the epic Handfasting Photo Post

This is slightly off-topic for this journal, but, well, the handfasting preparations ate the farm for about three months, and our lives for at least a month prior, so it seems pretty reasonable to post the results here. :) and there are so many people whom i want to have see these photos, who are not themselves on LJ, and therefore cannot see the locked post in my own journal. so, here it is!

Our official photos are up on Jim Blanchard’s website, and you can view them all, and order prints, on the handfasting page, here. There are dozens of incredible photos in here that i did not post, so do drop on over and take a look!.

Here are a representative sampling of photos we like, not only from Jim, but also from those unofficial photographers who have sent us their images (and if you haven’t, this is a hint!).

In the Beginning

milling around at the start of the day, getting ready to get ready. Lance, FoxWoman, Rev, . Britta in the background, behind Rev. and a bunch of matching cars, whoa.

photo by Dave Goff

Rev & Matt getting ready

photo by Jim Blanchard

folks arriving

photo by Dave Goff

Dee in a world in motion, (Kris, Ezra & Jaime in the background)

photo by Jim Blanchard

the cord altar, where family and friends could pour their blessings and best wishes into our handfasting cords before the ceremony:

photo by Craig Post

flowers under the tree. I almost cried when i saw all the beautiful flowers! dozens of people brought flowers, and they outdid themselves. arranged them, and May Queen brought vases.

photo by Craig Post

Casting the Circle

entering the circle

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Jim Blanchard

approaching the altar:

photo by Craig Post

and hiding my script under the altar:

photo by Craig Post

Jenny & Brian, smudging & asperging the circle (and the photographer):

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Dave Goff

Rev and Matt playing while the circle is cleansed:

photo by Ezra Meier

, Casting the Circle:

photo by Craig Post

singing in the quarters:

photo by Jim Blanchard

west quarter callers, hanging out in the sun shade:

photo by Jim Blanchard

at the altar:

photo by Jim Blanchard

Vows and Rings: By root and by leaf

speaking our vows:

photo by Craig Post


photo by Dave Goff

for so long as the love shall last!

photo by Ezra Meier

Rhiannon, our darling ringbearer:

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Craig Post


photo by Ezra Meier

we get to kiss now?

photo by Craig Post

hey, i think we’re married now!

photo by Ezra Meier

Hand-Fasting

the hand-binding:

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Dave Goff

Jumping the Broom

blessings from friends and family as we circled the ritual ground on our way to jump the broom. Jesse reached out to us, and i’m terribly glad that he did. after that, a dozen dozen people did, and we were washed in so much love and joy from so many people! Here we are holding hands with Alan’s mom Cheryl ().

photo by Craig Post

and my dad:

photo by Craig Post

Ready to jump? I’m ready, are you ready?

photo by Craig Post

and over we go!

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Craig Post

yay!

photo by Jim Blanchard

Exiting the Circle

we left the circle through the arms of all our loved ones:

photo by Craig Post

preceeded by young nephew Elias:

photo by Craig Post


photo by Craig Post

and out we go, into our new life! which greatly resembles our life before this, only more so. it’s completely awesome. i found it fitting that my father & sister should be the end of the tunnel of people into the field, the land.

photo by Craig Post

(Craig took a lot of these photos, and i admit to being fond of them!)

photo by Craig Post

Family Photos

Deb Stoesz (Kat’s mom), Kat & Alan

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Ezra Meier


photo by Jim Blanchard

Heatheringtons: Kat’s sister Megan, Kat, Alan, Frank (Kat’s dad, also ).

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Ezra Meier

Heatheringtons and Posts: Megan, Kat, Alan, Craig with Eva, Kris, and Elias in front.

photo by Jim Blanchard

and the candid:

photo by Ezra Meier

i don’t know what he said, but he looks to me like he’s getting away with something:

photo by Jim Blanchard

polyfamily! i’m so glad we took these photos. thank you, ! From the left: Jaime, Rev, Kat, Alan, Laura, Ana.

photo by Jim Blanchard

the candid, with Jaime flying in:

photo by Ezra Meier


photo by Ezra Meier

we stack in order of size, like leggos.

photo by Ezra Meier

Cake!

or rather, cakes! the big one was made by Jenny’s friend Heather, and was completely awesome. the blue flowers were chosen to match the ones in my hair. We finished the last of it the other day. The chocolate one was wheat-free, and enormously popular. I didn’t get a piece, but i hear that it was amazing. it went *fast*. the square ones were vegan rum cakes, glazed with a maple syrup/rum/coffee glaze that is quite tasty. we took the remnants of one to a potluck the other night, where it went over quite well.

photo by Jim Blanchard

the cutting thereof:

photo by Jim Blanchard

and the feeding thereof:

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Craig Post

nomcake. it was really excellent stuff.

photo by Jim Blanchard


photo by Craig Post

the “reception” –ie, hanging out.

eating cake:

photo by Jim Blanchard

dragonfly on the lovely mexican newlywed flags that Kevin brought us:

photo by Dave Goff

all my college friends, whose presence was a wonderful treat! Kate, Dave, Josh, Kyle, Kevin.

photo by Jim Blanchard

talking to people while eating food. the potluck was absolutely splendid. Clockwise from Kat, Alan, , , Ana, , Katie. That’s a couple of ‘s locally-famous spruce beers in Katie & Adam’s hands, there.

photo by Jim Blanchard

Drum Jam!

drum jam! Clyde, Jonny (wwoofing with us) and Kit

photo by Jim Blanchard

Matt, Rev, Dawn (with video camera), Joaquim, Kevin, Sam, Beth, Craig with Eva.

photo by Dave Goff

next door horses, cantering to the jam, which they appeared to enjoy:

photo by Jim Blanchard

less clothing for dancing. that orange dress is lovely, but it is also lined, and rather too heavy for the 95+ weather. Here i’m dancing with and . background, Kit, Rhiannon, , a slightly invisible , , . and the back of ‘s head, in front.

photo by Jim Blanchard

drums on fire! and more dancing:

photo by Jim Blanchard

an organic circle dance that grew while we were singing “wrapped around you.” from the left, FoxWoman, Ellen, Molly, Rachelle, Brian, Kat & Dave, Erin, and some of Beth.

photo by Jim Blanchard

more dancin’: Rachelle, Ellen, Erin, Dave, Dawn, Brian, myself, Matt, Clyde, and the back of Jonny & Kit’s heads.

photo by Jim Blanchard

the circle grows and folds. Ellen, Rachelle, Foxwoman, Kat, Brian, Dave, Beth, Erin, Molly. Dave in the back on harp.

photo by Jim Blanchard

and the circle opens. by this point i was standing back, talking to Kyle, while others danced. Dawn, Foxwoman, , , Beth, , , Matt, Rev, Kevin.

photo by Jim Blanchard

and more dancing. Judith, Beth, Dawn, Ellen, FoxWoman, Erin, Suzanne, Rev.

photo by Jim Blanchard

musicians in the trees: Dave, Bill, Dave, Matt, Kevin.

photo by Jim Blanchard

and the whole photo gallery, in case you also wanted that link.

they say her wedding day is the happiest day of a woman’s life. that’s an old and broken paradigm, and i am aiming for many many happy years here. but i have to say, it was an incredible day. i thought my face would break from smiling so much. it was incredibly meaningful to have so many people i love turn out to share our celebration with us. and for them to bring their love, joy, flowers, food made with their own hands, and even gifts, in many cases also made with their own hands. such an outpouring of joy and love and celebration! thank you all, so so very much, for making that day what it was. may the rest of our lives be as joyous as we have begun!