Saber / sword arch: a wedding guide

As you leave, you walk under an arch of swords raised by your friends who serve.

When couples book this

Usually arranged about three months out — the detail requests leave and settles uniforms in that time. It moves with your date.

Answer these before you meet anyone.

Who would you love to form the arch?
The arch is rendered by people connected to you, not hired.
How large a formation do you have in mind?
Traditionally an even number forming pairs.
Where would you like the arch to form?

Branch of service / customs
Commands, saber handling, and small customs differ by branch — the detail's senior member calls the commands in their service's form. By custom the sabers are officers'; in the Marine Corps NCOs carry the NCO sword and form an arch too, and an enlisted detail in the other services sometimes forms a rifle arch in the same shape.
How many saber bearers?
Traditionally an even number — six or eight bearers forming pairs — set by what the unit can field.
Where are the sabers coming from?
Units and academies often lend sabers for the detail; rental fills the gap when they can't.
Uniform for the detail
Ceremonial details typically wear their dress uniform; a mixed-branch detail simply wears each member's own. The couple records the ask; the detail wears what their regulations prescribe.

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Saber rental, Thank-you for the detail.

Who is forming the arch?
The arch is formed by service members connected to the couple, not booked from a market.
Detail coordinator (point of contact)
One senior member runs the detail — forming, commands, and cue. Everything routes through this person.
Where does the arch form?
At the last pair the sabers drop and cross until the couple kiss, then lift. The swat some details add after it — 'Welcome to the Army', or the service's own name, for whoever is marrying in — is a folk custom, not part of the honor; some couples want it and some do not, so tell the coordinator which.

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Choose which moments to include.

The brief a couple sends you has these sections: