Australia Just Had Its First Same-Sex Weddings And We’re Happy-Crying
The first of many!
History was made this weekend as Australia celebrated its first legal same-sex weddings, with two couples officially tying the knot on Saturday afternoon.
Yesterday, Sydney couple Lauren Price and Amy Laker were married in Camden at 2pm, with Melbourne couple Amy and Elise McDonald’s ceremony following shortly after at 4pm in the Carlton Gardens.
With couples required to give a month’s notice before marrying, the first same-sex weddings weren’t expected to occur until January 9. But in this instance, both couples were granted exemptions from the one-month waiting period, due to overseas family being in the country specially for the ceremonies.
Congratulations to Australia’s first same-sex marriage Lauren Price & Amy Laker! We shaped a beautiful & loving nation – now we celebrate ? pic.twitter.com/wjZIHCNkSB
— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) December 16, 2017
Price and Laker were originally scheduled for a commitment ceremony at the British consulate, as Price is a UK citizen. But the couple applied for the waiver after marriage equality was passed.
Amy and Elise McDonald, meanwhile, only received permission to marry at 11am on the Friday, and surprised their guests with an official celebrant, instead of a relative who was going to perform a commitment ceremony.
Equal Marriage Australia spokesperson Ben Cooper told The Sydney Morning Herald that the weddings marked the dawn of a new age of equality in Australia.
“Today is the first of many same-sex weddings in Australia,” he said. “It’s a remarkable day not only for the LGBTI community but for our whole nation.”
In other news, the first nationally recognised same-sex marriages occurred on Australian soil today, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne.
And low and behold, the sky hasn't fallen! #auspol #marriageequality ????❤️?️?
— Stephen (@TheAviator1992) December 16, 2017
Meanwhile, another Melbourne couple will be married on Monday, after the office of Births Deaths and Marriage gave them permission to fast-track their wedding. Cas Willow and Heather Richards are racing against the clock, due to Willow’s breast cancer diagnosis, which has spread to her brain.
“I don’t even know if I’ll make it to Christmas, let alone January 9, so they allowed us to get married early,” Willow told AAP.
The couple got engaged after marriage equality was legalised, having decided against a commitment ceremony.
“It means our relationship won’t just be tolerated, it will be accepted,” Richards said.