Loved-up Melton seniors Peter and Julie Onelle made their love official over the weekend, tying the knot at the local Country Club surrounded by 60 of their closest friends and family.

The couple met and fell in love at seniors’ rental community Ingenia Gardens Melton, arriving within months of each other back in 2020. Though their single units were only a few doors apart, the newlyweds said the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic kept their paths from crossing sooner.

“We didn’t properly meet until early this year, when Peter started coming to the Friday happy hours that are held in the community room,” Ms Onelle said.

“I started giving him a hard time and he’d give as much back as I gave!”

After a few more jovial interactions, Mr Onelle worked up the courage to knock on Ms Onelle’s unit on Valentine’s Day, inviting her on their first official date.

“About a week or two after our first date, he asked me out again and even asked me if he could kiss me on the cheek, and then we were smitten,” Ms Onelle said.

As their love blossomed, Mr Onelle began contemplating something he had never done before, getting married.

“I’d been thinking about it for a while and then I went for a walk with a friend where a few things were said, and I thought I’d better get stuck into it,” he said. “It just felt right.”

Mr Onelle popped the question as the couple were preparing to head out, with Ms Onelle caught completely off guard. “We were getting ready to go out, and he told me to come stand in our favourite spot to chat near the kitchen table, which was when he got down on one knee,” Ms Onelle said. “I didn’t know what was happening and I asked if he needed a hand getting up!”

Though this is Mr Onelle’s first marriage, Ms Onelle has been married previously, with her first husband passing away five years ago. “I moved here thinking I’d be in my single unit all by myself, but I never expected 12 months ago that I would be getting married,” Ms Onelle said.

“You spend so much time on your own and all of a sudden someone special comes along and it’s just wonderful.”

Julie Onelle

With the two already living together at Ingenia Gardens Melton after moving into the same unit a few months prior, Community Manager Nada Mecanovic said it’s been a pleasure to watch the couple’s love blossom.

“It’s so beautiful to see Julie and Peter find such love and comfort in one another, and our community is so touched that we got to be a part of it,” said Ms Mecanovic.

The happy couple are currently honeymooning on the Sunshine Coast, enjoying their life together and said they are looking to embrace whatever the future holds. 

“Life is too short and there’s no point in sitting back, you have to get out there, go for it, and enjoy it”

Peter Onelle