It’s a nice day for a ... gay wedding: Manly couple Dan Waknin and James Hanley ‘elope’ to Circular Quay to marry
A GAY couple from Manly have found a loophole which has allowed them to get married in Australia so they ‘eloped’ to Circular Quay to tie the knot.
A GAY couple from Manly have “eloped” to the British consulate at Circular Quay to get married.
Dan Waknin, 35, and James Hanley, 23, who has dual citizenship, were able to tie the knot at the consulate under British marriage equality legislation.
But their union will not be recognised in Australia because gay marriage is not legal.
The pair, who met at a pub in Manly, said while they were not the type of people to shout about gay politics, they said they wished their relationship could be deemed legal here.
“The reality is we are happy and we want to be a family,” said Mr Waknin, who was born in Brazil and became an Australian citizen in 2014.
Mr Hanley, also known to friends and family as Freckles, was born in Manly to an English father and Scottish mother.
“We are lucky that James has a British passport.
“We want other people to have the same right as us to marry the loves of their lives.”
Mr Hanley, who works in a bank at Warringah Mall, said gay marriage was such a “non-issue”.
“It’s 2016. I can’t believe it’s still so hotly debated in politics. We just need to legalise gay marriage and move on to bigger issues, he said,” he said.
The pair, who paid around $600 for the ceremony at the consulate, are family-orientated and wanted to get married in Australia so family and friends could enjoy it with them.
They also believe they are the first to celebrate their gay nuptials in Manly after touring numerous wedding venues in the area only to be told by all of them that their venue had never never hosted a gay wedding party.
The couple eventually chose Shelly Boathouse for their reception and the Quarantine Station for their photos and wedding night.
Mr Waknin, a director of an e-commerce partnership scheme, said he met Mr Hanley at The Steyne Hotel in Manly.
“Who would have thought two gay men would meet at The Steyne?” he said.
“We feel we are very lucky and privileged to have found each other.”
Eventually the couple would like to adopt children, but fear because the process it so difficult in Australia, even for straight couples, they may have to move abroad to fulfil their dream.
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