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I officially received some bad news today. My brother is not going to be able come to our wedding.
Brother Raccoon visiting Roi Et
He is a professor in Thailand and is not able to fly home until months after the wedding due to schedules, finances, and generally having a good time.
Brother Raccoon at the Wai Khru ceremony, a little like our Teacher’s Day
I understand, I really do, and I had a feeling this is what was going to happen, but I’m still a little bummed. OK, heartbroken.
In Thailand, everyone parades through the streets with music announcing a marriage.
Our plan right now is to record the ceremony and send it to him through the computer. We’re working on being able to have him set up on Skype for the reception. I would like to have a small table where he would be able to see all of the important events like speeches, cake cutting, and the dance floor. Family and friends could stop by and visit, too.
Image via CBC Television
Does anyone else have a VIP that is unable to make it to your big day?
Any tips on Skyping-in a guest?
I hear you. 
My brother lives in Australia with his wife and family. Our wedding was November 2007, and he called to tell us some big news right before: She was pregnant! Then he mentioned how they just weren’t able to fly out when she was due 2 months later. I totally understood and was jazzed about the new baby, but well, it killed me. It had been a long time since I saw him last and I was so looking forward to getting a huge family picture done of all of us lookin’ fancy. It’s been four years since then, we both have kids (I have one, they have two) and I still miss him. I haven’t seen him for 6 years now. During the wedding my cousin was taking pictures and emailing them to my brother during the day, and it was such a treat to have him be able to celebrate WITH us, even though he couldn’t be there. Big hugs.
I’m not sure yet on who will not be able to make it that is a VIP, but I love the idea of you setting up something so that he will be able to be a part of it from a distance. I think he would really enjoy that and especially is fellow loved ones could also speak with him. One thing for sure would be to make sure that your venue has pretty good wireless because if it’s low, it will “call” will get interrupted a lot. Also, make sure to definitely coordinate on the times, so that he is available. Good Luck 
Forgive me…but why would you skype him to the reception and not the ceremony?? I’d imagine it should be the other way around…
my brother is stationed in Japan with the Marines. He was the best man in his buddies wedding over the summer. They skyped him in and another groomsmen held the mini laptop so he could still be present. He was in the lineup and ceremony and everything.
A close family friend can’t come because he will be deployed. (He left about 4 weeks prior to the date.) We wanted to skype and everything… but of course when he will be able to is unclear. He will be missed and we’re still going to list him as the best man… but sadly we can’t do anything to share with him. I’m sorry… but your brother sounds like he’s doing pretty amazing things!
We found out a couple weeks before the wedding that Mr E’s only sibling (who was also his best man) couldnt make it. He sent us a speech that one of the groomsmen read out at the reception instead.
So sorry to hear that Miss Raccoon. It sounds like he is doing amazing things, but it must still be really hard for you. I definitely think skype will be a great tool for you!
Aw, so sorry that your brother won’t be able to make it your wedding, but it sounds like you are handling it as well as you can.
Thanks everyone for sharing their stories and support with me! I’m already feeling better about it!
@Jessica: I know it sounds a little backwards, right? The church we’re getting married in doesn’t have internet so it was going to be tricky getting connected. If someone was able to get him through a phone that had internet, we figured the signal would be awful and it might get distracting. This way, he can see the ceremony all the way through and in good quality!
I hope you can work out Skyping with your brother! Such a bummer he can’t be there. I know my Grampy won’t be able to attend for several reasons, which is really such a bummer for me. We may try this as well.
Do you or any of your friends or family have an iPad 2?
You can run skype over the 3G service and it’s something you could easily pass around at the wedding.
This might sound so strange but I have never skyped…like, ever. I don’t even know how nor do I have the proper equipment haha. I’m so sorry your brother won’t be able to be there, but that is so neat you will hopefully be able to skype him in! You should set up the laptop at his own personal seat at a table with a name card and everything
I’m so sorry to hear your brother won’t be able to attend your wedding! But I love the idea of taping the ceremony for him, and I love, love, LOVE the idea of using Skype so that he can be apart of your reception! Sometimes it really is especially great to live in the age of technology.
So sorry your brother can’t make it. We have people that may not be able to come also. My Fiance is in the Military and we tried to plan our wedding in between the greatest number of peoples deployments. We have one friend that should be coming back just days prior and we have another who is hoping to come back on his mid-tour and we Hope no one else, including my fiance gets deployed. Our Best Man will be coming home in February. I feel so blessed to know such wonderful people.
My brother is in the Army and there’s a chance he won’t be able to get leave. I’m trying to be positive about it, but I’m going to be devastated if he can’t come. Maybe I should look into the Skype thing as a backup plan!
I live in the south and my family lives in the Northeast….not that far away in the grand scheme of things….but I am concerned that not all of my family will be able to make our wedding
So sorry to hear! My brother is in China & will be in the process of re-locating during our wedding time. I actually revolved our date around it. Luckily we didn’t have many other obstacles.
I think it’s such a super cute idea to Skype with him, so he can be included! I bet he will still have fun over in Thailand! enjoy <3
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Mrs. Raccoon, Indianapolis Age and Occupation: 22, Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Graduate Student Engagement Date: Christmas 2010 Wedding Date: January 2012 Venue: Catholic Church, Chateau Thomas Winery About Me: I'm a wholesome Midwestern girl, TV series junkie, professional shower singer, and Anglophile. I love my fiance, crock pot cooking, my cat Heepo, going for the gusto, and all things wedding. Mr. Raccoon is pretty sweet, too! He’s a mad scientist that loves to travel. We met my first night on campus and have been inseparable since.
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