Our Mongolian Wedding

By Travis Hellstrom · July 14, 2011 · 2 min read

Travis, in a blue deel and black hat, and Tunga, in a pale blue deel and pearl headdress, stand behind her smiling parents, in a silver deel with a black hat and a turquoise brocade deel, with two towers of stacked ul boov pastries topped with candy in front

I’ve been gone from the digital world for a few weeks, and for good reason. On June 29th, Tunga and I were married here in Mongolia. We celebrated with family and friends in Tunga’s hometown of Baruun Urt, Sukhbaatar where we met when I was serving for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

I would like to say thank you, so much, to all of you who helped make our special day so wonderful. Your kind words, your smiles and hugs, your generosity and love and support literally came to us from around the world. It’s not easy to be so far away from family and friends on such a special day, but thanks to your efforts all of you were very close to our hearts. Not a moment passed when I didn’t think about you and remember that without you I wouldn’t be where I am today. Our world is growing smaller every day, which allowed Michael and Jonathan, my two best friends, to be with us all the way from America. It helped me receive an email from my mom which brought tears to my eyes and it allowed us to share pictures with all of you around the world within days of the event in one of the most remote places on our planet. The idea of family reaches around the world and it includes all of us. For Tunga and I the idea of family will always include different cultures, different views and traditions, but a common compassion, love and kindness that is shared in every corner of the world.

Travis in a white silk deel and black brimmed hat, with Tunga in white lace and a pearl headdress resting her arm on his shoulder

On our wedding day my mother wrote to us saying, “Today is a beautiful day. You will never have another one that takes its place… I am dreaming about an extraordinary love story that is about to let the rest of the world share a glimpse of its beauty and commitment to love… forever.” I am dreaming of the same thing.

If you would like to see photography of the event, taken by the wonderful PCV Katie Borkowski, you can see the photos here anytime. Also, please let us know if you would like to celebrate with us next year in America! We have a guestbook that you can sign to hear about updates as the events next summer get closer. We would love to see you! Thank you all again so much.

Our Mongolian Wedding

Stories like this are why I write.