37 FramesThere’s a suitcase in the hallway (again). A ticket on the counter. A GPS ping from a new hotel. Another goodbye echoing down the driveway or an airport corridor. Welcome to the world of destination living – where roots are loosely laced, hearts stretch across time zones, and goodbyes are part of the rhythm.
And still, somehow, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
At 37 Frames, our lives are stitched together with hellos and farewells, airports and train platforms, quick hugs and tight squeezes, tearful departures and joyful reunions. And through it all, we’ve learned something rather unexpected: goodbyes aren’t endings. They’re beginnings in disguise.
Saying Goodbye is Part of the Job (But It Never Gets Easier)
When you work in weddings, especially across destinations like Japan, France, Australia, and beyond, farewells are woven into the fabric of what we do.
We say goodbye to couples after their most magical day, to the families who welcomed us in like old friends, to the teams we build in new cities, and to the moments that pass by like cherry blossoms on the breeze.
Every farewell is a little ceremony of its own.
A bow. A hug. A promise to keep in touch.
We used to think the more we said goodbye, the easier it would get. But the truth is, each farewell is a timestamp. A soul-stamp. A tiny love letter to the moment we just lived.
And that’s a gift.
Why Goodbyes Are Actually Beautiful
Here’s what we know now:
- Goodbyes mean we were present.
- They mean we cared deeply.
- They mean we risked loving something enough that letting go felt bittersweet.
- They mean the story mattered.
We don’t say goodbye to things that meant nothing. We say goodbye to people, to places, to chapters that shaped us. And for that, we are grateful.
Every goodbye is the punctuation mark on a sentence of significance.
The Destination Life: Built on Brave Hellos and Braver Goodbyes
Living abroad and planning weddings for people who fly across the world to say “I do” – it requires an open heart. A flexible spine. A carry-on of courage.
You become familiar with:
- Leaving before the sun rises.
- Saying goodbye on FaceTime.
- Meeting people you feel you’ve known forever… and parting just as quickly.
- Loving places that don’t show up on maps.
But in every goodbye, there’s proof you lived.
What Goodbyes Have Taught Us (So Far)
1. You get really good at packing.
And by packing, we mean both your bags and your emotions. You learn to carry memories instead of souvenirs. Stories instead of things.
2. You learn to love fully, even when it’s fleeting.
Because the depth of a connection isn’t in how long it lasts, but in how fully it was felt.
3. You stop waiting for forever and start showing up for right now.
This is the biggest shift. When you accept that goodbyes are inevitable, you lean harder into every hello.
4. You get used to airports being sacred places.
They’re not just transitions. They’re chapels of departure, stages for reunion, confession booths of whispered last words.
5. You understand that your heart is bigger than geography.
It stretches across countries and time zones. It learns to make room.
And Still, It’s All Worth It
We’ve photographed tearful farewells between parents and children. We’ve said goodbye to clients-turned-family. We’ve hugged our team after seasons of intense, joyful work, knowing we won’t be in the same country next month.
And yet…
We wouldn’t trade this life for anything.
It’s built on fleeting moments that feel like forever.
It’s built on the kind of goodbyes that mean we lived deeply.
And it’s built on the wild, courageous act of showing up again tomorrow, ready to fall in love with it all again.
Goodbyes Don’t Mean It’s Over
They mean:
- We showed up for the moment.
- We were part of something extraordinary.
- We gave it everything.
And as we wave goodbye to one story, we’re already opening our hearts to the next one. To the next hello.
Because we believe this: the best stories start and end with love.
Even if that love has to say goodbye, now and then.
Final Thoughts: A Toast to the Goodbyes
To the clients who became our people. To the vendors who became our partners. To the families who made us feel like home.
Thank you for being part of our story.
We’ll say goodbye with grace. With gratitude. And with the suitcase already half-packed for next time.
Because when you live in this world – the destination world – you know that goodbye just means:
Until the next adventure.
37 Frames
