Any military wives out there?

Hi Mags, I was a forces wife too, twice! Originally got married to a soldier, who was serving in Northern Ireland at the time, back in 1989 and I have to agree it was hard. Poor man used to come home about every 6 weeks and be inundated with wedding stuff! "what kind of cake, do you like this photographer, we need to choose hymns! etc etc etc" then before I knew it he was back off to Ireland again. My 2nd husband was in the Navy but was just leaving as I met him so was around a great deal more and we have tremendous fun planning our wedding together 4 years ago.

Theres lots of very supportive hitchers who will be able to give you lots of advice along the way and no doubt there will be others in a similar situation. Good luck with everything x

Hi Mags!

Welcome to Hitched and look no further. I'm an Army wife (to be) and my OH is currently away on operations (thankfully not Afghan this time) and won't be back until 3 weeks before the wedding. Coupled with the fact I've had an operation on my foot and can't walk for 6 weeks (we have about 13/14 weeks to go - can't remember now) it's a massive nightmare stress that I can do without. Don't even get me started on wedding shoes!!

So, anything you want to talk about militarywise or support etc, I can help as I TOTALLY understand where you're coming from, going to and have been! When's the wedding?

I'm not an army wife but my best friend has just joined the army and its bad enough her being gone all the time, let alone my OH, I applaud you all and your futures hubbys xx

I'm an RAF wife to be. I have to admit, I've been quite lucky. My OH propsed about a week after he got back from Afghan, and in his new posting he's not likely to get deployed for a couple of years, so I have him around a lot of the time. Having said that, he is almost too keen to get involved. We both have quite strong idea's about what we like, and neither of us are keen on backing down. Im actually quite jealous of people who's OH's give them a free reign!

Nice to know there are some other future military wives on these boards though

Where and when are you getting married?

xx

Hey, and welcome! I'm an army wife to be My fiance is based in Germany and has been for the past 2 and a half years so I know what you mean about it being lonely! It's been a nightmare for us as he only ever has about a weeks notice when he's coming home, due to weekend exercises and guard duty, so we have to then manically ring round to try and make appointments for things!

I have done most of the planning on my own but I have a great best friend who has been my back up! And men aren't as interested as us women anyway so even if he was here, he probably wouldn't be putting in much input anyway!

But you are not alone, there is a few of us, so we are all here whenever it gets too much and you need a moan! It's a lonely life but one to be extremely proud of xxx

Jalapeno, You're getting married the day before me!! and I hadn't even worked it out in weeks yet so now you've scared me ha ha! xx

So you have 94 days or 13 weeks, 2 days or 3 months and 2 days. That'll get the heebies up ya!

Anyone's other half doing the whole uniform thing?

Yup! Mine is. I cant wait! He's going to be in his number 1's for the ceremony and photo's (complete with sword). Got a few of his RAF friends coming, so will be having a guard of honour *squeeeel*. Then any guys in military unifrom will be changing into their number 5's for the reception, and the girls can change into their party frocks!

I was never particularly bothered by the unifrom thing untl I met my OH, but now.............*swoon* :o)

I was wondering if he cou;d be my 'somthing blue'? Or does that really need to be something i'm wearing!?

xxx

Mine is too. Dress 1's for ceremony and the BM and guard of honour in 2's. No swords for us as I've not got officers. I've never seen my OH is anything other than DPM or 2's so it's going to be a big surprise for me too. ?

Thanks a million for all the support - it is nice to know that there are others in the same situation and coping brilliantly!

Re uniform, yep Jase and his guys will be in uniform - so very yummy! I think that's the bit I'm looking forward to most - seeing him in uniform and our boys in their suits. My eldest will be 10 and our baby will be 20 months so I can just imagine how gorgeous they'll look! I'm going up the aisle on my own so just seeing them all dressed up will be such an encouragement to get my backside up there!!!!

Not marrying into the military, but my brother was in the RAF for a time, as was my Grandpa and my Uncle was Royal Navy, my friend is currently in the Army and I know how hard his wife finds it...

Regardless of all that, I just wanted to say I have massive respect for you ladies, and moreso your OHs.

Hey MagsL

Welcome to Hitched ? My OH's in the army and we planned most of our wedding via MSN / emails. We got engaged in Jan 2011 and married in Sept 2011 - during that time he was based in Germany. When we were picking the venue, I took my mum along and sent him pics via email and set up a secret Facebook album. He was happy to trust my judgement and we booked our venue without him going along - although he did visit as soon as he was home. During the whole planning, we discussed everything together - email, MSN, Facebook, over the phone and in person, every decision was made together. It wasn't easy but thank god for the internet I say!!! The OH was great, he did as much as he could his end - set up our budget spreadsheet, designed place names, order of service etc and when he came home, he did as much as he could. Also, he devised a "Main Event List" for the day itself, it was like a military operation and our day was amazing (though we are biased) - so many people commented on the personal details of the day. He also wore uniform too *swoon* - you can see the OH's wedding report and our wedding video at the bottom, in my signature.

Anyway, good luck with the planning and any questions, just shout!!!

x

P.S. lumc86 - I know exactly what you're going through, your OH sounds like a carbon copy of mine!!!

I reember watching your wedding video and thinking it was great that your H changed into a Superman T-shirt. I never said a word about it. Last week when we were talking about him changing in the evening (to a spare suit same as the others) he said he wouldn't because he has a special T-shirt. Reminded me of you straight away Goodness only knows what it's going to be though!

OMG you looked stunning! And yes I did start to blub - those onions must have been very strong!!! You looked like you all had a great day and the uniforms looked stunning. I kept picturing Jase in his while I watched your video! Oh instead of being nervous I'm now excited!! Thank you so much for sharing xx

Jalapeno - my OH wasn't meant to have his t-shirt on show on a permanent basis, it was only meant to be shown for a single photo.

We had amazing weather for late Sept, it was 20 degrees and the boys were starting to get really hot as the day went on. Our ushers stripped down to their t-shirts during the wedding breakfast and my OH eventually caved after the first dance - which I didn't mind at all. Later on, one of the ushers decided to turn his t-shirt and my OH's into a sleeveless top!!! During the planning stages, if anyone had said that I'd have a sleeveless top wearing groom on my wedding day, I'd have cancelled it there and then ? Soooooooooo worrying / scarey / exciting stuff re: your OH's secret t-shirt choice ? (I'm only teasing)!!!

Aw thanks MagsL - I never expected the onions to set the OH off because normally he's such a typical bloke. I think the lip wobble has to be my favourite bit of our wedding vid ? I can't wait for everyone elses wedding reports now and to see Jase looking handsome and dapper in his uniform x

That is an AWESOME shot. I actually LOVE it.

One day I'l get through your video without crying, one day......

Thanks Jalapeno ? The OH is away at the mo, and I wont see him for 5 months solid...so when I watch our video now, I blubb sometimes ?

Mine is too and gets back 3 weeks before the day! It's rough

Can I ask you where you got your BMs hair feathers from please?

3 weeks...wowzas, you must be mega organised!!!

It was a last minute purchase from Primark - £1.50 each, an absolute bargain!!! Weeks before, I got my mum a lovely navy feather hair clip from eBay, so it tied in really well. The bigger Primarks are great for accessories...they organise their bits into themes / colours, so it makes shopping really easy.

Primark?! AMAZING! They look fantastic.

We did the majority of the organising before he left. I had a good three months of planning with him and luckily he's still contactable via phone and Facebook so we manage to have a chat every couple of days. Luckily when he gets back, he's got post-op leave so he'll be kept busy enough.

Ladies you are amazing. Not back til 3 weeks before the wedding and 5 months away - I know they do an important job that we are all extremely proud of but I think we should be proud of ourselves too! Jase is home next week for 3 whole weeks - I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas!!

I find that the hardest thing is being all up beat when I speak to him. You can't whinge that you miss them or moan about this, that, the other. I suppose that's a good thing. Hurrah for Military Wives. Anyone want to start a choir?! ?

Last time, the OH was away for 7 months, this time it's 6 months but I've hardly whinged / moaned this time...keeping busy is the way forward!!! Also, it's hard to restrict Facebook posts like "Nik Nak is really missing the OH" or avoid the R&R count down...I feel sorry for my friends sometimes ? The OH posted this on Facebook today "Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires" - he can be a softy at times ? Anyway, chin up ladies and enjoy the rest of the wet weekend x

P.S. I can't sing for toffee but I can play the triangle ?

I'm thinking a choir isn't the way forward but I'm sure we could do something else - anyone for The Military Wives Wedding Planners!?!?!??!

OMG! ?

We've just had the paperwork through for our SFA. It's AMAZING. It's another thing I've got to sort out while H2B is away and our March In date is 6 days before the wedding but we will have our own place and I'm so excited. We currently live with my parents so it's going to be a huge change. YIPPEE.

Anyone else live in SFA and want to tell me that it's going to be plain sailing?! Please don't say it's a nightmare.....