Daniel and Karla Gibson (nee Whelan) were the first couple to be allowed to be married at the Murtoa Stick Shed.

More than 130 guests were invited to the couple’s special day, with the ceremony held at Murtoa’s most famous landmark and the reception held at the Murtoa Racecource. 

Mrs Gibson said it felt “surreal” to be the first bride to have a wedding in the iconic shed.

“I don’t really know how we came up with the idea,” she said.

“Daniel and I had been engaged for six months and my mum was the one who suggested that we hold the wedding in the shed.

“So we enquired about and were lucky enough to be approved to have the wedding inside the shed.”

She said they kept decorations to a minimum in the shed to preserve its natural beauty.

“We kept it really simple and classic,” she said.

“We had an archway in the middle of the room and a few declarations around the poles.

“There were only 30 seats, so it was mainly standing room only for the guests.”

As a Murtoa resident, Mrs Gibson said it was it was important that the wedding was kept all local.

“The wedding party stayed in Airbnbs around the town – the girls were at Murtoa Farm View Guest House and the boys stayed at Hatchett Inn on the over side of the river,” she said.

“Then to have the reception at the racecourse was really special. It all went perfectly; it was just lovely.”