Congrats Erin and Paul!

Picking the pics for this post was the hardest process. There are so many good ones, but even though this is a scrapbook, it is not the same as actual pages I can't arrange and emphasize, so here I try and show the best.

Erin and Pauls wedding was amazing. A big part I think is because so many people came together to make all the elements possible. Above is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend. The owners of the local Sun Theatre in downtown Grand Ledge have been long time family friends. They changed their markee as a surprise for us after the rehearsal dinner.
Love it. How appropriate for this movie crazed couple.



But backing up a touch, that day was a long one, decorating the hall. Since it was a wedding ON Halloween and was four years in the making, the Buitendorp clan went all out. Collecting pieces over the years at sales ect, there was a lot to put up and it took us ALL DAY to do it.


Erin's twin sisters headed up the stringing of lights, hanging of garlands and other details. Erin's other sister worked on ceremony decor outside. Erin's mom kept Erin and me busy with the tables. And Erin's dad headed up the special lighting, which was extensive. Geoff, Erin's dad, is an event manager, so he has connections he used those as well as a neighbor that does even lighting as well. It was amazing. There were also the pumpkins, Paul and his dad worked on that. Paul's mom kept us all fed, worked with the caterer on their set up and kept track of other details. We were all working to make it beautiful.

But before we knew it we needed to change for the rehearsal. We got back to the hal just in time to practice the whole she-bang outside in the slightly chill october air.


We were all glad to get to the Cancun Grill for the rehearsal dinner. The highlight (besides getting to sit RIGHT ACROSS from the bride) was the song performed by Paul's bandmate with lyrics written by Paul's dad. It was lovely but the touching moment was cut by the timely arrival of the food and the waiter calling out things like "Chicken Fajita Barrito." we all tried to keep in our giggles and barely succeeded

The next morning I joined Erin and the twins at their parent's house to hang out and watch Erin get pretty. Mike had finally shown up and he hooked up with Paul and kept him sane while his Best Man had to turn tail and find his tux where ever it was that he left it.

We had our own moment of drama when it came to getting Erin to wear the veil. In my opinion she lost that battle the minute she let her mom purchase it.

We finished up with our makeup and then had to pack it all up and hed to the hall, where we would get into our dresses.

And what a lot of dresses, this is only half of what we had to take with, cause remember, there is a costume party element, for which most of the girls were changing and therefore needed a whole nother outfit.

That last hour before the picture flew by and before I knew it, Shawn was helping Erin into her dress! I missed the classic into the dress shot, I was lucky they let me take pics of there getting her laces tied. My fav part was when Erin had to brace herself against the pulling. he he.

But it was worth it. She looked amazing in her dress. To quote the lady herself, "I could trip into a mud puddle in the dress and I would still feel beautiful."

Picture dragged on forever, but it was nice to hang around and chat with everyone. There was much to thank these two, Erin's rents Geoff and Linda, for all the fun we were about to have.
Getting to know all of Erin and Paul's cool friends was definitly the best part of the weekend.

This family was definitly the coolest. Berkley was a junior bridesmaid and her rents Allen and Angel really contributed to the party atmoshere all weekend. Loved getting to hand with them and hope that we can visit Erin and Paul and see them again too.

After the picture we took a moment to look at the hall one last time and see all the finishing touches that had occured that morning while we were getting ready.

Although this is the hall before dark and so the color isn't quite at striking, but it is the best picture I have without people messing up the view of the whole. All the lights changed color ove3r the course of the night and gave the room a different atmosphere. It was amazing. People were coming in off the street all day taking picture and ahhhing.

The cake table was graced with caulrons and more halloween touches. Erin and Pauls cake topper perched on the edge of the top tier, a fun touch too.

But pictures were over and guests were arriving so we headed back downstairs for the big event.

Can you believe how nice it was for the last day in October, just warm enought for thoseof us with bare arms to be comfortable. Amazingly lucky for them to have this beautiful view over the Grand river and the opposite bank. It was a lovely ceremony. Just short enough to miss the 6pm siren to announce the start of trick-or-treating. But not without memorable moments, Erin "flubbed her lines" at one point and just said somthing like "and everything else too."

While the reception line slowly moved by the happy couple and their parents. We took a moment inside to relax.

All the maids together, there were no chairs all the one that had been in the room were needed outside, the ceremony was full to the brim. So we sat on the floor.

But thank goodness eventually we got to make our grand entrace into the hall, to the tune of "thriller." But the fun didn't stop there, instead of the more traditional clinking of the glasses they went for the sing a song with the word "love" in it. There were many many many people that took the wireless from the DJ over the course of dinner. I think there was even a line at one point. From Diana to Frank to The Love Boat we saw it all.

But my fav by far were these three that added a little dancing to there rendition of "Do a Little Dance, Make a Little Love, Get Down Tonight."

When dinner was over we all rushed to put on our costumes. I was surprised at the effort and thought that went into many of them and was a little sad that I hadn't brought more than just my ears to wear.

But I did love how Mike's ears and tail looked with his suit, so it was okay. And we went well with Kimmie's Cat Lady costume.

There was much fun had by all. I wish I had a good pic of Erin and Paul during their first dance. Paul with his Fedora and Erin with her Angel wings were a vision.

Towards teh end of the night I missed out on many photo opportunities, my battery was dying and I got sick of luggin the thing around. So I hope to get pics from others.

Amonng those missed was the costume contest, Most Imaginative, Scary and Funniest. But my favorite didn't fit into any of the categories, a older woman dressed as a flapper. Gotta find a pic of her. And even better than the costumes was watching people dancing in them. Friars and pirates, cowboys and flinstones, all getting down!

We all had fun dancing the night away and Erin's parents made everyone feel welcome, even strangers off the street.

No really, the three people on the right were wedding crashers, although is it REALLY crashing if the mother of the bride invites you in? On the left is the DJ, who was awesome and even made fun of poeple who requested tired songs like the Macarana.

But I don't think anyone enjoyed it half as much as Erin's fam and good for them, becuase they worked very hard at it and made it more than even they had thought it would be.

The moral of the story is, your wedding will never be as cool and crazy and fun as Erin and Pauls was. But if you want to take them on, but all means invite me and I will let you know how you did.