CHIPPEWA FALLS - The bridesmaids entered as the eerie theme from the movie "Halloween" played. They were in costume - a trashy cheerleader, a vampire, "Little Dead Riding Hood," Cyndi Lauper and a zombie.

The music switched to a frightening, pipe-organ rendition of "Here Comes the Bride" while Jim and Oliver Goss, dressed as a king and queen, walked their daughter Melinda "Mendy" Goss down the aisle. Actually, they walked to the front of one of the theaters at Micon Cinemas, where Mendy Goss and Craig Oliver of Chippewa Falls tied the knot Saturday in a Halloween-themed wedding.

About 90 percent of the guests also came in costume.

Oliver said Halloween is the favorite holiday for both of the newlyweds, who got engaged four years ago. "When we were engaged we talked over a few ideas," he said. "Should we fly to Las Vegas? Should we get married on a beach somewhere?"

Then they realized if they waited four years Halloween would fall on a Saturday and began planning the Halloween theme.

Mendy Goss said her siblings had formal church weddings, and her parents were surprised initially about the Halloween plans.

"At first they were kind of leery of the Halloween theme, but they've been having more fun with it than we've been," she said.

The groom followed the Halloween theme by dressing in orange and black, and the bride was dressed as a bride. She purchased her elaborate white wedding dress on eBay for $225.

"This isn't about how much money you can spend. It's about how much fun you can have with your friends and family," Mendy Goss said.

The preacher, Jason Candell of Eau Claire, was dressed as a FedEx delivery man, which is also his real-life occupation. He was ordained online to preside over the marriage of a friend but has found his services are in demand. This was his 16th marriage, he said.

Saturday's ceremony was short, but sincere.

"A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener and critic ..." Candell said. "You are entering a sacred commitment. The quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into nurturing this relationship."

Mike Olson, who owns Micon Cinemas with his wife, Connie, said he met the couple at Dana's Grill, which is next to the theater. When they began talking about their wedding plans and said they hadn't chosen a location yet, he suggested Micon Cinemas.

After the ceremony, the bridal party walked out of the theater to the music of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

When the guests departed for the reception, the wedding party proved one last time they weren't scared of commitment or anything else. They left to pose for photos - in a cemetery.

Knight can be reached at 830-5835 or joe.knight@ecpc.com.