| Wow! It is spring and the wedding bells ring! The | | | | unless the weather is inclement. |
| Marriage Island located in the San Antonio River | | | | Flowers for the Chapel are provided by the |
| on the Riverwalk is located just down the | | | | Chapel Altar Guild. These flowers cannot be |
| Riverwalk from the Westin Riverwalk Hotel. The | | | | removed from the Chapel after the wedding. |
| Island has been used for Religious Services for | | | | Flowers for the members of the wedding party |
| over 300 years. The first Catholic Mass held in | | | | are the responsibility of those getting married. |
| San Antonio was held on the Island. The island has | | | | Rice cannot be thrown inside or outside the |
| also been used by most other denominations at | | | | Chapel. Be sure to inform your guests of this |
| one time. This includes Baptists, Presbyterians, | | | | restriction. |
| Lutherans, & Methodist over the past 250 years | | | | There are rooms for last-minute preparations at |
| as a meeting place to hear the gospel. The | | | | the Chapel, but at the beginning of the ceremony |
| Marriage Island is one of the most beautiful | | | | everything should be removed from these rooms. |
| wedding spots in the State of Texas. Several | | | | A mininum contribution should be made to the |
| photos are shown on the website of past | | | | Protestant or Catholic Chapel. This is to be paid |
| Riverwalk Weddings. | | | | when you submit your application: it helps to |
| Weddings may be officiated at any San Antonio | | | | defray the cost of marriage books, candles, |
| location. Outdoor and backyard wedding make for | | | | flowers, and music. |
| a real cozy setting. We have served people from | | | | United States Air Force Academy: Colorado |
| all areas of San Antonio, New Braunfels, Gruene, | | | | Springs, Colorado. The Academy has two |
| and Universal City. Churches available for rent if | | | | different chapels and a different booklet for each. |
| you require a Church Wedding. | | | | The Protestant Chapel can be used only by |
| Military Weddings for members of all Bracnches of | | | | graduates of any military academy and |
| the United States Military. We have officiated | | | | active-duty military personnel assigned to the U.S. |
| weddings at the Fort Sam Houston Chapel, and | | | | Air Force Academy, and their dependents. This is |
| the Lackland Air Force Base Chapel. Father Louis | | | | an Academy regulation. Chaplains that are |
| Bernhardt is a Member of the United States | | | | assigned to the Academy normally preside over |
| Chaplain's Service, and serves as State | | | | the wedding, but in special circumstances other |
| Commander. Father Louis also serves as a | | | | clergy may officiate. Premarital counseling is |
| Member of the Board of Govenors for the Texas | | | | mandatory for all marriages, beginning at least |
| Association of Wedding Officiates for 2009. | | | | thirty days before the ceremony. |
| There are many options for your Riverwalk | | | | Rehearsals should be scheduled with the chaplain. |
| Wedding. You may charter a Riverboat for the | | | | Flowers are to be provided by the wedding party, |
| Wedding Meal. Live Musicians available to play your | | | | and should be delivered to the Chapel. White |
| favorite songs. You may have a friend or family | | | | runners are not allowed because of the highly |
| member read a poem! You may write your own | | | | polished floor. |
| vows that you speak to each other during the | | | | The Chapel provides candles and kneeling cushions |
| celebration. | | | | for the bride and groom. Sabers and baldrics |
| Children from previous marriages may be included | | | | (holders for the sabers) are available at the |
| in the ceremony. The Minister would present each | | | | Chapel, too. However, they cannot be removed. |
| child a ring or other memento that the couple | | | | Pictures may be taken with a flash only during the |
| furnishes. This officially makes the child a part of | | | | processional and following the benediction. Pictures |
| the celebration and a member of the new family. | | | | of the religious portion of your wedding may be |
| Rules for Military Weddings at Militarty Chapels & | | | | taken from the balcony only. Flashbulbs are not |
| West Point. | | | | allowed at that time. Flashbulbs may be used |
| Every wedding requires special planning, but a | | | | during the arch of sabers. There will be time after |
| military wedding calls for some specific traditions | | | | the wedding for pictures. |
| that may be unfamiliar to a civilian bride whose | | | | In the interest of time, a reception line cannot be |
| mother or mother-in-law did not have to consider | | | | formed at the end of your wedding. Weddings at |
| such a ceremony. | | | | the Chapel must also begin and end on schedule. |
| Marilyn Sharp, wife of Colonel Dan Sharp (retired), | | | | Nothing--rice, confetti, or flower petals--can be |
| gives this advice on how to smooth the way to a | | | | thrown either inside or outside the Chapel (mainly |
| perfect military wedding. "The most important | | | | for safely reasons). |
| thing to do is to plan as soon as you becone | | | | Military chaplains do not receive fees for their |
| engaged, and don't feel silly checking two or three | | | | services. Donations can be given, but there is no |
| times with the caterer or florist." Mrs. Sharp said | | | | charge for the use of the Chapel. |
| that it was not uncommon to have the wrong | | | | The Catholic ceremony is relatively the same. |
| flowers and wedding cake end up at the wrong | | | | However, there are a few differences. |
| wedding. Part of the problem with simple services, | | | | Catholics need a copy of their record of baptism |
| like hotels, caterers, and florists at the academies, | | | | from the church where it was performed. This |
| is that there are so few of them. West Point, for | | | | needs to be issued six months prior to the |
| example, has only one hotel in the nearby town. | | | | ceremony. A questionnaire must be filled out in |
| Many people come each year to West Point for | | | | the presence of a priest. If the marriage is |
| graduation and weddings in June, so hotel | | | | interfaith, special counseling on the responsibilities |
| reservations must be made as early as February. | | | | of being Catholic is required before the ceremony. |
| Mrs. Sharp's husband graduated from West Point | | | | For all couples marrying in the Catholic Church, |
| in 1951 and retired from the service as the | | | | attendance at premarital sessions is required. You |
| deputy commandant at West Point. Being the | | | | must also obtain permission from your pastor to |
| wife of the deputy commandant, she helped the | | | | be married in any church other than your own |
| cadets plan their weddings and recalls having | | | | parish. Sabers are not permitted inside the |
| attended eight military weddings in one day! Any | | | | Catholic Church. |
| enlisted man or officer can have a military | | | | United States Military Academy: West point, New |
| wedding in full-dress uniform. Like anything having | | | | York. West Point does not have a bride's |
| to do with the military, there are certain guidelines | | | | handbook, but Chaplain Louis Bernhardt offers |
| that pertain to all military weddings, regardless of | | | | some tips for brides who want to be married at |
| wether they are held at one of the academy | | | | West Point. |
| chapels or in a civilian church. | | | | According to Chaplain Louis Bernhardt, the bride |
| A military wedding is a formal affair. Your fiance | | | | must bring to West Point everything that the |
| and his military friends wear their dress uniforms | | | | party will need. If you are marrying a graduating |
| and white gloves. Boutonnieres cannot be worn on | | | | cadet, he will draw lots several months before the |
| a military uniform. If there are any civilian ushers, | | | | event to determine what time your wedding will |
| they should wear cut-aways, strollers, black or | | | | take place during June week. Weddings begin one |
| dark-colored suites. Your father, if he is not in the | | | | hour after graduation and run continuously |
| military, should do the same. | | | | throughout the week. There are three chapels at |
| Invitations to a military wedding read almost the | | | | the Academy and one Jewish Synagogue. |
| same as those for a civilian wedding. However, | | | | Chaplain Louis Bernhardt said that the hardest |
| you should include your fiance's rank and branch. | | | | thing about having your wedding during June week |
| For instance, instead of John Smith, you would | | | | is finding a place to stay. There is one hotel in |
| put, Lieutenant John Smith, U.S. Army. | | | | Highland Falls; and it is booked early in February |
| The saber arch is one of the things that makes | | | | because of all the wedding parties and all of the |
| the military wedding so special. During the | | | | parents and relatives who plan to attend |
| recessional, the bridge and groom walk under an | | | | graduation. You should makereservations at the |
| arch made by the ushers or designated | | | | hotel for your entire wedding party as soon as |
| saberbearers. This is also the most photographed | | | | you know the date. Follow this immediately with a |
| part of a military wedding. A good rule of thumb | | | | call to the officer's club about the reception. It is |
| is to have four to six saberbearers in your | | | | very important that you include a "reception |
| wedding party: they can serve as ushers or can | | | | following" card with an R.S.V.P. on it so that you |
| be separated from the ushers. It looks nice to | | | | know the number of guests to expect. |
| have the same number of bridesmaids as | | | | Order the flowers from the florist early and |
| saberbearers, but this is up to you. | | | | recheck to make sure that there is no mix-up as |
| Commanding officers should always be seated | | | | to the time and place. Photographs depend on |
| according to their ranks. Your ushers will probably, | | | | the church--you will have to ask the chaplain of |
| if they are in the service, know how to do this. | | | | the chapel you have chosen. Rehearsals are set |
| Other officers may sit anywhere. The chaplains at | | | | by appointment. First, you should check on any |
| each of the military academies have provided a | | | | special rules that your church might have on the |
| summary of their own specific rules. | | | | drawing of sabers. |
| United States Naval Academy: Annapolis, Maryland. | | | | Planning a military wedding is basically no different |
| The following people can be married at the U.S. | | | | from planning any other type of wedding, until the |
| Naval Academy Chapel: Naval Academy | | | | conclusion. The recessional proceeds like this: The |
| graduates, active or retired, and their children; | | | | bride and groom leave the church first, followed |
| military personnel assigned to Annapolis, andtheir | | | | by the bridesmaids and seaberbears. When the |
| children; Academy faculty, active or retired, and | | | | bride and groom reach the back of the church, |
| their children; and military personnel retired with | | | | they step aside to let the wedding party and |
| pay, and their children who regularly attend the | | | | congregation leave. After everyone is out of the |
| Academy Chapel. | | | | church, the saberbears form two lines facing each |
| Weddings are scheduled through the senior | | | | other to form an arch of sabers. According to |
| chaplain's office, which can be found in the | | | | officers who have had military weddings, the |
| wedding handbook. Weddings can be held Monday | | | | saber arch should be practiced before the |
| through Saturday from noon to 4:00 P.M. except | | | | wedding. Make sure that officers participating in |
| for the week of commissioning. After the | | | | the saber arch leave enough room between them |
| application has been received, you will be issued a | | | | so the bride and groom can go under side by side. |
| time for the rehearsal and wedding. | | | | The commands for the arch are as follows: |
| During commissioning week, the Chapel is | | | | Sabers are carried in the "carry draw" position. At |
| reserved for the graduating midshipmen only. The | | | | the command of "draw sabers," the arch is |
| scheduling for their weddings is usually different | | | | formed. Each bearer raises his right arm with |
| from weddings at other times. For information on | | | | saber in hand rotating the arm until the blade is on |
| commissioning week weddings, you should contact | | | | top. If the saberbears bend their wrists, they |
| the office of the senior chaplain. | | | | should have a true arch. At the command, "return |
| Only Naval Academy chaplains will peform | | | | sabers," the saberberars return their sabers to |
| weddings in the Naval Academy Chapel, and the | | | | the "carry draw" position. Your saberbears should |
| Academy chaplains advice premarital counseling | | | | know what the "carry draw" position is: if the are |
| before a couple are married in the Chapel. If you | | | | unsure, it is partially in the baldric and partially out. |
| live far away from the Academy, the chaplainswill | | | | Only the bride and groom may walk under the |
| suggest a counselor. | | | | saber arch. |
| The arch of swords, as it is called in the Navy, | | | | One special tradition at a military wedding |
| takes place in the Chapel steps. Since the Chapel | | | | reception is that the bride and groom cut the first |
| does not supply swords, your party must furnish | | | | piece of cake with the groom's saber. The groom |
| them. | | | | places his hand on the hilt of the saber (the |
| Music for the wedding is the responsibility of the | | | | handle) and the bride guides the blade. |
| director of musical activities at the Naval | | | | A military wedding can be as modern or as |
| Academy. Only appropriate sacred music can be | | | | traditional as you want to make it. Concluding with |
| used. Soloists and guest instrumentalists are not | | | | the arch of sabers adds an especially memorable |
| encouraged at the Chapel. | | | | touch for you and your officer husband. |
| Pictures can be taken in the Bride's Room, in the | | | | |
| sacristy, and outside the Chapel before the | | | | |
| ceremony. A flash may be used during the | | | | |
| processional and the recessional. Pictures may be | | | | |
| taken in the new nave during the ceremony, | | | | For the last 15 years Father Louis has been know |
| including the balconies, without flash. No pictures | | | | as the "Riverwalk Pastor" and he continues to this |
| may be taken in the Chapel after the ceremony | | | | date! |