Craigers Get's Married!

Craig got married February 19!

Two days before the wedding was the groom's dinner my parents were putting on. I was so wrapped up in my own busy life, that it wasn't until a week before the dinner that I realized I hadn't heard anything about it. My mom had ordered food from Carolinas and my dad arranged for a company to drop off tables, tablecloths and chairs but there was a lot still to be done. Us sisters got together and in an afternoon we had figured out a theme, decorations, dessert, drinks and a program. I put together the invitation and sent it out to the families. Luckily, my hoarding instincts paid off in the form of me still having a huge tub full of table decor from David and Abbey's wedding dinner. Between the three of us, we got all the plates, cups, utensils, napkins, Mexican sodas, desserts and flowers. Shelley arranged for the Jones' to bring their ice cream machine for soft serve. Abbey put together a video of pictures to show on a projector. Most of us or at least our husbands showed up to set up all the tables and chairs and projector and decorate. My mom bought fruit to cut up for fruit salad. People started showing up and we had ourselves a party! There was so much food I thought for sure it wouldn't all get eaten, but a lot of it did. Craig and Camille requested no games so we watched the video and all the parents came to the microphone to talk. Then they opened it up to siblings, and I didn't think anyone would say anything, so I got up. Big regret there. It was already too long and David didn't get a chance to talk like he had wanted to. Then all of a sudden it was over and we were dancing while cleaning up. It went by way too fast!

The wedding was in Janae Samuelson's backyard. Spring had not yet sprung so things were rather dead looking and I was kind of sad that a grey, cinderblock wall was the backdrop, but once the sun went down, it all looked really beautiful. Camille's uncle married them. At the beginning of the ceremony, he read a portion of my journal I had sent Allison over a year ago. I hadn't even remembered sending it to her, so I was completely thrown when he started talking. I thought maybe he had contacted Marcie for a excerpt from HER journal or something! Then it finally clicked. I had written about a time over 20 years ago when I had sat behind the Taylor family in stake conference and Amy was there with her new baby... Camille. I wrote how cute she was. So it's rather ironic to think I was meeting my future sister in law back then! The ceremony was very brief and they didn't share vows. Lots of picture taking afterward. 

They had polaroid cameras to take pictures of yourself and write a note to them. The entrance was very elegant!

Melissa Taylor made the food and it was delicious! Derek grilled all the chicken and she made this buttery sauce that was to die for. I was sad I never made it to the dessert table but there was just too much dancing and visiting to do!

Then came the time for the surprise family, mob flash dance! We didn't even run through it beforehand, everything was so hectic. Marcie and Shelley took the microphones, pretending they were going to make a speech, then purposefully fumbled with their words and said something like, "You know, this doesn't feel right... I think we're better at SHOWING our love!" Then the DJ started playing the song and us three girls started out with the dance. I completely messed up the beginning! I was so mad at myself. I've done it how many times and then on stage my mind goes blank! Ugh. The rest of the family came in for the chorus and the boys had their own part and then a few of us couples did a part before we ended it by dragging Craig and Camille out to the dancefloor and finishing it off! It was a lot of fun! We got lots of compliments and positive feedback. We're definitely knows as the "dancing" family. It just makes me laugh because if they only knew how much begging and coaxing actually went into getting everyone to participate, they might change their mind! 

Then as soon as it started, it was over. I was incredibly disappointed when the DJ called it and everyone walked to the driveway to see them off. Why can't we just dance and party all night like at other weddings?!! I think they went to Mexico on their honeymoon. They seem like a good match and have been friends a long time. I hope they are happy and have a wonderful marriage!