Groomsman dropped out

Don't replace him. That's hurtful to both the groomsman who had to drop out and the runner-up groomsman who didn't make the cut the first time. Besides, your closest friends shouldn't be replaceable.

I understand how you feel. We’re 17 days out and 2 of our groomsmen might drop out last minute because they have babies due any minute. I haaaaaaate the look of uneven sides, BUT I quickly learned to get over it because it’s such a small thing in the grand scheme things. With that being said, I wouldn’t recommend replacing the groomsmen.

That stinks!... we have one groomsmen that I question if he will be able to come. He's active duty military and who knows if he could ship out at any moment. FH wants to "bump up" an usher if that happens. I personally say leave it as is, have uneven sides. No one will notice aside from you.

I agree with not replacing him. FH has a Best Man and I have a Maid of Honor (thats it, no one else in bp) - however, MOH joined the Peace Corps and has been in South Africa, it is a possiblity that she will be able to make it, but I completely understand if she can’t be there. I have had SO many people (usually just older ladies in my family or from church) who ask me who my “back-up” is.... I seriously laugh, because I would never dream of replacing her, and how would it feel for someone to know they are a replacement???
Honestly if it were up to me, I would ditch the bridal party all together (well, I would still keep our flower girl and two ring bearers), but because my FH is extremely close to his Best Man (cousins) and that is the one thing he wanted in terms of wedding planning, I would never take that away from him. I wish that I had more close girlfriends, however I don’t, so I’m really not into asking friends who I am not super close with, and making them feel awkwardly obligated - I have been on the other side of that type of situation before and it was so uncomfortable!

As far as uneven numbers go, I think you are fine! A lot of times I don’t even see the groomsmen escorting the other bridesmaids anymore - I have seen lots of trends of them walking out separately. I’m sure your photographer will be able to work around this too, if you are worried about your pictures and uneven numbers.

We replaced our but only because the one the dropped was dropped by us because we stopped being friends so I couldn't care less if that offended him, yours seems like he just can't do it. Most on here will say you won't notice the uneven mess and it doesn't matter because your still getting married with your closest friends! I would probubly go crazy for uneven but it's still your wedding, ypu decide. Maybe if it will bother you, talk to the one that had to drop out (plus he hasn't said he completely drops out yet, from your/his wording) to see if he would mind. Maybe put a flower girl up there just to even it?

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The uneven number is going to bother me the WHOLE day. I just know it will. My FH doesn't see the harm in replacing someone that can't make it. Our flower girl is our two year old daughter, I know she won't stand still to be up there with us. LOL

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I understand how it is hurtful, but FH doesn't see it. Maybe because him and his friends aren't emotional or something, Idk. I do know having the uneven sides is going to bother me the entire day.

I agree with not replacing him

We started with 3 groomsmen and one of them dropped out about 6 months before the wedding and we replaced him. He wasn’t hurt and understood it without any bad blood. His replacement dropped out about 4 months before the wedding and we replaced him as well! It’s been chaotic but we made it work. I don’t think guys would be offended as much as we think, at least that’s how it was for us.

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The point of a bridal party is to have your nearest and dearest friends next to you on one of the biggest days of your life. The odds of a couple having the exact same number of close friends is minimal. The fact that uneven numbers "bother you" isn't a good reason to replace a friend.

This happened with one of my bridesmaids. I’m just keeping it uneven

I agree with PP. I don't think having uneven numbers will bother you on your day as much as you think it will. One of FH groomsmen had something come up and dropped out. I understand. Our sides are uneven but that's just what it is. I doubt you'll even notice on your day. At the end of the day though, this is your wedding and you do what you want! If your FH wants to get a replacement, we can't tell you no that's your decision!

I have a MOH and a bridesmaid that are more than likely dropping out. As well as them not coming I will no longer have my flower girls. We arent replacing anyone. Kind of just dropping their spots 🤷‍♀️

We have an uneven number! I think it's totally fine rather than having a B list wedding party.

Going against the popular opinion here, but we did replace a groomsman and it was fine. A groomsman just recently dropped out due to his first baby being due four days before our September wedding. My FH asked another close friend to be a part of the wedding party that he wasn’t able to include the first time around. That friend is honored to have been asked and is excited to be in our wedding. It’s definitely a know your crowd type of deal.

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Thank you for your input. I agree with you I think it's definitely a know your crowd thing. My FH knows his friends very well, and he knows the Groomsman that dropped out won't be upset if he is replaced because he is the one that is unable to make it do to personal reason. Like someone above stated, men don't really care too much about stuff like that.

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Hi Darcy,

I completely agree with you. I don't think guys get easily offended about stuff like that like ladies do. I asked my FH if the roles were reversed and he was replaced after not being able to make it, he said he would not be upset, he would want the groom to do whatever he thought was best for him.

My FBIL just dropped out of the wedding party because he is in the Army and will be leaving for Korea very close to the wedding. I'm going to leave it up to my fiance if he wants to add someone in place of him or just leave it uneven.

Keep it uneven. We our MOH and BM then three girls on my side, and the rest of his side includes his brother & SIL, sister and BIL. +1 on his side. No big deal! Keeps life interesting. Hope the rest of your planning goes smoothly

One of my BMs dropped out & I replaced her. I have ZERO regret about it.