One of our really good friends will not be able to make it to the wedding anymore because his new job starts the day of our wedding. He just got a position teaching music at a university in Colorado, and we couldn't be happier for him, even though it means we won't get to celebrate with him.
We have mentioned this to a few people, i.e. parents, and aunt, siblings...and almost every response has been "that's too bad, who are you going to replace him with?" When we tell them that we are not replacing him, they act like it is the end of the world.
Here is a sampling of the reactions we've gotten that might entertain you:
FI's aunt: "Well, Stuart could do it!" Stuart is her son, an usher, and was in the same room...awkward
my younger (single) sister: "I better get my own guy."
my (hormonal) mom: "How are you going to pair them up then?"
me: "We'll either have the bridesmaids walk alone and the guys walk in up front with FI, or one lucky guy can walk with two ladies."
my mom (looking like she might cry): "I just don't see how that will possibly work. What about pictures? You CAN'T have uneven sides for PICTURES!"
me: "We'll work it out."
mom: "I just wanted everything to be perfect for you"
me: "It will be. Sh*t happens."
mom: laughs as the temporary menopause crazy lets her be so I can recognize her again...she came around
FI's mom just started listing about 12 or so other family members that could take the spot, including a few who weren't even invited to the wedding. Luckily, we had somewhere else to be.
my older sister: "Just stick my husband in there. He makes a great prop. He just walked in, I can tell him right now if you want..."
my personal favorite:
FI, after deciding on his own not to replace the GM (yay!): "Now I just have to decide who gets to be the pimp."
*We've obviously stopped telling people about our uneven sides...