I'm looking at getting married in about 2yrs is what we have decided. Considering I graduate boot camp and go off to do my job and then the wedding day comes around. I know as enlisted personnel I would have my work blues and my dress bravos???(I'm I correct here). Is there like a "fancy" uniform I could wear for my wedding, along the lines of a tux???

I recommend you read the uniform manual. Also we no longer have working blues, we use ODU'S (operational dress uniform). Good luck, and welcome to the USCG.

Mess Dress is a formal uniform for after 6 PM events and looks like a tuxedo. Tux shirt, black bow tie, short open coat, cumberbund, mini medals and devices on left lapel.

The CG wears the Navy Mess Dress uniform, so it has to be purchased there. I spent over $300.00 at the local Navy Exchange when I bought mine six or seven years ago. Your also have to have the gold Navy buttons replaced with gold CG buttons. Mess Dress is required only for LCDR and above. Dinner Dress Blue can be worn for lower ranks and enlisted.

It consists of your Service Dress Blue uniform minus your nametag and long neck tie. A white shirt is worn with a black bow tie. In place of all of your ribbons are miniature medals above your left breast pocket. Any awards of just ribbons are not worn.

For Mess Dress, the dinner jacket is seasonal; a black jacket can be worn year round, but a white one can be worn from memorial Day to Labor Day.

Pictures of the different uniforms are found in the Uniform Manual.

Good luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JerryG,

quote:

Mess Dress is required only for LT and above. Dinner Dress Blue can be worn for lower ranks and enlisted.

So does this mean I can purchase the mess dress if I desire as a lower rank? Does this mean that I will be wearing DDB's to my wedding??

Check your uniform regulations, I believe the Dinner Dress Blue/White Jacket ( the "Mess Dress" )is optional down to Petty Officer 3rd Class. May not be authorized for non rated personnel.

Concentrate on enlisting, completing recruit training , the rest will fall into place.

As for the marriage license, go with a learners permit.

I recently attended the wedding of my son's friend, a Navy SN who wore Mess Dress.

He wore a black cumberbund and no jacket chain; he was told that was proper for him when he bought the uniform.

This piqued my curiosity, and checked, for the CG Mess Dress is optional down to PO3.

I've got the USN copy at home, will dig into that tonight, see what the difference is.

Follow up : the USN uniform regs authorize the " Mess Dress" outfit all the way to E-1

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,

This is from the CG Uniform Manual:

quote:

Dinner Dress Blue/Dinner Dress White
O-3 and below.
--------------------------------------------------
Dinner Dress White Jacket/Dinner Dress Blue Jacket
O-4 and above on active duty.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and Area Command Master Chiefs.
Optional for officers O-3 and below and enlisted members E-4 and above.

In other words, save your money and wear the Service Dress Blue as I described above as Dinner Dress Blue.

Good Luck!

I concur, you'll still look sharp in the bravos, and after only a couple years in the USCG, you'll probably be livin' on E-4 pay, so save the several hundred dollars for the wedding centerpieces, you'll need it! LOL! PLUS after two years in the USCG at an operational unit you'll look like Patton to your friends and family with all the chest candy goin' round! Congrats on the nuptuals and your decision to join the finest seagoing service on the globe! -Jeff