Brown brogues with a black suit are also smart choices, but keeping the dress shoes dark brown is advisable
You shouldnt go broke being an MOHif you have to decline certain expenses, offer to be there for your bride in ways that dont cost anything (like helping her craft decor or source vendors)
To elevate it, opt for pointed-toe pumps, block heels, or elegant wedges
Generally speaking, while there is a wide variety of styles used by different military branches and sometimes even within a given branch some common themes emerge across the board: Mess dress for officers generally includes a mess jacket, waist covering, bow tie, trousers, and dress shoes Mess jackets are waist-length jackets that can have shawl or peak lapels or no lapels at all (the latter are known as cavalry style mess jackets and their upright collars require them to be worn without neckwear)
Also, because they're mass-produced, there's a chance someone else shows up to an event in the same dress someday
