Back on the ol’ blogging saddle!
I am so happy to finally share Emily + Joe’s wedding.
First let me tell you a little history. About 8 years ago Joe left Corvallis for a new adventure teaching English in Korea. I had only known him for a couple years, but we were strongly connected through our circle of mutual friends and the fact that we share a birthday. Go Aries! I was sure that when Joe left that I would never see him again, though I knew I would always hear from him on our birthday. During the time that I knew Joe in Corvallis I had never seen him in anything resembling a relationship. That’s not to say that there weren’t plenty of ladies swooning over him – and there were – but Joe wasn’t into “relationships” and wasn’t afraid to tell anyone his opinions on marriage. Spoiler: they weren’t nice. So one day I’m on the ol’ facebook and …WHAT!?!?! Joe is engaged!?!?
It was true. While in Korea, Joe met Emily, and Emily is someone very special. Even though they lived 3,000 miles away from each other they both had to travel even farther to even have the opportunity to meet. After a few years of dating Joe surprised everyone, including Emily, with a proposal. Yay!!! When I found out that they were getting married in Oregon I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to meet this mystery lady that changed Joe’s life. I liked her immediately… and was so blessed and honored to be included in helping them celebrate their love.
Their time in Korea was coming to a close and their wedding would mark the beginning of their newest adventure: returning to the US, a move to Maryland, and more school for Emily.
The wedding weekend started, as many do on the Oregon Coast, with a fishing trip.
Joe + Emily invited their nearest and dearest out on a fishing + crabbing trip to help catch the wedding dinner. Because that’s how we roll in Oregon! We arrived eeeeeeearly at Tradewinds of Newport where Joe’s cousin charters a boat. There was a thick layer of fog everywhere and the humidity stuck to your skin making your hands cold. “Why didn’t I bring gloves? I totally HAVE gloves…” The clouds never lifted, but that didn’t stop us from having the best pre-wedding fishing trip ever! Eric is an excellent Captain and kept us right over the good spots… in fact several times the fish were flipping around just on the surface of the water. I’d never seen anything like it, but it catching them super easy. After 5 hours of fishing and pulling up 9 crab pots we returned to the bay with 74 fishes and 51 crabs ready to be cleaned. I’d never been out in the open water before, and it was seriously one of the funnest wedding activities I’ve ever participated in. …probably doesn’t hurt that I caught the most fishes. No big deal. Everybody was pretty wiped out after all that work reeling in fish and not falling overboard, but we managed to stay awake long enough for lunch at Mo’s. After a big bowl of clam chowder we arrived at Joe’s family’s property just outside Yachats with our catch. There were introductions and hugs all around. There was still a lot to do, but the family had things well under control. While some of us napped (guilty) others spent the afternoon arranging flowers and finishing decorations. Us nappers woke up just in time for dinner and some corn hole.
The morning came easy since most people went to bed before 10pm and slept hard through the night. Once things got stated it was all hustle and bustle. There were more flowers to arrange, decorations and signs to put up, stereo systems to work on, breakfast to eat, food to prep, and naturally photos to take. This was a homegrown wedding weekend, after all, and everyone had a job or three to do. Joe returned to his Mom’s house to work on the photo tree, while cousins painted signs, made fire pits, smoke houses, and kept the ceremony area from drying out. After working around the property for the first part of the morning I met up with Emily, her ladies, and her Mom in Yachats at a rental beach house. The girls were all giggles and stories and tears. A little while later the guys arrived who were also full of laughter and stories… funny how weddings do that to people. After everyone was dressed we coordinated travel for Joe + Emily so they could have their first look on the beach under a perfectly overcast sky.
Before long the rest of the wedding party joined us and it was a once again giggles, laughter, and all things silly.
Once were finished with the beach it was time to head back to the house to get these crazy kids married! Family and friends awaited with anticipation and open arms …and within the hour Joe + Emily were Mr. + Mrs.!!! The ceremony was officiated by Joe’s brother under a tree canopy surrounded by the love of those dearest to them. Their vows were sweet, honest, and simple. …but more on the sweet end because I was definitely fighting back some tears. Delicious food, music, games, toasts, tears, hugs, and merriment followed for the rest of the evening including a s’mores kit for everyone to roast with over the fire.
I can’t imagine a happier day or a more perfectly paired adventuring couple.
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