Jes & Shawn's Honeymoon
Donation protected
Shawn and I got engaged on Christmas Day in 2013, after six years of dating.
Our Story
When we met, we were 20 year old students at community college.We sat next to each other in Philosophy of Religions class and went on our first date just a few weeks after the semester began.
We fell for each other hard and fast, and our love has been the most beautiful experience of my life. Shawn went on to graduate in 2010 and I finished school in 2012. By this time, we knew that we had dreams of traveling that would take us aroud the world, as long as we decided to overcome our fears.
In September of 2012 we packed our bags, said goodbye to our families, and moved to China. It was our first time in Asia and also our first time living together. A lot of growth took place in that year. We grew personally- being challenged daily by the culture that was so vastly different from our own. We experienced homesickness and deeply missed our friends and families. This experience taught us to lift each other up and lean on each other in new ways. We also learned how to be ESL teachers, and we were able to reap the many rewards of teaching wholehearted students. Most importantly, this time away from home allowed us to see each other transparently. We grew stronger, braver, and more resilient during this period and it has shaped who we are as a couple and as individuals today.
Our experience in China was so memorable that we decided to extend our time living and teaching abroad.
After a short visit to America in 2013, we moved to Taiwan where we currently live.
Our Engagement
Shawn bought the ring in America before we left. For Christmas, he suggested we visit an island called Cijin for the day that had beautiful veiws of the sunset. So we arrived on the beach shortly before sunset and laid down a blanket. Shawn took out the camera and set up the tripod. He suggested we take a picture together, which wasn't out of the ordinary. We stood in front of the camera, and then he got down on one knee and said the sweetest words I've ever heard. I cried and cried and cried and then we took our first pictures as an engaged couple.
Our Wedding
Making a decision about what kind of wedding to have hasn't been easy. Over the past year we have gone over many different kinds of scenarios. It took a lot of deep thought, reflection, and overcoming of outside influence to find the wedding answers we were looking for.
Shawn and I are extremely passionate about two things- traveling and each other. We want our wedding experience to reflect these two things.
Our plan now is simple, intimate, and absolutely the best choice for us. We plan to get married here in Taiwan. There will be a total of 4 people at our wedding: the photographer, the officiator, and us.
We'll travel to the Alishan Forest to say "I do" on March 20, 2015.
The Officiator
Kim and I met while working at a bar in 2007. We were both college students working nights and weekends to get by. Since the day we met, we've been inseparable. Shawn and I started dating the same year that Kimmy and I became friends, so she has been there for us on our love journey since the very beginning. Kim is my sister, my platonic soul mate, and the woman who inspires me. We are honored and grateful to have such an important person in our lives orchestrate our unity.
Our Honeymoon
For our honeymoon, Shawn and I are planning to take the backpacking trip of our lives! We will start in South East Asia, visiting Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. From there we will work our way up to Istanbul, Turkey and then... who knows?! Our itinerary is loosely set and our dates are flexible.
We have adopted a traveling philosphy over the years that is easygoing, relaxed, and trusting of the universe.
We have traveled to 10 countries in the past 2 years, and our goal is to reach 20 countries (or more) in our twenties. We're hoping this honeymoon fundraiser can help us realize our dream! Rather than ask our loved ones to make the trip abroad for a destination wedding, we are asking for wedding gifts that will contribute to our honeymoon. The end of our trip will take us back home to America where we will begin the new chapter of our wonderful life together.
If you'd like to send us your mailing address, we'd love to send you a post card from our travels!
We are so grateful to each one of you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
"She knew she loved him when home went from being a place, to being a person." -unknown
Our Story
When we met, we were 20 year old students at community college.We sat next to each other in Philosophy of Religions class and went on our first date just a few weeks after the semester began.
We fell for each other hard and fast, and our love has been the most beautiful experience of my life. Shawn went on to graduate in 2010 and I finished school in 2012. By this time, we knew that we had dreams of traveling that would take us aroud the world, as long as we decided to overcome our fears.
In September of 2012 we packed our bags, said goodbye to our families, and moved to China. It was our first time in Asia and also our first time living together. A lot of growth took place in that year. We grew personally- being challenged daily by the culture that was so vastly different from our own. We experienced homesickness and deeply missed our friends and families. This experience taught us to lift each other up and lean on each other in new ways. We also learned how to be ESL teachers, and we were able to reap the many rewards of teaching wholehearted students. Most importantly, this time away from home allowed us to see each other transparently. We grew stronger, braver, and more resilient during this period and it has shaped who we are as a couple and as individuals today.
Our experience in China was so memorable that we decided to extend our time living and teaching abroad.
After a short visit to America in 2013, we moved to Taiwan where we currently live.
Our Engagement
Shawn bought the ring in America before we left. For Christmas, he suggested we visit an island called Cijin for the day that had beautiful veiws of the sunset. So we arrived on the beach shortly before sunset and laid down a blanket. Shawn took out the camera and set up the tripod. He suggested we take a picture together, which wasn't out of the ordinary. We stood in front of the camera, and then he got down on one knee and said the sweetest words I've ever heard. I cried and cried and cried and then we took our first pictures as an engaged couple.
Our Wedding
Making a decision about what kind of wedding to have hasn't been easy. Over the past year we have gone over many different kinds of scenarios. It took a lot of deep thought, reflection, and overcoming of outside influence to find the wedding answers we were looking for.
Shawn and I are extremely passionate about two things- traveling and each other. We want our wedding experience to reflect these two things.
Our plan now is simple, intimate, and absolutely the best choice for us. We plan to get married here in Taiwan. There will be a total of 4 people at our wedding: the photographer, the officiator, and us.
We'll travel to the Alishan Forest to say "I do" on March 20, 2015.
The Officiator
Kim and I met while working at a bar in 2007. We were both college students working nights and weekends to get by. Since the day we met, we've been inseparable. Shawn and I started dating the same year that Kimmy and I became friends, so she has been there for us on our love journey since the very beginning. Kim is my sister, my platonic soul mate, and the woman who inspires me. We are honored and grateful to have such an important person in our lives orchestrate our unity.
Our Honeymoon
For our honeymoon, Shawn and I are planning to take the backpacking trip of our lives! We will start in South East Asia, visiting Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. From there we will work our way up to Istanbul, Turkey and then... who knows?! Our itinerary is loosely set and our dates are flexible.
We have adopted a traveling philosphy over the years that is easygoing, relaxed, and trusting of the universe.
We have traveled to 10 countries in the past 2 years, and our goal is to reach 20 countries (or more) in our twenties. We're hoping this honeymoon fundraiser can help us realize our dream! Rather than ask our loved ones to make the trip abroad for a destination wedding, we are asking for wedding gifts that will contribute to our honeymoon. The end of our trip will take us back home to America where we will begin the new chapter of our wonderful life together.
If you'd like to send us your mailing address, we'd love to send you a post card from our travels!
We are so grateful to each one of you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
"She knew she loved him when home went from being a place, to being a person." -unknown
Give $100 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer
Jes Guido
Organizer
