And everytime I try to fly, I fall without my wings.

A few months ago, two ideas intertwined in my mind and I finally witnessed the execution of its combination. Kelly and I were brainstorming about our bestie Erica's bachelorette birthday weekend, and she found a quaint, peaceful, and hip hotel in the Catskills in which to escape to. I decided, based on the surprise of it all, that we should kidnap Erica. I had also just conversed excitedly with the bride-to-be about the movie Spring Breakers. You may remember I was shocked to have liked it so much.

And thus, with Kelly talking about renting a van for the seven ladies, and Spring Breakers on my mind, I figured we should get brightly colored ski-masks with iron-on ice cream cone patches, write a ransom-y note to the bride on where to wait for us, and then pull up to the curb donned in said ski masks, blasting Britney Spears' "Everytime."

Ladies and gentlemen, THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DID THIS WEEKEND:

Me escorting Erica into the van post-ambush

Maids of Honor viewing the aftermath! Kells + Me

Bride, Jiscilla, Amber, Allison, Perry. Missing: Christy in TX

It's rare for me to find an event that I can blend film fantasy and real life fun, so I was in a state of ultimate glee. I may or may not have jumped out of the car before it had come to a full stop, scared the bejeez out of Erica, while screaming, "Get in the car! SPRING BREAK FOREVER!" I was so happy. Of course, I was also happy that Erica was happy!

[Sidenote: did you know how much time it takes to construct a ransom note from old magazines!? My editing skills came to use that evening, when I thought I'd be taking about an hour and ended up taking about six in order to complete it! Certain obvious words like 'bachelorette' were omitted simply for their length.]

The great thing about our snag with this The Graham & Co. Hotel was that exactly one week after we booked the double suite its proprieters went on some promotional rampage and it was in every Brooklyn-y newsletter or blog in our universe. Erica even sent Kelly a link to the hotel in that time after we'd booked it! The bridesmaids and I felt so clever, and Kelly most of all for having the pre-trend ear to the ground! Apparently it's now booked through the end of October.

So, we lazed by the pool (a preferred Bride activity), walked to town for a delicious pizza dinner, caught an evening bonfire while Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version!) was projected on a big screen, danced around the room into the wee hours of the morning, then ate ice cream made by Jiscilla (Champagne & Key Lime Pie flavors!) and celebrated Erica's 30th birthday!

Here are some other fine things that happened, that probably needn't come with details in order to enjoy purely via photograph:

Upon arrival, busted open the champagne for a picnic! (TG&C gives out Buds to guests at check-in, too!)

Surprises: Erica had little gift bags for US with amazing things inside!!! (Including all the yellow sunglasses!)

Birthday Bride and her awesome tee.

Rufus Putnam cocktails (Bride favorite) & ready for the pool - what else?

GLORIOUS GREEN POOLSIDE

MAIDS

The water proved chill

Jiscilla just had to capture my obsessive sunscreening

AND EVERYONE LAUGHED

We walk to town with attitude.

I GOT SHORTS. IN EVERY COLOR.

The beautiful bride not as enthusiastic as myself! She's such a joker!

Erica blowing out her "3-0" candles replete with champagne sorbet and ice cream-shaped cookie!!!

Amber and I in usual goof-mode. Maybe one day I'll post the video from this frame.

Time to dance for the birthday girl!

Allison and I did our darndest to show Erica how much we loved her.

You might think Pussy Riot was involved in this, they were not. I forget what song was on...

Amber reclining - Sunday morning found us much more calmer!

SUCCESS! FUN! WEDDING IN TWO WEEKS!

The Wedding Day - Part IV - The Dancing & Finale

After Jesse and his mother danced, DJ JJ kicked off the PARTY with some 50s and 60s music - which we had requested, along with some salsas and meringues to make it a latin-infused night. The first people out on the dance floor? The bridesmaids, of course! But it only took about .5 seconds until family and friends joined right in.

Some of my favourite moments on the dance floor:

Claudio being the first guest to dominate the dancing!

After the bouquet was thrown to my choice song of "Just a Girl" by No Doubt, all the ladies and I started skanking - as you can see by this picture of Erica (doing a talented job of skanking and not spilling her vodka soda!)

Tony requesting "Cotton Eyed Joe" --- I then saw Jenna, who was seated, jump up at the FIRST note of the song and pulling her boyfriend Keller to his feet as well, exclaiming "I LOVE THIS SONG!"

My college besties Dawn, Marion, and Katy constantly making circles around me on the dancefloor. I love those girls.

Getting to schimmy down a dance line with my grandmother.

Jesse falling to the ground during the hushed part of "Shout!"

Seeing my best friend Rick to the side and demanding he dance because he wasn't allowed to refuse the bride! And, wouldn't you know it, he stayed on the dance floor the rest of the night!

EVERYBODY shaking their hips to the latin music. There was not a lot of sitting going on at the reception, and that's all I wanted!

Celeste & Galea getting down to Michael Jackson as a circle formed around them, then me egging Justin Smith to get in on it, as he pulled out a solo dance number, and then Augie & Justin Pierre recreating the knife fight scene from the "Beat It" video in said dance circle. It was wild, and hilarious.

Enjoy the photos - all by Channing Johnson, of course!

As I'm sure you've noticed, in some of the pictures everybody's dressed up like it's mardi gras! Well, that's all my mother's doing - in latin weddings there is usually a final "hurrah" at the end of the reception. It's called a "murga" and EVERYBODY has to dance, wear some form of hat/mask/beads. My Panamanian family passed out all the masks, and then all of a sudden tons of balloons were floating around. Jesse and I had bought special masks before the wedding, and you can see us putting them on here.

Emily pointed out how very Eyes Wide Shut this picture is. Creepy. But wasn't at the time!

My grandmother, the best.

After the murga ended, it was time to go home - and there was a collective sigh of disappointment. We said bye to family and friends, and some continued to have some fun in different parts of the hotel. I'm told that includes the lake, as well. All in all, Jesse slept very easily that night, completely happy. And married.

[Earlier: Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Day - Part I, Part II, Part III]