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At least once a year each military branch hosts a formal military ball in which spouses can attend.
It’s an exciting time for military communities to get together, but often times, spouses get anxious about what to expect as they honorably represent their service member. Each branch runs their event differently, so some of the following advice varies, but here are a few general things spouses may want to know about military balls:
A military ball is a great excuse to dress up and feel like a princess.
In a military ball, service members wear dress blue or class A uniforms while guests complement them with formal attire. Male guests typically wear dark suits with a bow tie or a tuxedo. Women wear knee- to floor-length gowns, but also have the option of cocktail dresses, as long as detailing is minimal. Patterns and bright colors should be avoided.
Women are not expected to get their hair professionally done, but many sport fancy curls or elegant hairdos. Since spouses will be greeting people with handshakes, hands should be well groomed. If a woman chooses to wear gloves, proper glove protocol includes removing the right glove and holding it in the left hand while meeting other guests.
The night kicks off around 5 or 6 with a cocktail hour where service members and guests can mingle. There may also be a photographer for formal pictures. Just be sure to pace any drinking you may do, because when the cocktail hour ends it’s typically time for the receiving line.
Before you head to the receiving line, be sure to leave all food, drink, extra garments and umbrellas in the check area. Women are permitted to bring their purses with them.
When walking as a couple, women walk in front of the men in a single-file line, even if the woman is the service member. The first person you’ll encounter is the announcer and you do not shake his or her hand. You simply introduce or are introduced by your last name. As you continue through the line, short greetings are appropriate, such as, “Good evening, it’s nice to meet you.”
When dinnertime is sounded by a horn, it’s time for you to take your assigned seat. It’s a good idea to open the lines of communication
Marine Corps ball attracted celebrity guests in 2011
and introduce yourself to your table. You may find a program at your table with the evening’s events as well as any responses you should give during toasts and speeches.
Several courses will be served for which you may want to brush up on your table setting etiquette. In addition to knowing what fork to use, be sure to ask for items to be passed rather than reach across anyone. Use common courtesy as to not apply makeup or fix your hair at the table.
There will be presentations to honor service members as well as tributes to the colors, so be sure to ask your spouse about proper protocol.
When the presentation ends, the dance floor and bar will open up. It may begin with formal dances such as waltzes or foxtrots, but depending on the band or DJ that runs the show, more contemporary music can be played. You can let loose on the dance floor, but be sure to leave the club moves at home.
Have you attended a military ball? What was your experience?
Do you have any advice or things spouses should know before they go?
Photo courtesy of Jayel Aheram and DVIDSHUB
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56 Comments
Yes, I have been to one military ball. This is good for all military wives. Be sure to watch your cocktails!!! People are watching you & your husband even when they seem not to.
My one & only formal event was shortly after my husband returned from Iraq and we had also just endured our first transfer. In short, that period was our worst nightmare as a couple. We got into a heated spat which ended in the parking lot. We neither one had significant amounts of alchol and thought we were somewhat discreet.. Ha Ha don’t you know all military leaders have eye’s in the back of there head and ears to match!! At some point my husband’s boss & his wife came looking for us because word got out. I still smile every time I think of that event. (They were the problem).
Has anyone on here been as a homosexual couple?? If so please email me…tiara.brown@live.com
Tiara, I have not, but there are several lesbian couples who routinely go here at NAS whidbey… nobody seems to think a thing of it here, although in other places, it might be different. For the couples here, those females who identify as male, dress as male (ie tuxedos) although I have not seen any males dressed as female, regardless of how they personally identify, and for whatever reason that would seem more shocking I think.
Thank you for your response!
Yes! My fiance` and I have went to all of hers for the past 4 years together. There have been other lesbian and gay couples as well. It’s perfectly fine. After all, they do fight for our freedom and rights, correct?
Ladies and I use this term losely do not dress like a five cent hooker. Wear clothes that cover your breast and you other lady bits. Also do not go slobbering all over someone who did not bring you
Wish there was a love button on here. lol.
Sounds like too much work to me. It’s like they take all the fun out of functions like this. Don’t do this, don’t do that. No thanks. I’d rather not go.
At the end of the day, the spouse is around their colleagues and superiors. If it wasn’t military and was a work function, would you get trashed and show up dressed like a hoochie? No. So why should a military function be different? If its too much work to present yourself in a respectable light and show class, then maybe you should not attend. Just saying.
I’m an Officer’s daughter, a Soldier, and a Marine’s wife … Balls are not what they used to be, of that I am sure. I was raised a lady, had my formal coming out as a woman at 16, (a Quintilian if you will,) but don’t be mistaken, I can relax … Get down and dirty, but only when “formality” is not required.
What ladies and gentleman need to understand is this: What you do, as well as how you present yourself directly reflects upon your service member. KEEP THAT IN MIND AT ALL TIMES! You do not want any negative opinions being made about yourself, least of all your service member. You are there to be a compliment to who asked you to attend the event, not to be the “life of the party,” or to look like your pimp sent you. Formal events are about TRADITION, CLASS, RESPECT, HONOR, and CELEBRATION. (I apologize for the CAPS, I’m not yelling, but merely putting emphasis on what I’m saying.)
Personally, and I mean not to offend anyone, but saying that’s “too much work,” is a prime example of showcasing that the military lifestyle is not for everyone. This also gets under my skin as I know all facets of the military lifestyle, and to say that for a few hours you cannot sacrifice your own comfort zone to support your service member while s/he honors the tradition of attending the Ball makes me wonder …
How selfish can one be when your service member makes soo many sacrifices?! This event is just ONE night! Not 6-24 months!
Ladies and gentlemen, present yourself in a fashion that would be looked upon respectfully, honorably, and admirably. That is all that is asked of you while in attendance. That’s not too much to ask, now is it?
I completely agree. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy the opportunity to get all dolled up and be shown off by your S/O? I know I loved it!
Dress attire for military balls is usually ‘formal’. Formal doesn’t mean just a pretty evening dress but also that the dress should be floor length, so I disagree with the author that they can be knee-length. I’ve seen a few people wear cocktail dresses, and even though the dresses themselves were pretty, the ladies stuck out like sore thumbs and looked like they didn’t know how to follow proper attire etiquette. Perhaps it depends on the unit and location though. While every wife should just be herself and have fun, remember that ultimately — like it or not — you are a direct reflection of your husband at any military events.
“formal” does not mean floor length. You should really look up formal dresses in the 50s and 60s. They were all just below the knee. You will rarely see the Queen of England wear a long dress.
Besides, not all women can pull floor length gowns off. Just because you have your legs covered up, you cannot offend with the looks of your arm fat or your tattoos.
while thats true about the 50′s and 60′s its also about the style of dance that happened then and the surfacing of woman’s indepencance from men hence, flappers in the 20′s. It’s not about offending when you go and wearing a short dress wont “offend” particularly but lets be honest the reason that floor length dressses are more called for is one they are much more elegant two most horter dresses women wear now are club dresses and when presenting one’s self and one’s spouse at a military ball one need to be dignified, graceful, proper, and fit what the military wants you to for that night. after all it’s not about you at all. You are there to celebrate that branch’s birthday into the military. If it was about the way people looked then we should all be extreme communist that way no one could offend. It’s not about “pulling off” anything and i can promise you there is a floor length gown out there that every woman can pull off if she finds the right shape gown for her and doesnt try to fit into one that one of the movie stars wear and doesnt try to be “sexy” you shouldnt be trying to show off. If you are comming with your man that is the ONLY person you should be concerned about and you can ALWAYS show off for him later if you catch my drift. MIlitary Balls are not the place.
Wearing a shorter dress doesn’t imply or mean club attire. Tea length dresses (hitting just below the knee) are completely acceptable and are still considered formal for the ball affairs. Floor-length gowns are not required. The main rule of thumb is controlling the cleavage, keeping the dress to the knee or longer, and covering the midriff. Also — not every ball in the military is a “birthday” ball. They’re held on other occasions depending on the branch so it’s a different celebration.
This is just my perspective as a male spouse, but I think that a dress isn’t appropriate for a formal event if it’s not floor length. It’s the same as the point I made about a dark suit being unacceptable for men attending a formal event, where a tuxedo is called for. The obvious exception to this is if your event is happening somewhere tropical where air conditioning won’t be available.
This isn’t a dinner, it’s a ball, hence why ball gowns are the appropriate attire.
That would be the perfect occasion for a white dinner jacket — it’s made for tropical climates and still meets black tie dress code requirements.
Sarah,
It’s certainly true that a tea-length dress is perfectly acceptable for some black tie functions (semi-formal in traditional etiquette), but for a white tie ball the dress must always be long. Have you ever been to the Officers’ Ball in Vienna at the Hofburg Palace? It attracts military officers from many different countries, and as the daughter of a British Royal Dragoon Guards officer, it was where I had my official debut into society. My husband is a US Navy officer, and we are once again attending the ball this coming January. I have personally seen people turned away for not being properly dressed, and properly includes a floor-length evening or ball gown for ladies.
In traditional etiquette (I went to finishing school, so I ought to know), formal means white tie, which consists of morning dress during the day time and tail coats in the evening. A formal evening dress code always calls for at least an ankle-length dress plus closed-toed shoes, long gloves and even a tiara for married ladies. Black tie (dinner jackets for gentlemen) allows women more options, as it is only a semi-formal dress code. Thus, a formal dress must always be long. However, most people would be hard pressed to define the difference between white and black tie.
I am not sure where you get your reference regarding HM Queen Elizabeth II not wearing long dresses. I am English, and the Queen always wears long to both white tie and black tie evening functions.
P.S. EVERY woman can wear a long dress. Again, I am not sure what leads you to such an erroneous assumption
I have only seen a small handful of women other than those women dressed in military uniform, attend in shorter than floor length. You can wear knee length, however it is usually frowned upon.
While I have yet to attend a ball, from what I understand it is a privelege to be able to attend and should be treated as such. Just because your spouse is the one that is active duty, does not mean that you shouldn’t be expected to dress and act appropriately. Your actions reflect your spouse, especially in that situation. I don’t belive it should be considered a burden to stand by them and act respectfully. I look forward to being able to attend a function such as this in the future.
Amanda Bruns, what century do you live in?
I have been to 8 balls, what do u want to know? They are all the same every year..
Is it appropriate to ask a girlfriend to one of these events? The majority of posts I see use the word I see a lot is “spouse”. We’re in an exclusive relationship, but we are not engaged. I’ve been invited, and I plan to accept, but is that weird?
No, it is not inappropriate at all for a girlfriend/boyfriend, fiancee/fiance to attend a ball. Many senior service members are married, hence you will see the word spouse most often. My husband invited me to a regimental officers’ ball when I was his girlfriend, and we also attended a Christmas Ball together. It is perfectly appropriate. One thing that is completely missing from the list above, but will make you stand out in a very favourable way is to keep your shoulders covered during dinner. In the British military this rule is still very well known, but it also applies to the US military. The older wives of high-ranking officers will know this, and will very much appreciate it if you follow proper protocol. The invited admiral’s wife, to whom I was introduced,said much to my embarrassment at the time (husband and I had just begun dating), that I would make the perfect military wife! I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was a British officer’s daughter, and simply knew the rules of the game.
Can a knee length dress be worn at a coast guard ball?
Definitely, but be aware that you will still see most people wearing floor length gowns thought tea length is still considered appropriate.
Do you need to be invited to the ball or if you are a service member can you simply register for it?
I’ve been to 13 balls. Please remember this is the service members birthday ball. We must complement our spouse so no flashy colors. My opinion, it is not appropriate to wear short dresses, just my opinion!! Have fun but dont get trashed and be an embarrassment to your spouse. Get your hair and nails done if you can afford it. This is the one time during the year we can get dressed up and enjoy and honor our service members and their branch of service. It is a fun night! Oh and don’t be surprised if your spouse is not by your side all night long. They want to get with the fellow brothers and celebrate.
I’ve been married to US Navy sailor for almost 5 years and attended 2 balls. I would have attended 4, but one happened only a couple of weeks after giving birth to our daughter, and during another our daughter was ill and I couldn’t bear to leave her with a sitter for the whole night. I love the balls and really enjoy them. My husband and I always have a great time. I love getting to see the Navy wives and girlfriends we know from other functions we attend, and he enjoys spending time with his friends from work, outside of work.
But I disagree with some of these statements. I suppose maybe its different in the Navy, or maybe just the area where we live, but the ones I’ve been to have been fairly casual. At the first one I went to I was overdressed compared to the other women. Most of them looked like they were either going to a club, their high school prom, or a summer daytime wedding. I do dress to match my husband, but I don’t avoid bright colors. A bright color can look very classy and sophisticated if properly worn and accessorized. The real importance is the quality and cut of the gown. Many of the women looked like they’d squeezed into their prom dresses which were five sizes too small. Some were in dire need of a pair of Spanx. Some dresses were much too revealing or even see-through. Wearing a bright colored gown that has an elegant silhouette can definitely be appropriate. The problems I see are women not wearing appropriate undergarments (showing bra straps and pantylines) and not wearing age or size appropriate dresses.
For those wanting to wear a tea-length gown (tea-length is not below the knee. It is rather between the knee and ankle at mid-calf.), I think this is fine, if you think in terms of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. It can be very elegant and lovely, and highly appropriate, even recommended for those stationed in tropical climates! Unfortunately, finding such a gown is difficult with today’s trends. Instead a floor length gown in a light fabric and a cut that floats away from the body to allow air to circulate would be easier to find in a dress shop. Also know that most women will be wearing a floor length gown, and you will stick out for going shorter.
As for keeping shoulders covered, I think this is optional. Most of the women who wore dresses with sleeves or bolero jackets were older women who I am assuming were trying to cover their arms to disguise the unfortunate “wings” that we tend to get as we age. The younger (and even older ones who had nice arms) wives, including those of higher ranking officers, wore straps or halter styles. Some had evening wraps that they wore through dinner but took off during the dancing, which I think is fine. I rarely saw a woman wearing an entirely sleeveless/strapless gown, but the ones who did were wearing the prom dress style which looks awful on anyone over 20.
Here’s a post about my experience: http://www.beautifulinhistime.com/blog/military-ball-check-
My take on Military Ball attire is, if you feel comfortable in it, then wear it. HOWEVER… if you show up looking like a hoochie, or you show up in an over sized ball gown like you are on Sweet 16 or at your wedding, YOU WILL be talked about! And there are some people that will talk about you within earshot and make you feel really bad about yourself. (Trust me there are people that will do this, and not just ladies. The guys will get in on it too. And trust me, they don’t care if you can hear them.) At the end of the day ladies, you have to remember that this night isn’t really about you. Yes, by all means, have a great dress and get your hair done and whatever, if you can. Its okay to look good, but you ARE a representation of your spouse/significant other. And if you show up looking busted, that shows his superiors that he/she doesn’t care enough to “check” you or explain that this is a formal event and not a club.
Personally, I prefer floor length gowns when attending Military balls, but there were cocktail dresses, tea length dresses and floor length. You don’t have to go through a whole day of beauty in preparation for a ball, but please do something to yourself. Don’t just roll out of bed, throw something on and go. Your dress should have the best fit possible. Not saying it should be skin tight because not everyone can do that. But the bust definitely NEEDS TO FIT! If you have to keep your arms crossed the entire night to keep your dress up, (I have seen this) then that’s an issue. Just because you have big boobs, or new boobs, or whatever, NO ONE wants to see them! And you, as well, will be talked about.
Think of the Military Ball as a red carpet event for the military. Yes, there isn’t a pit of photographers and a crowd of people screaming your name, but why wouldn’t you want to look your best?
Remember that your spouse/significant other will be in uniform, so technically, they are on the job. It is a work function for them. So, please, dress appropriately and be on your best behavior.
***Side note*** Guys, dress in a well fitted tux or suit, moisturize your hands and shave. Be on your best behavior as well.
As a male spouse, I strongly disagree that it’s acceptable to wear a dark suit instead of a tux. The service members in the room are wearing a bow tie with their dress uniforms, and you should be wearing one, too. A bow tie on a suit looks ridiculous unless you’re a college professor teaching a lit class. If your spouse is going to be in the service for a while, you might as well just bite the bullet and buy a tux, because you’re going to be wearing one at least once a year until she retires/leaves the service. A tux is a big investment, but it’s better than throwing away $100-120 per formal event on a rental.
When it comes to decorum, as mentioned above, becoming falling-down drunk is a bad call. Also, as a male spouse accompanying a female service member, you need to remember that your wife (or girlfriend) works very hard every day to be seen as a professional at her work place, and not as a piece of ass. The worst thing you can possibly do is to drag her out on the dance floor and make out with her in front of all of her coworkers (yes, I’ve seen this).
Lastly, this is not a high school prom. There is one acceptable color for your cumberbund or vest and that is black, with the only exception being formal wear for a white-tie event, where a white tuxedo, with matching vest/cumberbund, is appropriate.
A man that i have known for several years now invited me to be his date to the marine corps ball next month and I happily accepted. I live in Alabama and the ball is in Hawaii so he will be flying me out a couple days in advance. I am extremely excited and honored but I’m also flipping out because I have no idea how these things work. I’m only 18 so I feel like people will think I’m to young. Any advice on what I should wear and how I should present myself? I want to look and act like a lady. i also dont want people looking down on me because im from the south which believe it or not happens quite often. Please comment back for advice!
I am a girlfriend of a U.S Army soldier. We have been together for three years now. I am in the same boat you are. I am only 18 and know the proper things to do at a dinner table. Always use the utinsels from the outside of the plate. There will be one above your plate, do not use it until it dessert. I have never been to one either. I do not know if red is an ok color to wear or not. I think I will stick to white and black. Does anyine know what colors are best? I know not yellow or lime green but to me red is not bright and neiter is light pink. I have done pagents all my life so I do not know what colors are ok. I do not want to upset or disappoint my boyfriend. I don’t want to be talked about.
Dear Ms. Bruns,
I generally agree with the tone and content of your article, and unlike a previous poster, find it perfectly applicable to the 21st century. Manners never go out of style. Having said that, I must protest that proper etiquette requires a lady to remove her evening gloves when shaking hands. I am one of the few ladies left who still wears silk-lined kid leather gloves with mousquetaire openings, and I can assure that the tight fit, which is intentional, makes it impractical if not downright impossible to remove one’s gloves every time you shake hands. Gloves are removed for eating and drinking when sitting at a table, but may remain on for a brief toast or a sip of champaign — manners are not meant to be unreasonable.
I spent 12 weeks at finishing school in Switzerland, surrounded by Debrett’s, the UK’s premier etiquette authority, was a debutante in Vienna (the world capital of formal balls with an estimated 400+ annual events) under the tutelage of dancing and etiquette expert Mr Elmayer, and own several Miss Manners books purchased in the US, and all of them are in agreement that gloves stay on in receiving lines.
Granted, military etiquette is different, but it only applies to women and men in uniform, and not to civilian ladies. Gentlemen, on the other hand, are required to remove their gloves when shaking a lady’s hand. It doesn’t matter if they are civilian or military. Frankly, I think most people no longer know proper glove etiquette, because they are so rarely worn. To make matters even more complicated, a lady would remove her right glove a formal daytime reception when walking through a receiving line. However, proper day gloves are short (wrist-length or middle of the lower arm) and can be easily removed.
I included some links to prove my point. The first image shows JFK, Mrs Kennedy and several high-ranking military officers (US Navy) in formal dress, and the ladies clearly wear gloves while shaking hands: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9zu9xixU91rexyu9o1_1280.jpg
The Kennedy White House would not commit a social faux pas, so you can trust that it’s proper.
Here is a photo of Queen Elizabeth II. clearly wearing gloves in a receiving line. Again, I think she ought to know proper etiquette having grown up surrounded by it: http://protocol411.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Roayl-Wedding-Receiving-line-etiquette.jpg
I’m going to my first military ball (Army) with my best friend that I grew up with in February. I have a small tattoo of a dove with the saying “Until we meet again” around it on the back of my shoulder, I am not ashamed of it, it has a lot of meaning and background story to it but is it okay to show it? or should I have a dress that covers it?
It’s a tasteful tattoo, not an “I just got out of prison yesterday” tattoo
I think it is fine if it shows. I have seen plenty of tattoos on women that look wonderful with their gowns; do what is comfortable for you!
What about the ball during OTS graduation for the Air Force? All of this information has been very helpful, but I’m wondering specifically about this event. I think it’s referred to as a “ball”. Is a floor length necessary? Should it be black? Thanks in advance!!!
These events are usually slightly less formal but you will probably still see mostly floor length gown type dresses. It does not have to be black though!
I’m attending a military ball with my friend, and I was wondering if a backless gown was acceptable?
If you are comfortable in it then I think so. I think it is a classy way to be sexy without showing off a lot of “lady parts” but remember to just use your best judgement!
Hi everyone. First, I would just like to thank all of you, and your spouses and family members, who have served or are serving. Now, this might seem silly, but this is probably the best place to get input on the matter: I’m a senior in high school, and am engaged to my childhood best friend. He is of a fairly high ranking (I cannot remember what his title is exactly) in our school’s JROTC. In a couple of months, there is a military ball, and though it will not be as strict as those of the actual Service, we like to think of it as such as he is contemplating enlisting after graduation. I’m new to military balls and what all they entail. My concerns come from the fear of making him look bad. I want that night to be something we can be proud of.
So! My questions to you all…
What should I wear? He will be wearing his ‘dress blues’ and I’m having a difficult time finding a color to match that deep navy color.
Etiquette… Really, anything you have to say about this will be helpful. I’m terrified of messing up. I grew up in the south so ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’ come naturally, but what should I expect?
Any information or advice you all offer will be a tremendous help and greatly appreciate.
Thank you so much in advance.
- Madison
I’ve been to 3 balls so far. I wore floor length black simple elegant gowns the first two and the third I wore a simple elegant floor length dark purple gown. Before the first ball I googled dinner etiquette so I would be sure to use the proper manners and etiquette at the table. My husband (then boyfriend) Explained to me what was going to happen as it happened so that I wouldn’t have too much to remember as I was very nervous. That worked out very well. Follow the other spouses… if they all stand you stand… when they all sit… you sit. This will give you clues as to what you are supposed to do. Make sure you follow the spouses because sometimes the service members will have to stand and not the spouses. Smile, get to know people. I’ve never met a friendlier bunch than the Military and their spouses. Its like a big family of strangers. You will have a blast. Big deep breath and relax and have fun, but mind your behavior you are a reflection of the service member you are escorting.
Also… when they are posting colors…(Flag) put your right hand over your heart as it passes by and until its posted. Just like the pledge of allegiance in school. Follow the flag with your body as it passes you, as you would follow the bride as she walks down the isle. Meaning you turn your body to always face the flag during its path.
I absolutely disagree that cocktail dresses are appropriate. Formal means tea length or longer. Personally, I’ve always worn floor length dresses and have never seen the leadership’s spouses/dates wearing anything but floor length. You will see a handful of ladies wearing short dresses, but they all stick out like sore thumbs. In fact, command put out an etiquette Power Point presentation to be shown to all soldiers and spouses before our last ball. There was a “Preferred Dress” slide that had all floor length gowns as examples and a “Less Preferred” slide that had shorter, cocktail dresses as examples. While there was nothing tacky or revealing about the shorter dresses, they are just not appropriate for military Dining Out events.
My last military ball was in January at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, and the organisers solved this problem very effectively and politely by announcing the following dress code:
Ladies: full mess dress with long skirt, ball gown, floor-length evening dress
(Trousers, party, cocktail or tea-length dresses are not permitted)
Gentlemen: full mess dress, white tie, black tie
And a little note that stated:
We reserve the right to refuse entry to improperly attired guests.
I did not see a single person in the many different ballrooms who violated the dress code amongst 3,000+ guests. The ball photos showed a few women in short dresses, but they were professional entertainers (singers and dancers) who wore performance costumes, which is quite different. I did, however, see two people being turned away. Entirely justified in my opinion, as every guest had sufficient notice to dress properly, and the organising committee had even sent out and posted a complete ball guide.
In the picture above of the Marine Ball, is that water in all those PLASTIC bottles? Seriously? Bottled water on a formal table????
Formal requires poured water in a glass.
Bottles are never appropriate.
With that in mind, I’d say wear whatever you can afford to purchase because any service with plastic on the table is not formal enough to worry about.
Carissa,
Yes, I am afraid that is bottled water. I dare say that you and I are probably two of the very few people who know or care that bottles of any kind (this includes wine and beer) have no place on a formal table. The sole exception is champagne in a proper cooler, and even that should be placed on a separate table if at all possible. Of course, a formal dinner also has a minimum of four, ideally six, courses, and should never begin with a salad. Formality and etiquette are lost skills in today’s society, particularly in the US, and most of the events that are called balls are very far removed from a true formal ball.
I wish I could invite you to a formal dinner at my father’s former regimental officers’ mess. My dad is a retired Royal Dragoon Guards officer, who still attends social functions hosted by his old regiment, and has taken my husband and me as his guests a few times. My husband is a US Navy officer, and he absolutely loved it. If you want to attend a real ball, a visit to Vienna, Austria will be an eye-opening experience.
Are there certain colors that are not appropriate while my date is wearing a white jacket? For example I was looking at a dress that I fell in love with, and it’s pastel peach. Or are black/ darker colors preferred?
I have seen all colors so it really just depends on your preference!
To all ladies, please ensure you are wearing the appropriate undergarments for which ever dress you wear. If your dress does not have a very good built in support for the bust, DO wear a bra. I’d suggest buying a special bra if needed. Bra straps are tacky and should not be on show.
Great guide! That said, in 13+ years of service I have only attended 3 birthday balls and 2 “mess nights.” Two of the birday balls I attended were mandatory due to my job as a photog/videog. I do my damndest to avoid them otherwise. I hate formal socials…and informal ones too pretty much.
I’m going to my first military ball in September with my Boyfriend. He’s in the Coast Guard and I’m seriously nervous about what I should wear. I’ve never been to one and I actually found a floor length emerald green sweetheart dress, that’s fitted and strapless but has very minimal detailing (save for a bit of black embroidery at the top left of the dress). The dress is very elegant, but I’m worried more of the women will be wearing more current laid back dress styles. What do you all NORMALLY see at these events. I just want to wow my boyfriend and keep the other officers impressed. =( I’m lost
Emerald Green is a very popular color in military ball dresses so I wouldn’t worry, your dress sounds lovely!
I love your attitude and I agree respect and representing yourself and your spouse is the key!
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