Queer Love is a monthly feature interviewing Queer couples from all across the globe. Each month a brand new couple will be revealed to Unite’s audience – Next month, this could be you! Please get in touch with the email provided at the bottom of this article, if you wish to take part next time!
This month we’re introducing you to Janna and Laura!
UUK: Welcome to Unite’s feature, Queer Love! The very first question we ask everyone, is how did you two meet one another?
Janna: Laura and I first met back in 2018, when we both just started working on the small island, “Heligoland“ in the German north sea. Laura had just started her new job there and I recently came back home from traveling. There aren’t heaps of people living there, so naturally one starts to notice regular new faces around.
We constantly saw each other from across the streets, with friends, at the store, sometimes when Laura would stop by at my workplace for business things or randomly going somewhere.
We would just catch each other’s eyes and we both got somewhat curious about each other.
Someday in late November we then suddenly ran into each other at the very tiny gym, both of us too shy to actually approach one other! We later found out, the both of us extended our workouts – just to make sure the other one would have enough time to say “Hello“!
But this didn’t happen
Once back home, Laura then did it the old fashioned way – she invited me for a walk, talks and some coffee via Instagram. I was so excited I literally squeaked out loud. A few days later we had our first date and we were mutually hooked for each other from the very first second!
UUK: That sounds so, so sweet – I love your love for old fashioned love! We’re really excited to know more about you – especially as you’re now married! But more on that later; when did you realise you had feelings towards on another?
Janna: I think it definitely was a process of growing feelings, but we were both very open about it from day one. We’ve both always felt a very strong connection and understanding for one another. Actually, Laura was about to move back to her hometown very soon. A few days after we had our first dates, she visited her family for two weeks, but she was meant to have an appointment to fix things for her new job as well.
She decided to cancel everything to stay with me on Heligoland.
I believe that was pretty much the point at which we were both sure about our feelings and commitment!
UUK: And it seems as if the rest is history! I completey adore the fact that I’m speaking to MARRIED Queer couple here on Queer Love! We’re wishing the both of you the happiest years together! Would you like to tell us all about your special day?
Janna: Due to Covid our wedding was very different from what we had planned, however it was still exactly what we wanted.
We originally planned to travel to Bavaria, have a small elopement wedding in the mountains with a nice photoshoot. Afterwards we wanted to road trip through the alps and Switzerland.
Just us two, that was very important to us.
We both have big accepting families, but we wanted to be completely focused on each other.
Janna: We expected to marry in May 2020, but were forced to cancel everything in March. We were very sad, because we really wanted to be married. We were so excited about sharing our last name, wearing a wedding ring and being able to call each other “my wife“, so eventually we decided it didn’t matter where we got married.
We then called into our local register office and asked for a free appointment for a wedding ceremony, and ironically and unexpectedly, due to covid, they had many open spaces, because barely anyone except residents were allowed to enter the island. Also they didn’t accept any guests during the wedding, eliminating unsolicited guests – It was perfect for us.
About a weeks later, we had a slow morning with a sweet breakfast in the sun on our balcony. There was barely a soul on the streets, one could hear all the birds singing and if you listened closely, even the waves crashing into the beach, down the road. This is very unusual for Heligoland, since without covid, this time of year marks the start of tourist season.
It’s a short walk from our apartment to where the ceremony was set, right at the harbor in a tiny restored fishermen’s house. The lady who performed our ceremony was so lovely, she held a speech about our love and what connects us two.
We had a calm day, similar to our first date, we went for a walk and cooked a nice dinner together and a lovely evening together.
UUK: Janna! That sounds like the most beautiful way to celebrate the love between the two of you. I’m sure many of our readers (alongside myself!) are in awe of that most amazing day you experienced! With all this love in the air, I’d love to hear of your favourite Valentines Day experience?
Janna: Valentine’s day is not something we are necessarily celebrating every year, so our favorite experience was our first Valentine’s. We both weren’t quite sure on wether or not the other one values this day as much. So we separately thought, we’d just go with something “decent“. Little did we know, none of us really expected anything from the other. Still, after work we both came home with a huge bouquet of flowers. We just started laughing, admitting we’re not really into this tradition. Nevertheless, the bouquets were stunning.
UUK: I’d like to thank you for all of the amazing answers you’ve provided myself and the audience this month! You’ve made an incredibly loving read for everyone of us! To finish up; what are you plans for 2022?
Janna: We have very big plans coming for 2022. Hopefully we will finally be able to pursuit our dream of moving to New Zealand this year. We have been effortfully planning, working and saving for this for some time now, but Covid is making things pretty hard. Our home right now is beautiful and cozy, but we want to experience something new and exciting. We’ve outgrown this place and are ready for new adventures together.
Being 24 and 26, we believe we still have so much time to travel this world before we settle for good.
So basically, we are expecting our year to be filled with getting ready to leave everything behind, starting to travel together and getting good jobs in NZ, which might make it possible for us to stay a bit longer. If that doesn’t work, we will stay put until it’s safe to travel again. But that’s what we are looking into for us right now.
UUK: We wish the best of luck with your future plans Janna and Laura! For all of our readers; If you’re feeling inspired and wish to submit you and your partner to feature on the next Queer Love article – please get in touch with Laura at lauranyeart@gmail.com
I look forward to speaking with you!
Laura Nye
Writer
Freelance Multi-Media Creator whom continuously ranges between imagery to words.
If you wish to get in touch; please reach out to lauranyeart@gmail.com
She/Her
