For a couple who’ve just come off the drama-filled “social experiment” Married At First Sight Australia, Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton have come out relatively unscathed.
Not only did they avoid most of the dinner party squabbles and survive the cruel couple-swap challenges, they also managed to solve their main roadblock – doing long distance – by moving in with each other before the show even finished airing!
They couldn’t bare to do long distance!
(Image: Phillip Castleton)“It does feel quite insane,” Tahnee, 27, admits to Woman’s Day, as she nestles into Ollie in their cute two-bedroom home right in the heart of trendy suburb Darlinghurst in Sydney.
“I remember hearing [expert] Alessandra [Rampolla] say, ‘Love doesn’t wait around for you to get your life in order,'” adds Ollie, 26, who moved from his hometown of Perth in order to move in with Tahnee.
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“So I was like, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it as soon as possible,’ and it felt very organic. It didn’t feel premature at all,” he adds.
Tahnee also says that what viewers sometimes forget is that they’ve actually been together for almost a year now, and have already technically lived with each other in Sydney, where the show is filmed. “So it’s not all that different, really,” she enthuses.
It’s almost been a year for these two.
(Image: Phillip Castleton)We’re sitting in their living room, which has only just been furnished and is decked out from head to toe in white and beige decor from interiors designer James Lane. When asked if it was a joint effort designing the new space, Tahnee explains, “Well, I already had a couch to begin with,” she says, pointing to a white linen two-seater. “So… me.”
“But if I want to include something somewhere, I make sure I’m heard,” Ollie adds, hinting that Tahnee isn’t the only one who has a flair for interiors.
SPACE FOR LOVE
Alongside the new furnishings, mementoes from how their love story began are peppered throughout – a framed portrait full of Polaroids from their time on MAFS stands tall on a mantelpiece, while their pet fish, which became a symbol of their love during the experiment, swim healthily around a fish tank in their kitchen.
While they want to honour their past, they’re also keen to create new memories, which if recent news reports are to be believed, may include a nursery going into their attic!
“Careful what you say!” Ollie warns Tahnee, before they both erupt into laughter. “This is how they stitch us up!”
The couple generated headlines recently when they told the media they had been discussing baby names. And while they’re reluctant to touch on the subject any further, Tahnee quickly pivots and appears to confirm they’ve settled on a name after all – Blake, if it’s a girl.
“Oh, what are you doing!?” Ollie slaps his head in disbelief!
Ollie wanted to keep it a secret!
(Image: Phillip Castleton)GROWING FAMILY
While babies are a while off, the couple are making their relationship their number one priority, and even tease a podcast – similar to 2020’s Bryce and Melissa’s – and maybe even a real-life wedding to come.
“We’ll see – my sister’s getting married in March in Thailand next year so we can’t be doing anything before then – she’ll have a meltdown,” laughs Tahnee.
“We just want to build ourselves up to be a powerhouse couple,” adds Ollie. “I want us to be infallible.”
