Updated: 5-5-17 to add additional pictures

Let me back up a bit before I tell you about the wedding I went to this weekend. The wedding in Detroit was hubs' cousin Lizzy. I'm rather forgetful so at sometime during the summer I wanted to mass order all the upcoming wedding gifts. Lizzy had mentioned at our wedding that she loved the garter football toss and would be copying that for hers. For whatever reason hubs didn't like the idea of sending a football, he wanted to send a crockpot. Fine, crockpot off the registray it's is. When Lizzy called to say thank you she mentioned to hubs that they found an old football in the garage and were going to use it for her garter toss. There it was, hubs had to admit that I was right and a football needed to be shipped out. Problem was that I was completely out of stock of all footballs thanks to the wrong item number being shipped to my house. These footballs has the white panels opposite the laces intease of stacked on one side of the laces. Hubs swore he liked it better with the writing on each side of the laces and begged me to make it that night. Fine, as long as I get to say 'I told you so' while I make it. It shipped out and I didn't really think anything more of it.

So a month ago I was at Jamie & Kim's wedding. Out of nowhere I get a giant bear hug from behind! It was Lizzy, ecstatic to thank me for the football. She went on and on about how she saw this super cute one online and the one I sent looks EXACTLY like the one she pinned on Pinterest. Um well Lizzy, "you probably pinned my football." She tried to tell me that this garter football toss is "like a thing, there's a place that makes them and everything!" Lizzy was at our wedding. She saw the football. She knows our names and the date of the wedding, she was there! "Alright Lizzy let's make a deal, the one on Pinterest probably says 'Amanda & Joseph' if I'm wrong I'll walk to get the next round of drinks." ...drumroll please... "That's your names! I pinned it to my wedding board titled 'musts'! And I'm related to the person who makes these!" The rest of the night she bounced around telling anyone who would listen about her new discovery and making a list of all the other goodies remaining on her checklist that she wanted to purchase from me. 

The last few weeks I worked to help cross as many remaining things off of Lizzy's todo list as possible. We made hangers for all the bridesmaids, moms, and flower girls; this is one of my favorite gifts for your girls because it serves double duty keeping everything organized on a very crazy day. We made a personalized card receiver box. We also custom designed a cake topper of Lizzy, Joey, and their fur baby, Bella. I literally mean PERSONALIZED custom designed it. Like the face, hair, nose, fur, everything is them. I took pictures of them, tinkered more hours than I can count editing and adjusting so the final cutout done by Deep South Metals (our production partner) would be exactly right. Judge for yourself; here are the pictures of them and the final proof of the caketopper. 

Hubs family had a great idea for a girls weekend wedding celebration since both Jamie and Jojo wouldn't be able to join. My sister-in-law and I flew into Detroit to meet up with their family. I quickly learned that the family frig at Lizzy's parents house is a huge masterpiece tradition. It's a major accomplishment if you make the frig. Our save the date announcement made the frig but most importantly I was able to see these beauties of hubs when he was little.

Thursday afternoon and evening was spent with hubs family. Laughing at all the old stories they shared. Me making them snort about hubs stealing m moment when I walked down the aisle (he totally did, everyone was looking in his direction, I have picture proof). Running to the store with Kim and Lizzy to the store for last minute items to make sure everything was just right. Once we got back to the hotel, Kim and I went to the lobby to hang out. Two bottles of wine later it was well past midnight but the endless giggles/stories was totally worth the lack of sleep. The next morning we got up and out to the gym. Kim is training for her next big physical challenge as a spartan warrior and I attempted to hang with her as a workout partner. I did pretty good while we were there, I didn't fall over and my baby muscles made a Flex Friday appearance! 

After the workout we stopped by to see the getting ready excitement and then it was our turn to get fixed up. Once we were presentable we were off to the wedding and reception. The reception was at a very history venue, the Colony Club. This building was stunning. One of my favorites from the wedding is what Lizzy and Joey did for favors, they made donations to special organizations! I would be lying if I said the highlight was anything other than watching Joey throw my football off of a balcony to all his single guys! Here are some goodies we took at the wedding. 

The photographer+videographer was Craig David Butler. I was beyond impressed with him and his crew. They do this awesome same day edit 10 minute movie with pictures from the bride and groom over the years, behind the scenes with everyone getting ready, and then the ceremony. They set up a big screen and show it after dinner before the fun gets going. You can see Lizzy & Joey's same day edit video here.

They also do these awesome cards for every guest with the couples picture so you can go see the full deck of pictures from the wedding yourself. Did you notice anything odd about the writing on that card? If not, it's alright, hubs didn't either. The wedding was October 27th and card said the pictures would be live on his website late October 28th! Holy efficiency! Have you EVER heard of a wedding photographer giving everything back to you 24 hours later?!?! How in the world does he do that? That's extremely high productivity and effiency. The Industrial Engineer in me HAS TO FIGURE OUT HIS SECRET SAUCE! I've NEVER had a couple, photographer, or videographer give me professional shots or footage that fast. I normally get a few blurry low quality cell phone pictures/videos from a couple within 24 hours, most of the time I wait to see if I'll get something in the next month from the photographer+videographer, then get tired of waiting so I share with you whatever I've got at the moment. Lucky for all of us, Craig David Butler and his team are highly efficient and I've got tons to show you!

After the wedding we had hospitality bags waiting in the hotel room. In the bag there was2 pieces of this cinnamon raisin type bread. While I was washing my face Kim inhaled BOTH pieces! She flew out before me Saturday morning so I used the extra couple hours to find the bakery and get my own deliciousness to take home to hubs. The magical bread is from The Looney Baker and appropriately named 'Looney Bread.' It is delicious! Definitely worth the drive to their shop. I begged but sadly they won't ship it, I just knew I was going to be able to cross Kim off my list and get some sent to her. Apparently this Looney Bread is very well known. TSA tried to tell me it couldn't go through unless they got to have some! At least 10 people walking through the airport saw the box and said they would "help carry it." 

As I pulled into my driveway at home I saw my amazing neighbors outside with a large fresh pot of gumbo so we wouldn't get sick with the quick weather change. They definitely get the best neighbor award! 

Hubs is finally home and I'm due for some much needed sleep. Once I'm no longer sleep deprived I'll get all the details of the Elk Expedition to share with you.

XOXO

The Mr. & Amanda

*As always, if I get more from this weekend I will update it here.

Want more from this weekend? Check out Criag David Butler's blog and Kim's vlog (embedded below)!