Dear new husband,
You married me knowing my feet constantly itch to explore. I want to see more than I ever possibly could.
But please know that these adventures I never stop talking about, now I want them all with you.
My love for travel doesn’t mean I don’t want elements of a settled life, but I think settled for me and you is different. I’ve travelled and set up my life in enough foreign countries to know that a home base only makes you appreciate travelling more.
In the past, there have been travels just for the sake of travelling. Of being on the move. There has been money and time spent in places that I never even knew about until I booked the flight. Drawn by the desire to simply to be “elsewhere”. It’s led me to moments of euphoria in travel when I can feel that I’m in exactly the right place and at the right moment. And it’s caused travel burnout when I’ve wondered what it’s all for.
But I don’t worry about that anymore. There’ll always be space in my life for a random adventure, but my future travels will also be full of purpose. We’ll build shared memories and a life to reminisce about when we’re older.
I want new adventures, where we explore places for the first time together, bonding over figuring out a new world. But I want to go back over old adventures too. To take you to places I’ve already seen and that I KNOW you’ll love. I want repeats but with us in the starring roles.
There may be times where I go away on my own. But you know I’ll always be back and I’ll want an abundance of cuddles, to make up for the missed time. I’ll be bursting to tell you my adventures if I haven’t called and told you already, and probably even if I have. I’ll make you look at all the photos of a place you didn’t really care to go, or maybe couldn’t, in which case I’m sorry in advance for making you feel bad. You know I’d choose you to be there.
I’ll apologise now for the hundreds (probably millions) of photos that I’ll ask you to take of me. Especially when you want me to check they’re ok and then I ask you to do it again. I promise I’ll try and not be too annoying about it…
I’ve met people from all over the world through travelling. Many have come and gone, and some have stayed. I’ve chosen you as a permanent fixture, so trust in that.
But there will always be people missing from our lives. Although there’s something to be said for a network of family and friends all over the world. We’ll never be lonely, and we’ll never lack love and support.
I feel like I’ve had a lifetime of careers already, and I’ve dreamed of even more. Those ideas we talk about, those thoughts of finding our own pathway in the world, they’re all made possible by the diversity of both of our past experiences. Working 9-5 isn’t really my style, although I do it when I have to, and I’ll do it for us if we need it. But we both know we’re not cut out for that mould.
I’m afraid that travel may not be my number one anymore, but I know it’ll always be there. I’ll still want “birthday trips” and sorry (not sorry) to say you’ll probably get them now too. I’ll always be full of random facts about places we might never get to. Or maybe we will. But at least I’ll be awesome at the geography section of any pub quiz. Our TV will be full of saved travel shows and any travel related movie, and our bookshelves with the travel tales of others (and maybe someday mine), plus guides on places I hope we explore together one day. I’m afraid, but I’m excited too.
My curiosity is endless, and you’ll get sick of hearing me say “we should go there” every time I see some new place on TV, or read about it in a magazine (maybe you already are). But I’m curious about other things too. If you want to know something, you know all you have to do is mention it and a short time later I’ll present you with my researched answers. You should know that the same passion I have for travel will be transferred to the other aspects of our lives.
I’ve always cared more about experiences. I’ll never expect fancy or luxurious presents, and I’d rather you didn’t buy them. Get me adult classes in some new hobby like pottery, or language lessons instead.
Of course, I’ll always accept a trip as a present! Although even then I don’t expect luxury, and in fact, sometimes I’d rather go without (except if you want to book a holiday to an overwater bungalow in the Maldives, that one I could live with).
Being from opposite ends of the earth has meant our path hasn’t been a straight one, and I don’t think it ever will be. We haven’t reached the end of learning about each other, and I’m sure there are many culture clashes and similarities to still be drawn out. But we’ll face them together.
Our lives will change, along with our priorities. With luck, our little family will expand, but that won’t ground us, it’ll just mean our love and our world will grow bigger. If anything there will be even more adventures since any child of ours is already a child of two sides of the world.
I’m perfectly happy to be independent, but I choose our team. Who knows where life will take us?
But if there’s one thing I can most definitely promise you, it’s that you’ll never be bored.
Sonja x
Thanks to our wedding photographer Claire Juliet Paton, who also took these pre-wedding shots for us. She takes stunning photos of couples across Scotland and further afield and I can’t wait to see more!
Read more: Planning a Wedding When You’re an Expat Abroad (Or, That Time I Cried Over Ketchup)
AWWWWW. This was absolutely adorable.
Haha thank you 😀 😀
Gave me chills! Lovely written, Sonja! Hope we catch up once I am in Edi!! Big hugs and kisses! Anja
Aww thank you!! Yes we definitely should!! x
I can’t get over how adorable this post is! Here’s hoping for many more travels for you both and to new adventures :)!
Thank you so much! I’m certain there will be many more adventures 😀
Such a lovely letter Sonja. It was so touching, and your pictures are absolutely gorgeous! ” I’ll apologise now for the hundreds (probably millions) of photos that I’ll ask you to take of me” —– this here, I can totally relate to it :D. What would we do without our husbands right? 🙂
Thank you! Haha exactly! Have to make much more use of a tripod… although I’m determined to get more of us together so that might be happening anyway!
I can relate to this a little. My partner did not realize my longing to travel when we met but it soon became clear. I was lucky enough he fell in love with it too during our first trip and we will leave the country together, with our son in a few months!
I’m lucky my husband loves travelling too, just maybe not as much as me haha. That’s so great that you’ll be travelling with your son now!
This is a sweet post and well written too, covering so many points about your traveling ways! The pre wedding photos are super! In the future you could be blogging about travel with kids!
Thank you so much 😀 Haha we’ll see, maybe one day!
That was a beautifully written post and it was lovely to read something so personal on a travel blog. Hopefully you still get to have a few adventures! I know how you feel though, if it was up to me I would be packing my bags and moving around the globe at the drop of a hat but sometimes it is best to compromise.
Thank you! I’ll definitely still be having adventures, just with someone by my side :). And I’ll have to compromise on destination sometimes I imagine, but it’s nice to think that I’ll discover places I wouldn’t have otherwise!
“I’ll apologise now for the hundreds (probably millions) of photos that I’ll ask you to take of me.”
THIS! I had so much fun reading this post! It’s very true and inspiring as well! Isn’t it just beautiful to travel the world with the love of your life beside you? Ahhh <3
Thank you so much! I can’t wait for more of our adventures together 😀
This was such as a sweet and thoughtful post. Your husband is lucky to have you. You sound like a very loving person. I think when you have kids, you will take them with you wherever you go.
Thanks so much! I sure hope so 😀 😀
What a beautiful and well thought out post. I could totally relate to this being that I also “dragged” my husband into this kind of lifestyle. LOL. But it’s something that we enjoy doing together, so I am very lucky! I don’t mind traveling solo but it’s good to have someone to share the experience with.
Haha I’m doing a little dragging, he loves travel too but I just like making a lot more trips! I’m the same, I don’t mind solo travel but it’s amazing to share it with a partner too 🙂
Great letter and it was very touching to read it. Nice to read something more personal and happy you found a person that is willing to travel with you.
Thank you! I always try to share a little more on this blog, even if it does make me nervous haha.
“Of course, I’ll always accept a trip as a present! ” – Best line ever 🙂 I can’t wait to hear more about your honeymoon in the Hebrides, but of course I hope you keep up your solo travels too!!
Haha trips are the best presents! I’m itching to get writing about the honeymoon as soon as possible, so it should be soon! I definitely still have some solo adventures coming up too 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful. My boyfriend and I are also from opposite ends of the world – so already it is amazing how we are situated in the same place at the same time and found one another. Need to mention – your photos are beautiful and this is so genuinely written. Well done! Congratulations and good luck! 🙂
Thank you so much! I think it’s amazing how we found each other as well. It’s crazy to think we might not have!
Cute letter:) Good luck for you two!
My love and I trave all the time, it’s such a gift <3
Thanks so much! I feel really lucky to have found someone to enjoy adventures with 🙂
Sigh, this was totally dreamy! Congrats on your wedding by the way and gorgeous photos!
Aw thank you so much! I can’t wait to see our wedding photos!
This is beautiful. I have been in the midst of writing a letter like this for a blog post, but to my boyfriend. Its so lovely and you are lucky to have each other!
Thank you so much! It was something I felt like I needed to put down in words since I’d been thinking about it for awhile. 🙂
You two <3 So much love and endless congratulations on this new journey! Can't wait to see what you both get up to 🙂
Thank you so much! It’s such an exciting time 🙂 🙂
Beautiful letter Sonja. Marriage is worth it, I hope you have more adventures with your husband, and your future kids xx
I have no doubt that we will, thank you 😀 x
This is so beautiful! I feel like it could have been me writing it to my husband lol. I hope you both have an amazing life together full of traveling to incredible places! 🙂
That’s so lovely to hear, and thanks so much 🙂 I’m sure we will!
Absolutely love this post doll! Congrats on being a newlywed. We are headed down the aisle in 80 days and I’m terrified haha! Any good tips?
Thanks so much! Aw don’t be terrified! I did all my stressing before and on the day I had the best time, it was just amazing. I was mostly nervous things wouldn’t work out with the way we planned the day but we made sure to try and think of everything we could and have a lot of lists, and it all fell into place! Delegate where you can!
Beautifully written, and something I needed to read right now while reflecting on my own life. Thanks for being so open to share. It’s a very endearing article. Good luck with your new marriage! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it and it might have helped in some way! 🙂
Sharing this with my boyfriend cause he totally can relate to all of this!
Haha thank you! My husband was nodding his way through it..
This is beautiful! I’m sure my husband wish I gave him this letter while we were still dating! Since then we’ve moved to 3 different countries together, and I’ve dragged him on countless little trips which started off with a ‘can we just pop over there for the weekend?’. Not to mention our wedding obviously had to be a ‘trip’ as well. Like you, I’d take an ‘experiential’ gift over a tangible one any day. Beautiful photos. Loving reading your blog and your adventures.
Thank you for your lovely comment!! Haha oh the “can we just do this one little weekend…” is so familiar!
This made me smile, and laugh a bit because it sounds so so familiar. I have super serious boyfriend and we’ve started talking about marriage. I’m itching to send him this post because it sounds like something I would write to him almost word for word. Just got to your page, and loving it so far! Well done! And wishing you love and blessings in your marriage!
Thank you so much! 😀 I’m glad you liked it.
I’m not married, but I definitely feel this way about whoever I would end up with. I have to have someone who likes adventure as much as I do.
And adventure can come in many forms, from travelling to new stuff at home too! You at least need the freedom to be able to continue your own adventures too, but it is amazing to do it together.
That was so touching, I had to drop my phone at a point & say a little prayer to God, that; this is exactly the kinda future partner that I want and would be glad if she’d write me such a letter.
There’s so so much awesomeness in this post, it came from your the depth of your heart and I love it…..reading this made my day.
Thanks for sharing.
God bless you.