10, 20, 30. Engaged on April 10th, married on April 20th, and made it official at the US Embassy in Bangkok on April 30th. Fifteen years ago today, we took the scariest flight I've ever been on in my life from Phuket to BKK. We lost altitude and drinks were flying everywhere and we were covered in soda. Anxious and sticky, we made our way to the embassy to file our paperwork with my Dad as our guide.
Then, we were off to the Amphur's Office to file with the Kingdom of Thailand as well. We assumed this was just more signatures and paperwork pushing, but unbeknownst to Jon and I, the official behind the desk launched into an official western wedding ceremony with, "dearly beloved"....and there, sticky from the flight and sweaty from running around to complete our auspicious 10, 20, 30 plan before closing, we glanced at each other (both in t-shirts, baseball caps, and my husband in arctic camo shorts that he still wears to this day) and we just cracked up. A wedding? Now? Why not? We survived the plane flight!
From there, we threw ourselves a party and did a couple wheelies in a tuk-tuk on Sukhumvit Road, the busiest street in the city, and ended with a midnight snack of pad see ew (chicken and rice noodles with veggies and thai chilis). Fifteen years in, we're still not totally sure that we're married because neither of us can actually read our own marriage certificate, but we've been assured by translators with the US Social Security and Passport Offices that we are definitely hitched, no matter how I feel about those old arctic camos. Happy official 15th, Honey. You are the adventure (and my love) of a lifetime. 💎💗🙏
