





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.
13 Comments
<3 did your sister marry an iranian? may their marriage be sweet!!
yes! her mother-in-law is from iran and they had a persian ceremony!
Congrats, Lovely words…all of them <3
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.
Photographic memories. In a way, your heartwarming words capture a ‘marriage.’ The special little moments of life.
love.
This is beautiful!
So lovely – the thoughts and the visuals. What are those pink roses – they’re breathtaking!
Such a lovely post with gorgeous photographs.
Congratulations may they marriage be blessed

So lovely, Erin. Wishing Dev and all of you love. Leslie B.
Congratulations to your sister! Your photos are beautiful and capture the essence of the day <3
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