Things felt natural and easy – fun, but I felt secure.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Nikolina: I’m 31, and I work as a software engineer in Melbourne – my heart has always been torn between STEM and creative fields, so I balance out my job with oil painting and classic literature in my spare time. I am revisiting Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky and have enjoyed reading them at this stage in life. I also enjoy ballet and theatre whenever we’re lucky to get a good production in Melbourne. My family and I migrated from the former Yugoslavia in 1998, so I’m still very tied to Serbian culture and music, and I always make sure to make a pit stop in the motherland when I’m making a Euro trip. We also have a fair bit of family in Australia, so I love spending time with my grandparents and little cousins whenever possible.
Marko: I’m Marko; I’m 33 years old and work as a Business Development Manager. I am interested in car mechanics and love playing or watching basketball when I’m not busy with work. I’m also a huge animal lover, especially for cats and dogs.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Nikolina: We met during our uni days on a summer break beach day through mutual friends two years before we got together. My first impression of Marko was, of course, how tall and chill he was. He struck me as a guy with nothing to prove but was still nice and easy to talk to. A year later, I would transfer over to his uni, where I’d bump into him on campus constantly and see him regularly see him on nights out, where we’d share a drink and get talking. I invited him to my birthday party and he didn’t show! So a few days later, I light-heartedly confronted him about it on a night out, and he showed me a picture of an x-ray of his hand – he fractured it on the day of my birthday party (playing basketball, of course) and was in the hospital the night of. To make it up to me, he orders us a round of shots and asks me, “So when are we going on a proper date?” I replied, “When you ask me!” That weekend, we went out for pizza, and I think what sealed the deal was him looking over at my plate and demolishing my pizza before he was even on his second slice.
Marko: The first time I met my Nikolina, I was immediately struck by how intelligent and easy to talk to she was. We effortlessly connected, and I was captivated by her great sense of humour. Her taste in music was impeccable, perfectly aligning with mine, which made our conversations even more enjoyable. It was clear from the beginning that she was someone truly special.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Nikolina: I wouldn’t describe a moment. Rather, I would say a constant feeling surrounded me – like a warm hug. Things felt natural and easy – fun, but I felt secure.
The problem often cited in the dating pool was that you couldn’t have it all in one person, but I didn’t feel like I had to compromise on anything—He was handsome, kind, generous, thoughtful, and hardworking, and I liked who I was when I was with him. When he came into my life, a certain calm came over me, so it felt like a very obvious choice, which was rare for me as an anxious overthinker who could talk themselves out of anything.
Marko: Realizing I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Nikolina came gradually, but it solidified during some of life’s toughest moments. Her unwavering support and deep understanding were incredibly meaningful to me during those times. In those moments, I knew she was not only my partner but also my rock, someone I wanted by my side through thick and thin.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
Our proposal was amid COVID lockdowns, so on the rare intervals we were allowed to leave Melbourne’s infamous ring of steel, we headed off to beautiful Daylesford in Victoria for our 6th anniversary. Marko had booked a waterfront suite at the Lakehouse and dinner at the Lakehouse restaurant. It was a beautifully serene day amid the terrible weather we’d been getting in Victoria.
Before dinner, Marko led me down the stairs to the lake, in front of which stood a lavishly decorated table for two, sitting under a draped arbour with scattered rose petals. I turned to face Marko, and he was already down on one knee, holding a blue box, asking me to marry him! We often joke that he’s not sure if I said yes or not because, at that moment, I lunged at him into a hug without saying anything!
We sat sipping champagne, had a wonderful dinner, and FaceTimed our families to share the news. I also met the photographer hiding in the restaurant, whom Marko had hired to capture the whole thing!
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
Dress—I immediately knew the exact style of dress I wanted; there was no plan B, so I had to do whatever it took to ensure that was the one I had! It’s also so important to feel and look your best; I think it sets the tone for your entire day’s experience.
Venue—We knew we wanted a venue with an incredible view so that we and all our guests would feel like they had been transported into another world for the evening. We found that it helped make our day feel so much more special. Both of us love our wine, and we love the country, so a winery felt like the perfect choice.
Photographer—When it comes to weddings, after all is said and done, your photos are what you must remember, so it was so important to us that we loved our photos and found a photographer who understood our vision. When we came across Aleisha’s Instagram page, we absolutely fell in love with her style and knew we had to have her, so we had no issues flying her down to Melbourne to capture our big day.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
My dress was stood on and torn before the reception—stressful before we found a safety pin to patch it up!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
Nikolina: I worked with Marquise Bridal Atelier over several appointments to bring my dream dress to life. I knew I wanted off-the-shoulder pleated tulle, and it it had to have sleeves – I’d come across a Pinterest dress with the pleated tulle bell sleeves and fell in love! The team at Marquise was incredible with tailoring the inspiration pictures to what would suit me and my frame. It was extra special to me to have my cousin and aunt come from Serbia for the wedding and be able to attend my fittings.
Marko: Choosing my wedding suit from MJ Bale was easy for me. I’ve always admired the brand for its incredible quality and my commitment to supporting Australian brands. As a larger guy, I appreciated how well their suits fit me. However, the most special part of my outfit was my grandfather’s Soviet pocket watch, a cherished family heirloom. It’s the only surviving artifact from our family’s tumultuous wartime experience. Rediscovered years later, it was a poignant symbol of resilience and family history, brought back into our lives to mark a new chapter on my wedding day.
CEREMONY LOCATION St Stephen The Archdeacon Serbian Orthodox Church, Keysborough, VIC, Australia RECEPTION LOCATION Marnong Estate – Winery, Mickleham Road, Mickleham VIC, Australia, @weddingsmarnongestate PHOTOGRAPHER Aleisha Edwards Weddings, @aleishaedwardsweddings VIDEOGRAPHY Momento Films, @momento_films FLORIST Maus Flowers, @maus_flowers RECEPTION STYLING & FLORIST Abra Events, @abra.events_ CELEBRANT Priest from Church ENTERTAINMENT Band – Opa Bato, @opabato; DJ and MC – DJ Daniel, @djdanielofficial CATERING Marnong Estate, @weddingsmarnongestate CAKE Torte by Mirjana, @tortebymirjana STATIONERY By the Bride RINGS Anton Jewellery, @antonjewellery BRIDAL DRESS Marquise Bridal, @marquisebridal BRIDE’S SHOE J’Adior Slingback Pump – DIOR, @dior BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Si – Giorgio Armani MAKEUP Steph Piazza, @stephpiazzaartistry HAIR Hair by Neveen, @hairbyneveen SUIT MJ Bale, @mjbale
