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| 'It just felt so right': same-sex weddings – a photo essay | 'It just felt so right': same-sex weddings – a photo essay |
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| Beth and Tanya waited at the altar while their guests walked towards them down an aisle of autumn leaves. Matt arranged the wedding before Paul had said yes. Kylie’s dad gave a sermon for her and Rosalie. Govind and Adrian tied a gold knot around each other’s necks. Stephen and Dan had an instant attraction but waited 13 years for the big day. Some of Michelle and Georgia’s former pupils came too. | Beth and Tanya waited at the altar while their guests walked towards them down an aisle of autumn leaves. Matt arranged the wedding before Paul had said yes. Kylie’s dad gave a sermon for her and Rosalie. Govind and Adrian tied a gold knot around each other’s necks. Stephen and Dan had an instant attraction but waited 13 years for the big day. Some of Michelle and Georgia’s former pupils came too. |
| These wedding stories are all special and yet in their same way familiar. They all involve Australians. And yet, because Australia has yet to legalise same-sex marriage, there is one thing they don’t have in common. Either the weddings were held abroad; or they were held as ceremonies in Australia, aside from a legal marriage which took place elsewhere or not at all. | These wedding stories are all special and yet in their same way familiar. They all involve Australians. And yet, because Australia has yet to legalise same-sex marriage, there is one thing they don’t have in common. Either the weddings were held abroad; or they were held as ceremonies in Australia, aside from a legal marriage which took place elsewhere or not at all. |
| Their stories have been told with the help of a group of national wedding photographers who have come together to send a strong visual yes message for the same-sex marriage postal survey. Steering away from the detail of politics, the images put forward by the photographers show a simple story: commitment, family, love. | Their stories have been told with the help of a group of national wedding photographers who have come together to send a strong visual yes message for the same-sex marriage postal survey. Steering away from the detail of politics, the images put forward by the photographers show a simple story: commitment, family, love. |
| “Many of us have been shooting same-sex marriages, commitment ceremonies and families for many years,” said Alan Moyle, master of photography, following the AIPP Australian Professional Photography awards held in Melbourne. “We also have members in our photographic community who would love to get married too. From a general human rights perspective it’s about time that everyone was represented and able to marry who they want.” | “Many of us have been shooting same-sex marriages, commitment ceremonies and families for many years,” said Alan Moyle, master of photography, following the AIPP Australian Professional Photography awards held in Melbourne. “We also have members in our photographic community who would love to get married too. From a general human rights perspective it’s about time that everyone was represented and able to marry who they want.” |
| Photographs courtesy of Alan Moyle / Photobat | |
| Adrian van Raay and Govind Pillai | Adrian van Raay and Govind Pillai |
| Fairfield amphitheatre, Melbourne, February 2015 | Fairfield amphitheatre, Melbourne, February 2015 |
| Adrian: Govind proposed to me three years ago when we were on holiday in Paris in summertime; we were having a picnic at the Eiffel Tower. There was an orchestra and a big celebration with fireworks for Bastille Day. They were also celebrating same-sex marriage becoming legal in France. It was perfect timing. Govind proposed with antique rings he’d selected that reflected our personalities. It was an amazing surprise for me, but it was very well thought out by him – he’d even spoken to my parents first. Because marriage wasn’t legal here in Australia, Govind chose his words carefully – he couldn’t say will you marry me, he said, “Will you be my fiance?” | Adrian: Govind proposed to me three years ago when we were on holiday in Paris in summertime; we were having a picnic at the Eiffel Tower. There was an orchestra and a big celebration with fireworks for Bastille Day. They were also celebrating same-sex marriage becoming legal in France. It was perfect timing. Govind proposed with antique rings he’d selected that reflected our personalities. It was an amazing surprise for me, but it was very well thought out by him – he’d even spoken to my parents first. Because marriage wasn’t legal here in Australia, Govind chose his words carefully – he couldn’t say will you marry me, he said, “Will you be my fiance?” |
| Knowing we couldn’t legally get married we had to think in great depth about what marriage meant to us – probably more than most have to. We already had a house together and could change our names, but for us we felt that the purpose of a wedding is to make a public declaration in front of our family and friends. We could have done it in New Zealand but we knew many of our families may not be able to make it. | Knowing we couldn’t legally get married we had to think in great depth about what marriage meant to us – probably more than most have to. We already had a house together and could change our names, but for us we felt that the purpose of a wedding is to make a public declaration in front of our family and friends. We could have done it in New Zealand but we knew many of our families may not be able to make it. |
| Govind and I designed our ceremony together – being a same-sex wedding, in hindsight, we had a blank canvas. With Govind’s Indian heritage, we brought in elements of western culture such as personalised vows, the exchange of rings, as well as Hindu and southern Indian customs. We used a really beautiful tradition from Kerala where our sister-in-laws-to-be on both sides of the family and Govind and I tied a knot each in gold thread around each other’s necks – it signified becoming part of each other’s families. It was really important that our friends and family were involved in the ceremony as much as possible. Our mothers walked us down into the amphitheatre and our dads were there to greet us – they both gave very touching speeches. It was deeply moving to be surrounded by all our beautiful family and friends against such a public backdrop. Especially being a same-sex relationship, considering 10 years ago our families didn’t know about our relationship. | Govind and I designed our ceremony together – being a same-sex wedding, in hindsight, we had a blank canvas. With Govind’s Indian heritage, we brought in elements of western culture such as personalised vows, the exchange of rings, as well as Hindu and southern Indian customs. We used a really beautiful tradition from Kerala where our sister-in-laws-to-be on both sides of the family and Govind and I tied a knot each in gold thread around each other’s necks – it signified becoming part of each other’s families. It was really important that our friends and family were involved in the ceremony as much as possible. Our mothers walked us down into the amphitheatre and our dads were there to greet us – they both gave very touching speeches. It was deeply moving to be surrounded by all our beautiful family and friends against such a public backdrop. Especially being a same-sex relationship, considering 10 years ago our families didn’t know about our relationship. |
| To make our ceremony legally binding we consulted a family lawyer – to give us the same legal rights as a married couple we signed eight legal documents. The signing was so complicated and long that our friends had to repeat the song they were playing three times. It makes you realise that a marriage certificate is a convenient, off-the-shelf solution. | To make our ceremony legally binding we consulted a family lawyer – to give us the same legal rights as a married couple we signed eight legal documents. The signing was so complicated and long that our friends had to repeat the song they were playing three times. It makes you realise that a marriage certificate is a convenient, off-the-shelf solution. |
| Photographs courtesy of Chris Oaten / Jacinta Oaten | |
| Kylie Schmidt and Rosalie Dow-Schmidt | Kylie Schmidt and Rosalie Dow-Schmidt |
| Martinborough, New Zealand, January 2015 | Martinborough, New Zealand, January 2015 |
| Rosalie: We got married in a tiny town called Martinborough, which is just out of Wellington. It’s pretty easy to get married in New Zealand compared with Australia. Martinborough is famous for its wineries, which suited us well – it is very picturesque. We really wanted a church wedding and the Presbyterian church was happy for us to use their space, which was a sweet little wooden chapel. | Rosalie: We got married in a tiny town called Martinborough, which is just out of Wellington. It’s pretty easy to get married in New Zealand compared with Australia. Martinborough is famous for its wineries, which suited us well – it is very picturesque. We really wanted a church wedding and the Presbyterian church was happy for us to use their space, which was a sweet little wooden chapel. |
| We had hymns, prayers and a sermon, which was to do with our understanding of marriage within the Christian tradition. There are so many different ways to define marriage, but for us it was a kind of spiritual ritual. In the same way that I understand a baptism to be a public declaration of commitment to Jesus, with the support of the church, I understand a wedding to be a public declaration of commitment to my wife, with the support of my church and family. As a part of that we had readings from the Bible, prayers and a message that provided us and our guests with some spiritual guidance. My dad is actually a Uniting Church minister, and so he preached that day. | We had hymns, prayers and a sermon, which was to do with our understanding of marriage within the Christian tradition. There are so many different ways to define marriage, but for us it was a kind of spiritual ritual. In the same way that I understand a baptism to be a public declaration of commitment to Jesus, with the support of the church, I understand a wedding to be a public declaration of commitment to my wife, with the support of my church and family. As a part of that we had readings from the Bible, prayers and a message that provided us and our guests with some spiritual guidance. My dad is actually a Uniting Church minister, and so he preached that day. |
| We didn’t just focus on the spiritual side of things. We walked down the aisle, each flanked by our parents, to Close Your Eyes by Michael Bublé, and my sister sang a cover of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. Then as we left we played some of our favourite R&B tunes. I tried to dance and tripped over my dress and Kylie had to catch me, which was pretty symbolic of our relationship – I’m always the clumsy one! It was everything we had imagined it would be, and so much more. I’ve never been so happy in my life than I was when Kylie and I were saying our vows to each other. It just felt so right. | We didn’t just focus on the spiritual side of things. We walked down the aisle, each flanked by our parents, to Close Your Eyes by Michael Bublé, and my sister sang a cover of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. Then as we left we played some of our favourite R&B tunes. I tried to dance and tripped over my dress and Kylie had to catch me, which was pretty symbolic of our relationship – I’m always the clumsy one! It was everything we had imagined it would be, and so much more. I’ve never been so happy in my life than I was when Kylie and I were saying our vows to each other. It just felt so right. |
| I was so glad that all my family came. When I had come out several years previously, my family had had the same response many conservative Christians would, which was quite negative. So to have them there at my wedding showed a huge amount of growth, from all of us. | I was so glad that all my family came. When I had come out several years previously, my family had had the same response many conservative Christians would, which was quite negative. So to have them there at my wedding showed a huge amount of growth, from all of us. |
| One of my the memorable moments was just after the service my little sister, who was nine at the time, came running over and exclaimed, “Now I have three sisters!”, which was especially adorable. | One of my the memorable moments was just after the service my little sister, who was nine at the time, came running over and exclaimed, “Now I have three sisters!”, which was especially adorable. |
| Photographs courtesy of Benjamin Lynch / Blue Tulip Imaging | |
| Stephen Boustouler and Dan Conroy | Stephen Boustouler and Dan Conroy |
| The Fig Tree Restaurant, Byron Bay, New South Wales, March 2017 | The Fig Tree Restaurant, Byron Bay, New South Wales, March 2017 |
| Stephen: Dan and I met in London. I’m originally from the UK. Dan had only been in London a few months. It was an immediate attraction and we both knew early on that this was forever. Thirteen years on, we got married. | Stephen: Dan and I met in London. I’m originally from the UK. Dan had only been in London a few months. It was an immediate attraction and we both knew early on that this was forever. Thirteen years on, we got married. |
| Having lived in Sydney since 2008, we really wanted to get married in Australia. We’d been waiting and hoping we could get married at the end of last year but realised because of politics it wasn’t going to happen. | Having lived in Sydney since 2008, we really wanted to get married in Australia. We’d been waiting and hoping we could get married at the end of last year but realised because of politics it wasn’t going to happen. |
| Because I was from the UK, we were fortunate enough to get married in the British consulate in Sydney. It was odd though, because you’re essentially in a bureaucratic office; it was just down the road from our work. We then had a ceremony later in Byron. It was important for us to celebrate with our families and friends, especially having both lived on the other side of the world away from our families. We have been taken in by each other’s parents for holidays and Christmases, and treated like another son. It’s really nice. Both of our parents have always been super-supportive of us. | Because I was from the UK, we were fortunate enough to get married in the British consulate in Sydney. It was odd though, because you’re essentially in a bureaucratic office; it was just down the road from our work. We then had a ceremony later in Byron. It was important for us to celebrate with our families and friends, especially having both lived on the other side of the world away from our families. We have been taken in by each other’s parents for holidays and Christmases, and treated like another son. It’s really nice. Both of our parents have always been super-supportive of us. |
| My family flew out to Sydney a week before the ceremony and then we flew to Byron for four days. The venue has amazing views and a massive fig tree in the garden. It was the most spectacular day. It was all outside so we couldn’t have asked for better weather, especially as it had been raining non-stop until we got to Byron. It was perfect sunshine. | My family flew out to Sydney a week before the ceremony and then we flew to Byron for four days. The venue has amazing views and a massive fig tree in the garden. It was the most spectacular day. It was all outside so we couldn’t have asked for better weather, especially as it had been raining non-stop until we got to Byron. It was perfect sunshine. |
| The coming together of our families was by far the best thing. To be able to stand up in front of our families and declare how we felt with each other was extremely special. To look over during our vows and see tears of happiness in our mothers’ eyes and to see the smiles on everyone’s faces was just awesome. | The coming together of our families was by far the best thing. To be able to stand up in front of our families and declare how we felt with each other was extremely special. To look over during our vows and see tears of happiness in our mothers’ eyes and to see the smiles on everyone’s faces was just awesome. |
| It is wonderful being married. I was shocked at how different I feel towards Dan, not more in love, but more aware of my love for him. To feel the weight of the ring and to see it and play with it is a constant connection to that feeling. It has had a massively positive effect on me as an individual and on our relationship. I’m not really someone who has historically been affectionate or true to my feelings, but I feel like I have fundamentally changed as a person and how I interact with Dan. It’s super-special. The only problem was that the wedding went too quickly – we wish we could do it all again. | It is wonderful being married. I was shocked at how different I feel towards Dan, not more in love, but more aware of my love for him. To feel the weight of the ring and to see it and play with it is a constant connection to that feeling. It has had a massively positive effect on me as an individual and on our relationship. I’m not really someone who has historically been affectionate or true to my feelings, but I feel like I have fundamentally changed as a person and how I interact with Dan. It’s super-special. The only problem was that the wedding went too quickly – we wish we could do it all again. |
| Photographs courtesy of Benjamin Lynch / Blue Tulip Imaging | |
| Beth Cronin and Tanya Jackson | Beth Cronin and Tanya Jackson |
| Tregeagle near Lismore, NSW, May 2017 | Tregeagle near Lismore, NSW, May 2017 |
| Beth: We’ve been together for six and a half years. After three years together we knew our relationship was unshakeable and we both decided we wanted to become a family. We had our son, Xander, in 2016. | Beth: We’ve been together for six and a half years. After three years together we knew our relationship was unshakeable and we both decided we wanted to become a family. We had our son, Xander, in 2016. |
| In May this year we got married in the grounds of a small community hall near where we live in the northern rivers, Tregeagle. We stood together under a beautiful fig tree with our son and women of honour. Our guests walked to us on an aisle of autumn leaves lovingly collected and laid by our dear friends. The love between us and the love in their faces is forever etched into our hearts. | In May this year we got married in the grounds of a small community hall near where we live in the northern rivers, Tregeagle. We stood together under a beautiful fig tree with our son and women of honour. Our guests walked to us on an aisle of autumn leaves lovingly collected and laid by our dear friends. The love between us and the love in their faces is forever etched into our hearts. |
| We then said our vows to each other. It was incredible to stand in front of so many of our loved ones, pledging our love and vowing to choose each other, every day, for the rest of our lives. We then read the vows we had written for our son. Having our son as part of the celebrations and pledging our commitment to him as his mothers was truly magical. | We then said our vows to each other. It was incredible to stand in front of so many of our loved ones, pledging our love and vowing to choose each other, every day, for the rest of our lives. We then read the vows we had written for our son. Having our son as part of the celebrations and pledging our commitment to him as his mothers was truly magical. |
| Our family and friends were woven into every millimetre of our wedding. We had loved ones fly out from the UK and people travelled from all over Australia to be with us. Family arrived from across NSW with cars packed full of decorations, platters, candles, care packages and supplies. Our beautiful nieces and nephews and godchildren were our flower children and they brought so much love and magic. Our friends decorated the hall and worked so hard to help us clean up. They collected leaves for our aisle, mowed the lawns, mowed hearts in the grass, hung lights and bunting, sang songs for us … they made our day. | Our family and friends were woven into every millimetre of our wedding. We had loved ones fly out from the UK and people travelled from all over Australia to be with us. Family arrived from across NSW with cars packed full of decorations, platters, candles, care packages and supplies. Our beautiful nieces and nephews and godchildren were our flower children and they brought so much love and magic. Our friends decorated the hall and worked so hard to help us clean up. They collected leaves for our aisle, mowed the lawns, mowed hearts in the grass, hung lights and bunting, sang songs for us … they made our day. |
| There were words though in the ceremony that couldn’t legally be said such as “wedding” - which was deeply painful. Until the moment we realised our wonderful celebrant couldn’t say “wedding”, we were determined not to care that the law didn’t recognise our marriage. It didn’t hit us until that moment, that our love and our relationship and our commitment, was seen as less than. | There were words though in the ceremony that couldn’t legally be said such as “wedding” - which was deeply painful. Until the moment we realised our wonderful celebrant couldn’t say “wedding”, we were determined not to care that the law didn’t recognise our marriage. It didn’t hit us until that moment, that our love and our relationship and our commitment, was seen as less than. |
| We want our son to grow up in a country that values his family and that recognises and embraces love and equality. We want him to understand that love and family is about what’s in your heart, not your anatomy. We want him to know that just because something is more common, it doesn’t make it “normal”. We want him to know that he is accepted and that his family is accepted. | We want our son to grow up in a country that values his family and that recognises and embraces love and equality. We want him to understand that love and family is about what’s in your heart, not your anatomy. We want him to know that just because something is more common, it doesn’t make it “normal”. We want him to know that he is accepted and that his family is accepted. |
| Photographs courtesy of Leah Blissett / Bliss Photography | |
| Matt Blissett and Paul White | Matt Blissett and Paul White |
| Queenstown, New Zealand, June 2017 | Queenstown, New Zealand, June 2017 |
| Matt: When we first met we talked for ages and felt an instant connection. It wasn’t long before Paul invited me over to dinner to meet his mum and sister. He told me the day before: “Oh, by the way, they don’t know I’m gay!” So I ordered a cake for dessert and had written in icing on top “CONGRATULATIONS – HAPPY COMING OUT DAY PAUL!” Luckily he told his sister and mother that morning – all his mum and sister could do was laugh! It was a great meal with lots of talking and yummy food. | Matt: When we first met we talked for ages and felt an instant connection. It wasn’t long before Paul invited me over to dinner to meet his mum and sister. He told me the day before: “Oh, by the way, they don’t know I’m gay!” So I ordered a cake for dessert and had written in icing on top “CONGRATULATIONS – HAPPY COMING OUT DAY PAUL!” Luckily he told his sister and mother that morning – all his mum and sister could do was laugh! It was a great meal with lots of talking and yummy food. |
| Paul had mentioned that he’d always wanted to go to New Zealand. Just before Christmas I proposed to him. Thankfully he said yes, because I had already organised the wedding in New Zealand! I surprised him on Christmas Day with the tickets, accommodation and wedding plans. | Paul had mentioned that he’d always wanted to go to New Zealand. Just before Christmas I proposed to him. Thankfully he said yes, because I had already organised the wedding in New Zealand! I surprised him on Christmas Day with the tickets, accommodation and wedding plans. |
| I also chose the location because we are seen as equal partners in New Zealand, and I couldn’t think of a more gorgeous backdrop to a wedding ceremony. When I was a child I remember going to a cliff with my grandparents. They took a photo and I said, “I feel on top of the world.” I wanted that same feeling for my wedding day. | I also chose the location because we are seen as equal partners in New Zealand, and I couldn’t think of a more gorgeous backdrop to a wedding ceremony. When I was a child I remember going to a cliff with my grandparents. They took a photo and I said, “I feel on top of the world.” I wanted that same feeling for my wedding day. |
| We got married on Cecil Peak, part of the Remarkables in Queenstown. Originally it was going to be on one of the highest snow peaks but due to high winds we couldn’t get there on the day. Instead we all caught a helicopter – including the celebrant, my parents and my cousin Leah the photographer – to Cecil Peak. I was petrified: I’m not a fan of flying. We had the most amazing, loving and emotional ceremony. We both felt on top of the world, even if we were all freezing our butts off. | We got married on Cecil Peak, part of the Remarkables in Queenstown. Originally it was going to be on one of the highest snow peaks but due to high winds we couldn’t get there on the day. Instead we all caught a helicopter – including the celebrant, my parents and my cousin Leah the photographer – to Cecil Peak. I was petrified: I’m not a fan of flying. We had the most amazing, loving and emotional ceremony. We both felt on top of the world, even if we were all freezing our butts off. |
| It was really special that my parents were our witnesses on the day – they signed the marriage certificate and were our biggest support, especially when I was getting cold feet about the flying. Leah was spectacular in taking awe-inspiring photos. Our day was beautiful and truly one of a kind. I got to share my wedding day feeling on top of the world with a man who I adore, care for, love and cherish. | It was really special that my parents were our witnesses on the day – they signed the marriage certificate and were our biggest support, especially when I was getting cold feet about the flying. Leah was spectacular in taking awe-inspiring photos. Our day was beautiful and truly one of a kind. I got to share my wedding day feeling on top of the world with a man who I adore, care for, love and cherish. |
| Back in Australia, we held a reception back in Tuggerah, NSW, for all our family and friends. We had a little ceremony which brought a flood of loving emotions to everyone in the room. I can guarantee that everyone that was there will now be voting yes (even if they were undecided or potential no voters), after seeing how much we care and love each other. | Back in Australia, we held a reception back in Tuggerah, NSW, for all our family and friends. We had a little ceremony which brought a flood of loving emotions to everyone in the room. I can guarantee that everyone that was there will now be voting yes (even if they were undecided or potential no voters), after seeing how much we care and love each other. |
| I do want to have my relationship and marriage taken seriously in the country in which Paul and I were born. My main concern is that Paul has epilepsy. If Paul or I were to fall seriously ill or, heaven forbid pass away, our next of kin is our parents – as husbands we don’t have any say. This is our home, this is our lifestyle – we need this choice and recognition in our own backyard. | I do want to have my relationship and marriage taken seriously in the country in which Paul and I were born. My main concern is that Paul has epilepsy. If Paul or I were to fall seriously ill or, heaven forbid pass away, our next of kin is our parents – as husbands we don’t have any say. This is our home, this is our lifestyle – we need this choice and recognition in our own backyard. |
| Photographs courtesy of Anthea Kirkman / The Love Story Photography | |
| Michelle Poilly and Georgia Mills | Michelle Poilly and Georgia Mills |
| Bunker Bay, Margaret River, Western Australia, November 2016 | Bunker Bay, Margaret River, Western Australia, November 2016 |
| Michelle: Georgia and I had a commitment ceremony with close family and friends at the Pullman resort. It was a casual, very much romantic day about love, relaxation and celebrating our commitment to one another in front of our family and friends. The perfect day. | Michelle: Georgia and I had a commitment ceremony with close family and friends at the Pullman resort. It was a casual, very much romantic day about love, relaxation and celebrating our commitment to one another in front of our family and friends. The perfect day. |
| Our celebrant was very much pro our cause and worked closely with us to create a personal ceremony that supported our commitment. She wished she could have legally married us. Many of our guests said that it was the most romantic and real ceremony they’d been to and encapsulated our love and future. | Our celebrant was very much pro our cause and worked closely with us to create a personal ceremony that supported our commitment. She wished she could have legally married us. Many of our guests said that it was the most romantic and real ceremony they’d been to and encapsulated our love and future. |
| I loved seeing Georgia come towards me at the ceremony. Her smile, her eagerness and her aura. She looked so beautiful. It was so special that all our family and friends that joined us knew our situation and, despite our wedding not being officially recognised, they all travelled, stayed and celebrated our commitment irrespective of Australian law. | I loved seeing Georgia come towards me at the ceremony. Her smile, her eagerness and her aura. She looked so beautiful. It was so special that all our family and friends that joined us knew our situation and, despite our wedding not being officially recognised, they all travelled, stayed and celebrated our commitment irrespective of Australian law. |
| The day in itself was just so beautiful. Our students from our previous school that Georgia and I both worked at attended our day as well. It was a great way to see that there is so much hope for our youth. The joy, love and fun that they and their parents shared with us was a memory we will always cherish. | The day in itself was just so beautiful. Our students from our previous school that Georgia and I both worked at attended our day as well. It was a great way to see that there is so much hope for our youth. The joy, love and fun that they and their parents shared with us was a memory we will always cherish. |
| At end of the day all our guests had a sundowner at the beach. We set off beautiful lanterns and sparklers, and swam at the beach with a breathtaking sunset, a perfect ending to our celebration with our loved ones. | At end of the day all our guests had a sundowner at the beach. We set off beautiful lanterns and sparklers, and swam at the beach with a breathtaking sunset, a perfect ending to our celebration with our loved ones. |
| Georgia is both a British and Australian citizen, so Georgia and I legally married at the British consulate in the following January. It was a smaller affair. However we said our vows again and this time we have a marriage certificate that looks just like Georgia’s parents’. We were lucky to have this opportunity, however I feel for those who are unable to hear the words, “I now pronounce you wife and wife.” I did not realise how much I needed to hear those words until I did and the wave of emotion that flooded my heart and soul was unforgettable. | Georgia is both a British and Australian citizen, so Georgia and I legally married at the British consulate in the following January. It was a smaller affair. However we said our vows again and this time we have a marriage certificate that looks just like Georgia’s parents’. We were lucky to have this opportunity, however I feel for those who are unable to hear the words, “I now pronounce you wife and wife.” I did not realise how much I needed to hear those words until I did and the wave of emotion that flooded my heart and soul was unforgettable. |
| It took me a long time to come out and feel accepted. I could only imagine all of the other people out there from our youngest of society to the eldest who feel that they are not accepted as the love they may experience is not recognised legally. I teach children to accept and love who they are they way they are and our government does not – yet. | It took me a long time to come out and feel accepted. I could only imagine all of the other people out there from our youngest of society to the eldest who feel that they are not accepted as the love they may experience is not recognised legally. I teach children to accept and love who they are they way they are and our government does not – yet. |
| I’ve never known a peace like the one I have found now with Georgia. My heart and soul is at peace. I wish that for everyone. | I’ve never known a peace like the one I have found now with Georgia. My heart and soul is at peace. I wish that for everyone. |
| Photography by: Alan Moyle (Adrian and Govind’s wedding); Chris Oaten (Rosalie and Kylie); Benjamin Lynch (Dan and Stephen, and Beth and Tanya); Leah Blissett (Matt and Paul); Anthea Kirkman (Michelle and Georgia). | Photography by: Alan Moyle (Adrian and Govind’s wedding); Chris Oaten (Rosalie and Kylie); Benjamin Lynch (Dan and Stephen, and Beth and Tanya); Leah Blissett (Matt and Paul); Anthea Kirkman (Michelle and Georgia). |