the purest sound.

June 10, 2019

My little sister Devan got married this past weekend. She wore my mom’s wedding dress and flowers in her hair.

I didn’t snap a single picture at the wedding itself, just these few shots of the preparations. A wedding is a celebration of love for sure, but it’s an act of love, too. More precisely, it’s a compilation of many acts of love. It’s helping hands and quiet words and playing fetch with a dog who never, ever tires of chasing a ball. It’s flowers planted in gardens. It’s ironed linen for eager flower kids to wear as they bunch-ball around the bride. It’s glasses of wine spritzers and spritzes of rosewater. It’s kitchen table manicures. It’s singing in the attic and singing around a campfire. It’s a freshly painted porch floor. It’s the sofreh aghd—all sugar and spices and nuts and fruit. It’s a playlist and a set list and a last-minute A/V rescue.

It’s tears and it’s laughter. It’s a knot in your stomach and a catch in your throat.

It’s reading these words, from the Persian poet, Hafiz:

Plant
So that your own heart
Will grow.

Love
So God will think,

“Ahhhhhh,
I got kin in that body!
I should start inviting that soul over
For coffee and
Rolls.”

Sing
Because this is a food
Our starving world
Needs.

Laugh
Because that is the purest
Sound.

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13 Comments

  • Reply nzle June 10, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    <3 did your sister marry an iranian? may their marriage be sweet!!

    2
    • Reply ERIN BOYLE June 10, 2019 at 2:22 pm

      yes! her mother-in-law is from iran and they had a persian ceremony!

      5
  • Reply Chris Rocco June 10, 2019 at 2:37 pm

    Congrats, Lovely words…all of them <3

    1
  • Reply Tamara June 10, 2019 at 3:01 pm

    ❤️

    1
  • Reply Rebekah June 10, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    This is truly beautiful. Hafiz’s book The Gift is my absolute favorite collection of poetry. I wish more white, American Christians such as myself could open themselves up to the truth & beauty of other experiences.

    This reminds my of my own little sister’s wedding just two weeks ago – mom & dad’s back yard, heirloom & sentimental touches everywhere you looked, herb bouquets, small, intimate, and joyful. My sister, a pie maker, and her husband, a poet.

    7
  • Reply Ramona June 10, 2019 at 7:10 pm

    Photographic memories. In a way, your heartwarming words capture a ‘marriage.’ The special little moments of life.

    2
  • Reply Linda C Zimmerman June 10, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    love.

    2
  • Reply Anna June 10, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    This is beautiful!

  • Reply MissEm June 10, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    So lovely – the thoughts and the visuals. What are those pink roses – they’re breathtaking!

  • Reply rachel June 11, 2019 at 1:40 am

    Such a lovely post with gorgeous photographs.

  • Reply Rita June 11, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Congratulations may they marriage be blessed ❤️❤️

  • Reply Leslie Bulion June 12, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    So lovely, Erin. Wishing Dev and all of you love. Leslie B.

  • Reply Camila June 13, 2019 at 8:01 pm

    Congratulations to your sister! Your photos are beautiful and capture the essence of the day <3

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