One of the United States' greatest assets is her incomparable military - brave men and women who serve America, preserving its freedoms. All branches of the armed services are steeped in tradition, and their wedding ceremonies are no exception. The pomp and pageantry of military weddings set them apart from civilian weddings, as do the attire and the spirit of patriotism that surrounds the event.

The most visible distinction of a military wedding is the attire. There truly is something about a person in uniform - it stands for courage, integrity and honor. An officer or enlisted personnel in the bridal party wear uniforms befitting the formality of the wedding. An officer's evening dress uniform is equivalent to civilian white tie and tails. For black tie affairs, dinner or mess dress uniform is appropriate.

Non-commissioned officers may wear dress blues or Army green uniforms at formal or informal weddings. All saber (sword) bearers must wear white gloves. A female officer may wear a traditional wedding gown or her uniform.

When we think of military weddings, the first thing that comes to mind is the dramatic Arch of the Swords, which takes place immediately following the ceremony, when the couple leaves the chapel or church, on the steps or walk. Since a church is a sanctuary, in case of bad weather and with permission, the arch may be formed inside the venue.

Though the ritual varies slightly among the various branches of the service, the impact is the same. When the arch is held inside and the ushers are commissioned officers, they line up with the bridal party at the altar. After the blessing, the bride and groom turn, face the guests and remain there as the saber bearers get into position.

After a subtle cue from the senior saber bearer, the saber bearers turn, proceed to the center aisle in pairs, facing the guests, and stop just in front of the first pew line. With the command "Center Face", they pivot to create two lines of officers facing each other. When the senior saber bearer commands the unit to "arch sabers", their saber is raised with the right hand until it touches the tip of the opposite saber, cutting edge up. As the guests stand, the bride and groom pass beneath the arch. Only the bridal couple may pass under the arch.

As the couple makes their way through the Arch of Swords, tradition holds that last two men to make up the arch drop their swords to detain the couple for a moment, while the sword bearer on the right gives the bride a gentle "swat" on the rump with his sword and utters, "Welcome to the Army," or the appropriate branch of service. Of course, this step is omitted if the bride is in the military.

Some military bridal couples may want an arch both at the reception and the ceremony. With saber bearers at the reception, the cutting of the cake is the epitome of pageantry. When commanded, the saber bearers enter the reception hall in formation and line up, facing each other, in front of the wedding cake. The bride and groom pass beneath the arch and stop for a kiss. The groom then hands his unsheathed saber to his bride and, with his hand over hers, they cut the first piece of cake.

It's hard to imagine a more "attention"-getting wedding!