Ellie Bullen and Alex Watson travel the world for a living, posting envy-inducing snaps of their time on Santa Monica pier, having picnics under the Eiffel Tower and spa days in Bali.
So when 27-year-old Alex decided to propose to his stunning high school sweetheart Ellie, 24, he wanted the details to be as picture-perfect as all of their adventures had been in the past.
The couple, who are originally from far-north NSW but now call Bali home, had spoken about marriage in a whimsical sense, but there was never any push from Ellie to pop the question… or any guidance on what kind of ring she might like.
Ellie Bullen (pictured) said she was very impressed by Alex’s choice of ring (seen above)
The couple got engaged against the backdrop of a vintage Airbnb in the Joshua Tree National Park, California (pictured)
‘He had to get the ring designed and made in Australia and have his best mate bring it to him in Bali,’ Ellie told Daily Mail Australia.
‘When it finally arrived Alex ran up to the room to see it alone and later told me he freaked out and couldn’t even look at it because he thought it was all wrong and I would hate it.
‘He stewed on it for a few days, sneaking up to our room and peaking at it when I was distracted and each time realised he still didn’t like it. It got sent back to Australia, remade, and brought back four months later with his sister.
‘He said when he saw it the second time he knew it was perfect,’ she added.
‘He had to get the ring designed and made in Australia and have his best mate bring it to him in Bali,’ Ellie (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia
Alex (pictured) saw the European adventure the pair went on in June as the prime time to propose and brought the ring along in a sock for the journey
With careful planning he decided to propose against the idyllic backdrop of Greece – but deciding and executing the plan where two different things
Alex saw the European adventure the pair went on in June as the prime time to propose and brought the ring along in a sock for the journey.
With careful planning he decided to propose against the idyllic backdrop of Greece – but deciding and executing the plan where two different things.
‘Unfortunately the morning in Milos that he had planned to ask me we had some bad news from home and he had to run all the way down to the port and cancel our private sunset cruise he had booked for that evening,’ Ellie confessed.
‘He tried again a week later, booked a beautiful hotel in Mykonos, organised a spa treatment for me and a vegan degustation dinner but again no luck as the weather was so windy and he couldn’t find a protected and private beach for a picnic.’
‘Unfortunately the morning in Milos that he had planned to ask me we had some bad news from home and he had to run all the way down to the port and cancel our private sunset cruise he had booked for that evening,’ Ellie (pictured with Alex) confessed
The couple, who have been together for seven years, met in high school and attended the same parties (pictured is the Airbnb Alex proposed in)
With ring in hand and two failed attempts in Europe, the pair headed back to Bali. But a recent trip to the United States saw Alex (pictured) seal the deal alongside a Californian sunset
With ring in hand and two failed attempts in Europe, the pair headed back to Bali. But a recent trip to the United States saw Alex seal the deal alongside a Californian sunset.
‘We were out at Joshua Tree National Park in California. We were staying at this incredible Airbnb, its a vintage 1960’s Airstream caravan that has been restored and decorated with all vintage pieces,’ Ellie said, remembering October 4 fondly.
‘Coming home from the national park we couldn’t stop talking about how in love with this place we were. When we got back Alex set up a picnic on our front deck (hummus, carrots, berries and a pot of tea) and we sat and ate, played backgammon, took some photos (as we always would), listened to vinyls and watched the sun set and the full moon rise.
‘Alex was acting a bit strange but I honestly did not expect it. I asked him “are you going to cry” because his voice was starting to tremble. Before I knew it he was down on one knee with a ring in his fingers asking me to marry him. I can’t remember the exact words he said because it all happened so fast but I do know I yelled OMG and then tackled him to the ground yelling YES YES YES,’ she continued.
‘Coming home from the national park we couldn’t stop talking about how in love with this place we were. When we got back Alex set up a picnic on our front deck (hummus, carrots, berries and a pot of tea) and we sat and ate, played backgammon, took some photos (as we always would), listened to vinyls and watched the sun set and the full moon rise,’ Ellie explained
‘But we started dating just a couple of months before I left for the army and the day I had to get on the bus to leave he said I love you for the first time. We didn’t see each other for a couple of months and our only way of contact was by writing letters and a weekly phone call. We still have the box full of love letters,’ Ellie said
The 24-year-old runs a successful Instagram account called Elsa’s Wholesome Life which shares her travels and love of plant-based food
‘Just us two, a caravan, picnic, and an incredible desert sunset.’
The couple, who have been together for seven years, met in high school and attended the same parties.
‘But we started dating just a couple of months before I left for the army and the day I had to get on the bus to leave he said I love you for the first time. We didn’t see each other for a couple of months and our only way of contact was by writing letters and a weekly phone call. We still have the box full of love letters,’ Ellie said.
The 24-year-old runs a successful Instagram account called Elsa’s Wholesome Life which shares her travels and love of plant-based food.
‘Alex comes with me on all of our travels. We packed up our home in Australia in January and moved to Bali together and travel everywhere together. He’s kind of like my sidekick that helps me with all of my photos and jobs,’ she said
In terms of planning the big day Ellie and Alex are hoping to start booking things soon, particularly as they hope to marry alongside family and friends in the Byron hinterland
‘Myself, my sister and soon to be sister-in-law have all been non-stop messaging about wedding planning. For Alex and I we will also be looking to start a family in the not too distant future and marriage is definitely a step closer to that massive moment in our lives,’ Ellie said
‘Alex comes with me on all of our travels. We packed up our home in Australia in January and moved to Bali together and travel everywhere together. He’s kind of like my sidekick that helps me with all of my photos and jobs,’ she said.
In terms of planning the big day Ellie and Alex are hoping to start booking things soon, particularly as they hope to marry alongside family and friends in the Byron hinterland.
‘Myself, my sister and soon to be sister-in-law have all been non-stop messaging about wedding planning. For Alex and I we will also be looking to start a family in the not too distant future and marriage is definitely a step closer to that massive moment in our lives,’ Ellie said.