Quiet, stripped back and honest would be the three words we’d choose to describe today’s first featured wedding of 2026! Nic and Ellen’s barn wedding was full of country vibes, loved ones laughing, and the perfect amount of laid-back karaoke. With the ever-talented Brandon from Why So Generic behind the lens, this Woodend wedding was captured in all of its rustic glory.

This story began when Ellen asked Nic to be her ‘sandbag’ for her Muay Thai training, and it wasn’t long until their bond grew into something much more. “We met in a university class preparing for a trip to the Venice Biennale in 2015. We ended up sitting next to each other on the flight from Melbourne to Europe. At the time, Ellen was training for a Muay Thai fight scheduled 10 days after the trip, and since Nic was the biggest person in the class (with some martial arts experience), Ellen asked him to be her “sandbag” for training. Every morning at 7am, we met in the courtyard or hallway of the old nunnery where we were staying and practised Muay Thai and shadowboxing. We grew close during the trip, tagging along together to explore the Biennale and satellite shows across Venice,” they shared.

Nic proposed to Ellen three times before it finally stuck. “The first was on the couch in our pyjamas with oily hair – romantic in its own way, but I wanted something a bit more presentable, especially since we’d been together so long that pyjamas had become our default look. The second proposal was at a rundown (but delicious!) Chinese restaurant after a long day clearing out Nic’s grandparents’ house – again, not quite what I had envisioned,” Ellen explained. “The third time was in Korea, at sunset, in what Nic thought was a beautiful park in Jeonju Hanok Village. Despite the missed aesthetic brief, I said yes!”

The venue for the day was Nic’s aunt’s property in Woodend, with a beautiful big block of land covered in eucalyptus trees, a pond, a large barn perfect for the reception and a cosy bungalow. “It was the perfect setting for the kind of intimate, down-to-earth celebration we wanted.”

To match their laid-back, rustic vibe, both Nic and Ellen wanted to wear breathable, skin-friendly clothing – so linen was a clear winner! Ellen chose a beautiful white linen dress she found online and paired it with a stylish set of pointy-toe white shoes.

Nic wore a classic linen suit with a white shirt and a green bow tie. He finished his look off with a pair of brown leather shoes gifted to him by Ellen’s parents.

To open the ceremony, a jazz instrumental rendition of “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” by Nat King Cole floated through the gardens, as Ellen walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her dad.

The warm autumn day was perfect for the ceremony, just peaceful enough to hear the wind through the eucalyptus leaves yet full of love and joyful chatter. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, with Ellen and Nic’s vows to keep their guests company. “We didn’t want anything to take away from the meaning of the moment. No fluff, no formality – just presence and purpose. A very special moment was when our dog Bianca delivered the rings, led by our friend Tara. Reading our vows was so meaningful to us. It was quiet, stripped back, and full of presence – the moment we fully committed to one another.”

Their guests included friends and family from different eras of their lives, mostly from Nic’s family as they planned to visit Ellen’s extended family in Korea after the wedding. “Ellen’s parents were the only family members from her side who attended. Her dad wore a blue suit, and her mum wore a pastel Korean hanbok. My mum wore a traditional Indian sari. Everyone else dressed in smart casual,” Nic shared.

Nic and Ellen’s favourite shot from the gallery has to be one of them walking back up the aisle after the ceremony. “Behind us are the people who supported us over nine years. That moment captured our journey – and our future – in one frame.”

Dahlias and seasonal blooms came together to form all of their beautiful florals, sourced from a neighbour who runs Woodend Flower Farm and generously sold them the fresh blooms the day before.

The reception was held in and around the rustic barn on the property, decorated with eclectic seating sourced second-hand by Nic and Ellen. The space itself was decorated with 100 photos captured throughout the past nine years they’ve spent together, a collection Ellen lovingly put together for friends to display around the barn.

To feed their guests, Ellen and Nic ordered salads, dips, and snacks for yummy platters, as well as about 60 wood-fired pizzas. “We also had drinks that were served from black tubs filled with ice. Nic designed the cocktail menu and sourced spirits from local distillers. Wine came from a nearby vineyard through Nic’s uncle.”

The top five things that stood out to Nic and Ellen about their rustic barn wedding included:

“1. How we did everything ourselves.

2. The incredible help from loved ones.

3. The venue was magical.

4. The flowers were stunning.

5. Everything was pared back to what mattered – no pointless fluff, just meaning.”

The highlight of the night was the full-on Korean-style karaoke session Ellen and Nic DIY’d for the entertainment! “We brought our own mixer, mics, and speakers. Ellen managed the playlist – guests requested songs, and she’d find instrumental versions on YouTube and stream them to a small TV via laptop. We borrowed a disco ball on our way down from Melbourne,” Nic explained.

“Ellen’s dad sang “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton and teared up when Ellen joined in – we’d never seen him cry before. Her mum also sang her signature karaoke song “Tears” by So Chan Whee with Ellen – not a ballad, but very dramatic! She jokingly apologised the next day.”

If there was one piece of advice Ellen and Nic want to share for couples planning their own weddings, it would be this: “Everything takes longer than you expect. Trust your instincts. Don’t overcomplicate it. And remember – nothing is more important than being present with the people you love.”

Congratulations, Ellen and Nic, on this beautiful, laid-back wedding – you should be so proud of what you achieved! And thanks to Why So Generic for sharing yet another gorgeous celebration with us.