My Fi's best man told us after we got engaged that he would be shipped out to Afghanistan soon, but we did our best to plan a date for the wedding that might accomodate him (not that we planned the whole thing around him - I've always wanted a September wedding). Now, his ship out date got moved so that he could be leaving months earlier than what we expected. We're still going to cross our fingers and hope that he'll be able to make it, but we're not going to ask him to take leave to come back for the wedding. While he is still here, he's going to work with the other groomsmen to put together the bachelor party and we're hoping that he'll still get his tux order in. My question is this: if it turns out that he cannot be involved at all (we're talking no bachelor party, no wedding) should we still get him a groomsmen gift? I don't want to be cheap and not get him one, but the whole point of them are to thank the groomsmen for their efforts in renting a tux, planning a party, writing a speech, and essentially being a part of the start of our new life. If he isn't able to be there, I don't want to cheapen the sentimental-ness (excuse my wordage) of the gifts for the other guys, because they actually would have done something tangible. At the same time, the guy is going to war! Should we get him something anyway, at least as a thank you for serving our country?
I'm so confused and this is very trivial.. I would appreciate a few words of advice. Thanks ladies!