The wedding ceremony in the chapel is primarily a religious service, not a military service. Most military weddings take place in military chapels. Decorations may include an American flag and the bride's or groom's own military unit colors.
Floral decorations are optional.
Like the men in any other wedding party, those in a military wedding should be dressed alike. A bride or groom in any branch of military service whether officer or enlisted may be married in uniform, but swords and sabers are carried only by officers in full dress uniform. Since a chapel is a sanctuary, the arch of the swords takes place on the steps or walk immediately following the ceremony as the couple leaves the chapel. However, many chaplains and clergy persons now consider the sword a ceremonial instrument and will permit the arch to be formed inside the chapel as the couple leaves the altar. No one but the newly married couple passes under the arch, since this English and American custom is a symbolic pledge of loyalty to the young married couple.