Unable to line up columns while editing a row gridview

Hello
I have a gridview with about 5 columns. 3 of these columns require validations and 2 don't. Whenever I use the RequiredFieldValidator or CompareValidator controls in the <EditItemTemplate> markup for those 3 columns they get pushed up and the 2 that don't require validations are pushed down and so nothing lines up in each row that's being edited. I am forced to use these asp.net controls since I can't seem to find a way to get a handle to the embedded controls IDs in th edititemtempates. 
document.getElementById('<%=(gvDetails.FindControl("txtEditZip")).ClientID %>'); returns object reference not found.
Does any one have an idea on how to line up all of the columns in a gridview row while editing?
Thanks