Baiba and Juris Sējāns: 41 years of marriage that began with instant connection

Musician Juris Sējāns and lawyer Baiba Sējāne will celebrate 41 years of marriage this September. Both say they felt an immediate connection the very first time they met.

The couple met years ago through creative youth camps and the winter gatherings that followed them — in their case, at a sauna party in Ulbroka. Just four months after meeting, Juris proposed, and the couple married on September 14 that same year. The family still marks the date annually with a visit to a café or restaurant together.

Raising children during independence

The couple's daughter Līva was born around the time Latvia regained independence, a period of major upheaval that made daily life difficult — even diapers were hard to find, and the family managed without a car or modern household appliances. Their son Valters was born later. Both children now successfully raise their own families — Līva has daughters Laura and Emīlija, while Valters has daughters Nora and Ieva. Juris also has two grandchildren from his daughter Maija, born from his first marriage.

A musician's lifestyle and family values

Juris spent many years in music, including with the bands Menuets and Pērkons, and later worked as a director at Latvian Television. Baiba says the presence of fans at concerts never particularly worried her, since both she and Juris were consumed by work and raising children. Juris stresses that family always mattered more to him than music or his television career.

Both agree that trust, mutual respect, shared interests, and the ability to laugh at difficulties have been essential to their long relationship. They also believe that a degree of independence from one another over the years has actually strengthened their bond.