Best man not able to attend due to being in the navy.

I have been to a couple weddings that had uneven wedding parties and it has looked fine. I think you can work with the 3 and 2. Maybe just have the maid of honor escorted out by a groomsman and the other 2 can be escorted out by the other at the same time.

I agree that you shouldn't bump him with someone else, unless your FH wants to. I think the recorded speech is a great idea. I am sure your FH would love that his brother can still be part of the day even if it is through video.

I will say dont freak out just yet. Many deployments have been issued and then cancelled lately so he may not end up having to go. (My BIL is marines, my friend is in the navy and my best friends 2 brothers are in the army, and over the past 2 months, they have all had their deployments issued then cancelled)

My wedding party was even but our best man waited with my husband and my MOH walked by herself. It looked fine, you don't need to have it even or bump anyone down because that is not fair to the one you bump down

Thanks a bunch for the suggestions!!!

I think your idea of having the best man record a speech is a wonderful idea! I bet it would mean so much to your FH! I also think you shouldn't bump anyone. Just as you suggested, have the MOH walk down on her own.

Have you seen where people have the missing person on an iPad walking down the aisle? like facetime...not something I'd personally do...but if his brother could do facetime specifically for your wedding, he could still be there, just not physically

Either way, I love what you've thought out and think you should do that. No use in bumping anyone, especially if you've already asked people to be your BMs and guestbook attendant.

Our WP is even, but my brother is my "man of honor" so when the WP walks out of the church, I think they're just going to alternate (at least the BM/MOH positions). The guys are going to be standing up with FH at the altar, and the girls/my brother will walk in alone (unless my brother wants to stand up at the altar too, I really don't care!).

Uneven parties are NBD, plus I wouldn't replace him while he's serving our country on a deployment!!!

The recorded speech/skype option is a great one. That would be very special. Plus your BM gets the opportunity to get his speech exactly right, and he doesn't have to do it live in front of a group of people, which makes some people nervous. Win win!

I think the MOH should walk alone if she's comfortable w/ doing so and have the BM record a speech! DOn't replace him! He obviously means alot to you and his brother to be the best man!

If he can't be there, he can still be there in spirit.

Thanks a bunch for the comments girls the only thing is who should do the best man things like help with the bachlor party and hold the rings I have a ring bearer its our son but I wasn't planning on having our son carry down the real rings. Should I have our son who is 6 stand in for my FH's BM or not ?

If your FI's outfit has pockets, he could keep them there. Or you could have another groomsman carry the rings. Or give the rings to the officiant before the ceremony, so s/he can just produce them at the right time.

As for the bachelor party, the BM is never required to give one. If other GM (or indeed, anyone else) want to organize one, they can.

You could have the MOH hold all of the rings, or the officiant, or another GM. Definitely wouldn't give a 6 year old the responsibility of holding the real rings or standing in for a best man!

Don't worry about the bachelor party. It's not necessary. The best man could totally organize something before he leaves on deployment. Or, the other guys in FH's life could get together and organize something after BM leaves on deployment. If nobody does anything for him and you're feeling bad about it, you could always reach out to the guy on deployment and tell him you want to help him organize from afar. That way, he can be the one to send out emails or whatever, and he can be involved to whatever extent he wants to and is able to.

A very similar thing happened with my parents when they got married they moved up the wedding by three mos so that my mom's sister could be there. Everyone's situation is different tho and you may not be able to change the date or want to change the date. I think that having a recorded message would be very nice and im with the other ladies about walking order. As for the bachelor party boys will be boys and and long and there are other groomsmen your FH has nothing to worry about in the department...