June 30, 2007

Scott and Erika's Wedding: Part One

Way back in 2000, my best friend Scott got married and ended up having two kids with his first wife. A few years into their marriage, they separated, and a few months after their separation, she was killed in a car accident...horrible, horrible stuff). Years later, Scott's son Liam started going to pre-school and Scott ended up hitting it off with, and eventually dating Liam's pre-school teacher; a woman who we all came to call Miss Erika for the next several years (Hahaha). After a few years of dating, Scott proposed to Miss Erika and she and her son Michael (who is a few months older than Liam) moved in with Scott and his two kids, Liam and Abby. Two families coming together Brady Bunch Style!

In late June, Meredith and I headed out to my hometown in New Jersey to celebrate Scott and Erika getting married!

Friday, June 29th

After arriving in town, we headed up to *Our Lady of the Lakes* church on Lake Hopatcong to do a practice run of the ceremony.

erika, scott — After the church-rehearsal we went to a nearby Italian restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. Here's Scott and his bride-to-be, Erika, thanking everyone for attending!

john c — Meredith and I were seated with John and his fiance and...

kent, liam, matthew — ...Matthew, Liam, Michael, Kent, Stephanie, Abby and Cassidy.

abbey, cassidy — Yep, that's right. We got sat at *The Kids' Table*. Here's Abbey and Cassidy getting their spaghetti on!

abbey, meredith — We actually didn't mind at all. We had a way funner time than anyone else because we got to do coloring and no one else did. Here's Mer and Abbey tag-teaming a page out of one of Abbey's coloring books.

matthew — Matthew shows off "Blue Snake No. 7: Sleeping on a Rock."

jeff m, lori l, russ, tim f — Here's Lori with Russ, Jeff and Tim. This woman was hands-down one of the most influential people in my life and she's pretty much one of the reasons that I didn't end up in jail (or worse, still living in New Jersey! I keeeed, I keeeed!). I'm sure the same pretty much goes for the three guys in this photo as well. We were all kind of rowdy delinquents that somehow all ended up in choir - and Ms. Lynch totally took no bullshit and whipped our asses into shape. Thanks, Lori! We all owe you a huge debt! Was so great to see she's still being recognized as a great teacher!

lori l, scott — In a totally random cosmic coincidence, Lori Lynch, our high school choir teacher was being honored by the Rotary Club as one of the Teachers of the Year at the very same restaurant! Here's Lori (wearing her Teacher of the Year *medal*!) with Scott.

Saturday, June 30th

scott — After stocking up on coffee and doughnuts, we headed up to Scott's parent's house to get changed into our tuxes. Here's a first look at the groom on his wedding day!

liam, michael — Michael gives a big smile while Liam applies some final touches to his mascara. In a couple of hours, these two dudes will legally be brothers!

After all the best men finished getting their tuxes on, we piled into Kent's van and headed over to the church.

jeff m, meredith — Jeff and Mer outside the church.

The church: T-minus 50 minutes until weddin' time!

Check out some of the stained glass windows inside the church: a dove spiraling to the ground with a branch in its mouth...

...then later, the same dove rising up out of the flames like a phoenix!

And finally, here's a flaming heart with seven daggers in it and the church's name: Our Lady of Sorrows? Jesus! (Ha!). Makes you realize that the Catholic church basically originated the Hot Topic Emo T-shirt movement like 1700 years ago.

jeff m, john c — After all the men proved themselves to be unable to pin a flower to a lapel...

kent, meredith — ...Meredith was called upon to help out all the fumbly-fingered men with their buttoneers! Here she is giving Kent a hand...

me, meredith — Then me! Thanks for lending your slender lady-fingers, gorgeous! We would've been flowerless without you!

jeff m — Jeff doing a little pre-game practicing of his passage of scripture.

russ — The band warming up! T-minus 30 minutes!

Scott and Tim doing a "walk down the aisle" run through. This was the first time I ever got to see all the "behind the scenes" action that goes into making a wedding run smoothly. I felt like such a VIP insider!

liam, lil michael — Liam and Michael getting ready to practice their ringbearer responsibilities!

jeff m, john c, kent, me — T-minus: 5 minutes! Here's Jeff, Kent, John and me taking a break from seating guests for a quick photo.

scott, tim f — Scott actually decided that the best way for Tim to be his best man would be to get his head surgically grafted to Scott's left shoulder. Now that's a friend!

T-minus 0 minutes! It's weddin' time! I only took a few photos of the actual ceremony. Here's the three kids helping their parents light a candle.

After, I put my camera away, but I took it back out to sneak this clutch shot of Michael totally falling asleep on his grandparents after his candle lightin' duties were finished. I love how both his grandparents are totally laughing about me taking a photo of him sleeping. Fast forward twenty minutes later and...

The crowd waiting outside for the appearance of the brand new bride and groom!

kent, russ — Amidst all the hullabaloo, I totally managed to nab this clutch shot of Kent daintily blowing "procession bubbles" with the little bubble kit he got out of the "bubble basket." The only thing funnier than Kent's expression in this photo is Russ in the background looking at him like "*Really?*" Hahahahaha.

reminay, stephie — Remane and Stephanie smiling on the newlyweds from the stairs.

cassidy, kent, mathew, stephie — After the procession, everyone in the wedding party had to go back inside for more photos. Here's Cassidy, Steph, Kent and Matthew.

abbey, erika, lil michael — Erika doing some kid wranglin' up at the alter.

...drove two blocks away to a park for MORE PHOTOS!

reminay, scott — Hahaha. I love this photo. You can totally tell he's about to do something funny...

jeff m, stephie — Milling around. Waiting for all the photos to be finished.

...everyone got in their limos and we headed to the reception!

abbey, liam, lil michael — ...and the kids got into one limo...

john c, kent, stephie — ...and me, Steph, Kent, John got in another. Steph broke out the champagne and booze before that mutha even left the curb.