not remember what kind of flowers you had or which sauce was on the chicken but they will mention to everybody how great your first dance was if you take lessons with us! We make dancing fun and easy.

7) Special Events!

Our teachers run events and perform locally on a regular basis.

Check out the current Wedding Ezine for Group Lesson availability.

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