Our story begins at Services Australia in 2018 where a young IT Cadet Corinna joined the Gateway & Network Engineering Team and was introduced to the clearly "having an Autistic moment" in Wayne. They immediately didn’t hit it off, with Corinna wondering “who is this guy who won’t even look at me” and Wayne completely oblivious that another human even came past his desk.
After a nudge from our Team Leader, Corinna and Wayne actually spoke to each other and seemed to have a functional work dynamic with Wayne taking a role in trying to help Corinna feel welcome in the team (and doing an average at best job of it).
That all shifted one fateful day when Corinna saw on Wayne’s laptop that he was listening to the soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera. Finding a common ground, they both immediately bonded over The Music of the Night and a true friendship blossomed.
From that seed friendship, something truly special grew between the pair; with Corinna falling for Wayne’s caring, teddy bear-like charm, and Wayne being completely oblivious, just thinking that Corinna was just a really cool person and enjoying spending time with her. That all changed one fateful night in July, when Corinna, (tired of dropping subtle and not subtle hints) asked Wayne out, and they became a couple.
After that, a whirlwind tour of discovering music and theatre interests; sharing special moments together abroad and locally in Australia, and a brief lockdown together, the two knew they were perfect for each other.
In June 2024, after a fun escape room in Melbourne and enjoying a lovely French brunch, Wayne knew that Corinna was the forever one, and proposed to her. Topping off the proposal with seeing none other than the ORIGINAL Christine from Phantom of the Opera, Sarah Brightman perform live in the musical Sunset Boulevard.
For our special wedding day, both music and musicals have played such an important role in not just our relationship but our lives. With artists such as Ghost, Cradle of Filth, The Amity Affliction, Sabaton, Bring me the Horizon all bringing us together; as well as the classics like Elton John, Meatloaf, Queen, and Journey’s 'Separate Ways'. Musicals have also been so important in our journey of knowing each other, with Phantom of the Opera taking centre stage, supported by the Rocky Horror Show, School of Rock, The Book of Mormon, Moulin Rouge and Sunset Boulevard to name a few.
With Box 5 to remain empty, All We Ask of You is to join us, as we pass The Point of No Return, and listen to The Music of the Night.
Corinna Toime & Wayne Gartner