Well, it's that time of year again! Military birthday ball season is upon us and honestly, it's one of my favorite times of the year. Who doesn't love to dress up for a night with their handsome hubby and have a good time?
One of the things I miss the most about the Marine Corps is the birthday ball. The tradition, the dressing up, and all the fun. There really is nothing in the world like a Marine Corps birthday ball. I haven't been to one in YEARS and I definitely miss them. When I first starting dating my husband I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated by the ball. I was so new to this world, and there were so many traditions and customs to remember. I was terrified of messing something up. There are so many Do's and Don'ts that I figured I would put together a quick guide PLUS some of my favorite ball gown options for this year.
Do's:
- Wear a classy floor length gown
- Have a snack beforehand
- Follow your husband's lead
- Be respectful of the traditions
- Be polite, your husband's command and those he works with will all be there (don't forget the yes ma'am's and no sir's)
- Be on time
- Keep the dancing clean
- Have fun!
Don'ts:
- Drink too much
- Be loud and disrespectful
- Wear revealing, bright, or inappropriate dresses
- Be on your phone during the ceremonial part of the night
- Sneak out early
- Don't discredit your branch (avoid posting any inappropriate content online)
Okay now that we've covered the basics, let's get to the fun part! Picking a dress for the ball is both fun and stressful. I don't know about you, but I can be pretty picky with my dresses. I threw together a few favorites in all price ranges to help you get inspired when picking your dress. A few things I want to touch on first though. Some people will say that color doesn't matter for the birthday ball, and I have to disagree with that. If you show up in a lime green dress, you're going to be drawing all kinds of attention to yourself. This night isn't about YOU, it's about your service member and celebrating your branch, its history and traditions. So leave the brightly colored dresses at home for another time. With that being said, as a rule of thumb I always try to stick to the colors of the flag and neutrals. Red, white/cream/gold, blue, and black are going to be your best options. Of course, there's no actual "rule" about colors but keep in mind the colors of your husband's uniform. For me being a Marine Corps spouse that always meant the colors I mentioned above. Use your best judgement, and if you have to ask if it's showing too much or if it's too revealing, then the answer is yes. This concept also goes for shoes. This isn't the time to wear your club hopping heels. Keep it neutral and classy. If you're on a tight budget this year, you can also look into organizations like Operation Deploy Your Dress and going to events on base like Belle of the Ball.
Black Dress Options
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Red Dress Options
Cream and Gold Dress Options
Blue Dress Options
