i married isis on the fifth day of may

 it was the most magical wedding, the most glorious celebration of love and community, the kind of event that leaves you absolutely swirly and breath-taken with purest love.

there is something about the anticipation, all that getting ready, seeing everything come together, gathering together little by little all the various members of your tribe...people showing up, everyone helping and carrying things and working busily...

you just know it is all going to end in an explosion of light and color and wonder and happiness.

sooooo so so good when all my family is in town.

there is nothing like it.

they are my best friends in all the world.

saturday, the girls hanging out in the motor home next to the barn.

there were ten bridesmaids and ten groomsmen, quite a group! we each got to choose our own outfit as long as it was some bright shade of blue or purple. i love how all the colors looked together.

i thrifted a calvin klein dress (not maternity!) in a nice ocean blue that fit my belly perfectly.

(this photo and a few others courtesy of addie)

becky handmade emily's gorgeous princess-style wedding dress. it was all sewn from organic fabrics and becky hand crafted the bunches, rosettes and ruffles on the bodice. she is one talented and creative woman and i think making special uniquely designed wedding dresses is becoming a true calling for her :)

 meanwhile all the boys were gathering too, in high spirits ;)

joey and emily had asked darin to perform a "water ceremony" with this special native american double sided vase that they found together a long while back. darin wrote a blessing and created a water drink with herbs and citrus. the little ritual turned out to be a very special moment during the wedding ceremony and i, for one, couldn't stop the tears from flowing. here he and joey are practicing...

 it was so crazy surreal and blissful to be surrounded by all my loved ones for a whole day of radiant joy.

orion gets more quirky and amazing by the day.

amy is the picture of color and beauty! i really feel like all the colors of this wedding reflected all the vibrant spirits who were gathered together.

one of my new favorite photos in the world. my sisters and i. that's amber (mikie's lady) on the left, then addie, then em, me and amy with bella. my heart could break with love for them.

my handsome man.

more proud than ever to walk by his side.

getting ready to line up.....

the beautiful bride.

being in the wedding party, i obviously couldn't get photos of the actual ceremony, so i borrowed this one from ashley of the water ceremony, as well as the one at the top of this post. 

their ceremony was so beautiful. our friend jamie was their officiant and joey and emily's vows were full of wild, open, joyous love like the truest heart of the world and life.

group photos and goofing off afterwards:

us five kids and our mom. i love us. i am so lucky.

amber, katie, carly, me, amy, em, her sister christy, jackie, addie, brittney, and jessie.

my other new FAVORITE PHOTO OF ALL TIME.

my own little family.

this was a wedding full of the cutest guests in the world.

becky, jorden and oliver.....he was a busy boy running around partying and dancing and shaking maracas most of the night!

justin and zillion....i can't believe i didn't get a picture of elsie (the mama) who was wearing the most adorable red and blue vintage peplum dress.

the gathering. that's chelsea in the knee socks, her outfit ruled. she made the cupcakes too, pineapple coconut decorated with sweet flowers, they about killed me!

first dance:

toasts. em's sister christy made me weep. she expressed their relationship so perfectly, telling about growing up with em as her precocious and wise little sister and best friend, a tiny wonder child who was giving christy (the older sister by several years just like joey and i) advice since emily could talk! she just completely reminded me of the true depth of these two souls and their unique capacity for empathy and open-heartedness.

a buddy, charlie charm (his real name) takes the mike to pay a quick tribute.

mother-son dance....joey loves mariah carey's song "always be my baby" and it was the greatest moment: my mom was already bawling after her own wonderfully sweet toast to the couple, joey was glowing with joy, the sun was going down, the music was lively...orion (my five year old nephew) heard it was the mother-son dance and asked his own mama to dance and suddenly, the dance floor filled with happy people who just couldn't resist joining in the love.

sweet mama-son love!

 

after that things took a turn for the CAH-RAZZZZYYYY!

cameron swoops up emily's mama:

bella dances with a one-eyed dog:

sooooo glad ryann got to come home from college in walla walla to dance the night away and spread her love and meet my growing belly!

it turned into a late late night of rambunctious celebration. midnight jumproping with a string of lights. i couldn't believe how well drunk people can jumprope ;)

and now they are a married couple and the world is a little richer in love and happiness and my heart is glowing tonight.

thanks, friends, for joining in this revelry!

photo c/o mandy rose photography