Arches of swords and military mess dress

When Griff and I first got engaged, I came to the realization that I was marrying a military man...and I would become a military wife...although it wouldn't be forever. Griff has expressed his desire to not make his time in the Air Force one of a career. In the meantime, I did have to realize what it meant for the time that he was in the service. Of course there was the living-far-away-from-home part and the I-will-have-to-go-away-a-few-times-a-week part. They aren't always enjoyable things but they are things that I can deal with.

I am so proud to say that I am marrying an officer in the Air Force and although I had plans and ideas for my wedding, I wasn't going to totally negate the fact that we could in fact have a military wedding. Add on top of that the fact that Griff is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and this could have been the backdrop of our wedding day...

Air Force Academy Chapel
Source: charlottegeary.com



...complete with pews that resemble the wings of an airplane.

Or that we could have left the church under the cover of this...

Arch of Sabers
Source: theknot.com

...and that Griff could have worn that same uniform instead of a traditional tuxedo.

I knew that I could have to make some concessions in the ideas I have always had for my wedding. That I might have to change my color scheme (green, brown, and blue?) and that in order to acheive the correct look, I might have to change the time of the year, the venue, the flowers, the favors, the centerpieces, etc.

But that's not how it happened. When faced with the question "What part of your military life would you like to include in our special day?" I was surprised by Griff's answer..."Nothing. It's not about the job I do every day or the title that I carry. It's about the new job and title that I can add to my list and that's being your husband."

I wouldn't have minded giving up all of my ideas for my dream wedding and starting fresh. Sacrifice was going to be one of the first lessons that I needed to learn as a soon-to-be military wife but to know that Griff didn't want me to have to make this sacrifice was so unbelievable.

Even when I offered to put "Lt. Griff Ranger" on our invitations, he kindly declined. "Nah, let's just leave it off. It doesn't look pretty." Who knew my military man was concerned with whether something was "pretty" or not?