Groomsman doesn't want to rent a tux...

Can you afford the rental for him? If not, I think the dress blues would be fine, they are fairly formal. That said, this whole scenario is a little confusing to me, but whatever works for ya'll!

Dress blues are SEXY!!! let him wear it :-)

No, we can't afford to rent his tux. It is a little confusing, but I'm hoping it all works out to be an awesome surprise on our wedding day! Perhaps I should clarify that I do not think blues are tacky. I'm prior military and have a set of my own. I was concerned about 3 men in matching tuxes and one in blues.

I think people will understand and not think much of it. Let him wear the blues, he'll still be as formal as everyone else.

He's a surprise, and I think he will look fine in his dress blues. Years later when you look back at your pictures you will remember that he wasn't in a tux because he was a surprise. If he looked like everyone else, the fact that he was a surprise might get forgotten.

If you would have said that he was just going to show up in any old outfit, I would agree with you, but offering to wear his dress blues is different. They show honor and I don't think a single person there is going to say "why isn't he wearing a tux', they are going to say 'it was wonderful for his marine buddy to show up in his uniform'. Sorry to say this and I hope you don't take it the wrong way, but if it was my wedding, I'd be honored.

I'm glad you shared your opinion. I've just never been to a wedding where this has happened and I'm worried about it looking strange and distracting from the groom... I think I might not even let him be in the wedding. People elsewhere are yelling at me for surprising him with this.

I think it is a great surprise for your FH and I don't think him being in dress blues is bad at all. I would be honored to have that in my wedding if it were me.

If we had our wedding next year (and had a wedding party and everything like originally planned) then we would have either had a mixture of uniforms (DH is a Corpsman in the Navy, so he works directly with the Marines and that is the branch all of his friends are in) or a little bit of everything (tuxes and uniforms). We hadn't truly decided then moved it up a year and it was a moot point as we decided no WP.

I say go with the uniform.

You can't please all the people all the time. Tongues will wag no matter WHAT you do. (For some reason a certain type of person always has something to say about how if you had done it THEIR way it would have been 1000 times better) They can stuff it. It sounds like you are constructing a meaningful surprise for your FH. I too have been to several "mixed media" weddings and I've never thought anything of some party members being in uniform and some in civvies (albeit very dressy civvies.)

Does everyone have a black suit? Most men own one I think - and groomsmen in suits still looks great.

If he is his best friend, i bet your FH would be super bummed if he was there and his BFF wasnt IN his wedding.

Hmmm, I would say right now, your best course of action is "what would make DF happy?" Do you think DF would want to have his friend in the wedding? I awould assume so, but if not, then just ask him to come as a guest. If he would want him to be in the bridal party, do you think DF really cares that his friend would be wearing dress blues? It doesn't matter what other people think, it's abou tyou and DF and (likef Blair said), DF would probably be bummed if his friend came to the wedding but wasn't allowed to be in the wedding party because of his attire.

I think itll be ok. But I wouldnt like it, to be honest if I were you. I dont think anyone will care though.

Im confused...how are people yelling at you bc your fh bf is going to surprise him for a special day in his life? one, i think the dress blues would be amazing. and two, i think fh would love it no matter what he was wearing.

I don't think anyone here is yelling at her about surprising her DF, I think its coming from somewhere else.

That said, I agree that if DF would have wanted his best friend to be in his wedding then you should let him be in the wedding and wear his dress blues. It would be an awesome surprise for your DF

Let him wear his blues, it's an honor and actual when in any event, they wear their dress blues, greens ,etc...

I posted on your other post but I am just now seeing this one so I'll add my opinion on the tux. I think him being a Marine and wearing his dress blues is great. It really shows who he is as a person/friend/marine and if we had a GM who was a marine for example I would be more than happy to let him wear his dress blues. I think it will really make your WP stand out

Also, I would not "replace" your brother and have them both feel equally as wanted and important. You don't want your brother feeling he was second best for the job and only was your "Man of Honor" bc you didn't have anyone else. Uneven numbers are A-Okay! It's about the people, not the numbers.

I would leave your brother on the grooms side as he is meant to be. There is one problem??? is your wedding in the USA? if it is then yes to the marine in uniform. We did the same. If not NO NO NO do not wear your uniform in another country. Safety concerns there.

Dress

Blues!!!! For sure. He's done an amazing thing for our country and should be allowed to wear those instead, I wouldn't worry about matching, either way it'll be amazing.

Mine was a Marine before we got

Together. He wont wear them, I don't think he supposed to anyways, and he won't fit into them. A 160lb stick to a 240lb power lifter just won't fit same clothes

But if any of his friends said hey I'm still in the service and would love to wear my blues I'd smile and let them I think it's great they want to show off their service for our country!