In what is one of the shortest marriages in Married at First Sight Australia’s history, Katie Johnstone and Tim Gromie have called time on their short-lived relationship.
In their first and only Commitment Ceremony together, Katie was clear in her desire that she wanted her groom to be held accountable for his disrespectful behaviour, and poor treatment of her.
“I assumed that I would have somebody in this process who would at least try. Instead, it’s clear that he didn’t get what he ordered,” a heartbroken Katie shared with the experts.
“Instead of focusing on what I do have, you focused on what I don’t have,” she then told Tim.
“I know that I am strong independent and worthy of love. I believe my person is out there,” she added.
It comes as no surprise that both Tim and Katie opted to leave the experiment after Katie moved into the apartment that she was meant to share with Tim after their disastrous honeymoon.
Tim leaves Katie after the first dinner party
That development followed a disastrous dinner party where Tim insisted he was putting more effort into the relationship and was accused by fellow bride Jamie of gaslighting before storming out.
“…I’m gonna stay powerful, I’m gonna stay strong, I’m gonna stay compassionate and empathetic,” Katie shared shortly after, revealing that she still wanted to work on their relationship.
Those hopes however were short-lived when a producer provided her with an update on Tim’s absence.
“So… Tim has told us he’s not moving into the apartments. And he has decided to return home to Melbourne,” the producer explained, adding that Tim needed “some space to collect his thoughts”.
Despite this, the successful CEO was still determined to participate in week one to learn more about Tim and do the task where couples watch videos from the selection process.
While it was meant to be a time for the couples to get closer and form deeper connections, this was not the case for Katie. Starting with wanting to share a home, dog, and kids with a partner, Tim explained he wanted someone with a “pretty face” and a “natural person”.
“…I’m not a Brad Pitt, so I’m not expecting Miranda Kerr,” he said.
He was then asked about what he would do if he did not feel a spark with his match and if he would stick around to work through it.
“I’m willing to give it a go, cause yeah, it’s gonna be such a pressure cooker that first time,” he said, which left Katie in disbelief.
Following the news, she invited brides Jamie and Ashleigh over for a debrief, with her friends saying she deserved better.
The lack of a spark on Tim’s end was an ongoing obstacle for the couple since they said I do.
“There’s no spark”
Despite his self-described “nice-guy” persona, Tim was quick to make Katie feel uncomfortable on their wedding day, leaving the bride in a state of distress.
Undeterred however, on the first morning of their honeymoon at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Katie revealed that despite her new husband feeling “no spark”, she hoped they could have fun on their honeymoon.
“Going on a honeymoon with someone who is not [attracted to you] is a bit weird. But even though there was no spark in the beginning for Tim I don’t want to give up.”
The next day, however, Katie was left in hysterics after Tim continued to make no effort to get to know her, telling her that he wished he was paired with a “petite, short, girl” that’s blonde or brunette, and “funny.”
“It’s an attraction for the person she is, rather than the overall package,” the groom shared with producers when quizzed about his attraction to Katie, denying “it’s not a looks thing.”
While Katie believes “attraction can grow when you get to know someone” and was willing to “look beyond the physical,” it was clear to her that Tim couldn’t and wouldn’t.
“Why are we even here? I don’t feel like you’ve had a go since you saw me. It’s like knocking on a closed door, you feel like an idiot after a while,” a devastated Katie pleaded to Tim before stepping outside to cry.
“It’s just so unfair. It’s so obvious that he’s not into me because of my physical looks. There’s no lust, there’s no spark, I can put it all together, I’m not an idiot. Why come here if you’re not going to try and be open?” she sobbed.
“After so many years what else is there? It’s rejection after rejection after rejection. The common denominator is me, I’ve tried everything else and now this isn’t working either.”
While initially anxious at the thought of marrying a stranger at first sight, Katie was elated when she saw Tim standing at the altar, her parents commenting on his kind and genuine nature.
With nearly identical vows, it was clear that Katie was thrilled at who the experts had paired her with. But while she was clearly smitten, her groom wasn’t – going as far as to wipe their first kiss as husband and wife away.
Speaking candidly in an on-camera confessional, Tim revealed the depths of his disappointment, deflated that he didn’t get matched with a “short, blonde, petite woman.”
“I am hoping a spark will grow with Katie, but I just can’t see that happening at this moment,” he shared.
Unfortunately for Katie, despite her best efforts to get to know her new husband, he spent much of the reception avoiding her, leaving Katie humiliated in front of her loved ones, and leaving the unlucky-in-love bride questioning whether Tim really was the right man for her.
Despite laying out her concerns for Tim and encouraging him to be honest about his feelings, Tim kept his concerns over their lack of “spark” to himself, giving Katie a boost as she was relieved to hear that her husband did not “find her hideous” as she originally suspected.
“It’s easy for me to be all la-di-da and wishful thinking, but you’ve recoiled a few times,” Katie shared with Tim, wearing her heart on her sleeve.
“For me, rejection is a big trigger. So every little thing I read into, potentially wrong,” she added.
However, by the time their reception ended, Tim had a change of tune, revealing finally that he felt no chemistry with the Queenslander, leaving Katie devastated and unsure whether or not she should join Tim on their honeymoon.
“It’s off to a pretty crappy start. I guess I was just blissfully unaware that you didn’t feel a spark. To not know what is going on on your side is just embarrassing,” Katie shares sadly when chatting with her husband the following morning.
Breaking down in tears, Katie, 37, confessed that Tim’s reaction to their first kiss was her “worst nightmare”.
“Last night for me was horrible,” Katie told producers the day after their nuptials.
“He knocked on my door and wanted to chat. We sat down and he said, ‘There’s no spark; I wasn’t feeling a spark all day.”
“To be rejected, that’s my worst nightmare. I don’t know what I’ve done.”
Read our exclusive interview with Katie about her marriage to Tim here.
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