Queensland’s first same-sex marriages are celebrated

A BRISBANE couple has tied the knot in front of family and friends at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the first day same-sex marriage legislation came into effect.

A BRISBANE couple has tied the knot in front of family and friends at the stroke of midnight on the first day same-sex marriage legislation comes into effect.

Jak Vaessen and Terry O’Hanlon have been together for seven years and at 12.01am on Tuesday they were able to have their relationship officially recognised under Australian law.

More than 130 family and friends from across Queensland and interstate crammed onto the balcony of the couple’s east Brisbane apartment for the ceremony.

At midnight the grooms walked down a red carpet aisle through their living room and at 8am they will attend the office of births, deaths and marriages to register their union legally.

“For me to be able to say Terry is my husband is so special ... that it is not an embarrassment, it’s just a normal part of Australian life now,” said Mr Vaessen.

“We were just going to keep it small, I mean, it’s in our house, but so many people wanted to be involved which has been so amazing,” he said.

Jak Vaessen and Terry O’Hanlon have been together for seven years and at 12.01am on January 9 they were able to have their relationship officially recognised under Australian law.

The couple previously married in a ceremony in Greece in July 2015 but their union could not be recognised in Australia at the time.

“I’m also looking forward to just being able to introduce Jack as my husband,” said Mr O’Hanlon. “And not have people think that (our wedding in Greece) was ‘not really a marriage’.”

Celebrant Gwen Inglis, who conducted the couples’ ceremony, said she has known Mr Vaessen for almost 27 years.

“When the yes vote happened I said to him, ‘do you want to be the first?’ and Jack said ‘yes’ so I said we’d better make it at midnight then.”

Mr Vaessen said he “couldn’t think of anyone else” he’d want to conduct the ceremony than Ms Inglis, who was awarded Queensland celebrant of the year in 2017.

Bridesmaids Amanda Dillon and Angela Dellaforesta said it was “very in character” for the grooms to want to get married as soon as possible.

“I’m so happy to see them go down the aisle, I don’t think it’s possible to put into words how much I know this means to them,” Ms Dillon said.

“Just knowing their marriage is now legal is so special,” Ms Dellaforesta said.

Several Australian same sex couples have married in recent weeks due to receiving an exemption for the one month waiting period required for a marriage license in Australia but January 9 is the first day couples can legally marry without an exemption.

TRUE LOVE JUST COULDN’T WAIT

LUKE Sullivan and Craig Burns are sleeping in this morning after helping to create Australian history in the middle of the night.

The couple married at a minute past midnight in one of the nation’s first same-sex weddings.

Today is the first day same-sex marriage couples can be legally married in Australia after legislation was passed on December 8 last year.

Luke Sullivan and Craig Burns' wedding. Photo: James Dean Photography

It followed a plebiscite in which 61.6 per cent of respondents voted “yes” to same-sex marriage.

Mr Sullivan and Mr Burns are one of dozens of couples tying the knot today after filing a notice-of-intent to marry straight after it was legalised, which included a one-month waiting period.

Mr Sullivan said they had barely slept in the lead up to the wedding as they were so excited.

“I haven’t had that feeling since Christmas as a kid,” he said.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by support, even from strangers as well, messaging us on Instagram and saying ‘congratulations’.”

The pair wed at Summergrove Estate, just west of Tweed Heads, among 55 close friends and family.

Their wedding included a garden party for their guests at eight o’clock last night, followed by their ceremony at midnight complete with fireworks.

Luke Sullivan and Craig Burns' wedding. Photo: James Dean Photography

Mr Sullivan said while they were not going on a honeymoon, they would be renting a property where friends and family could join them in a pool party.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” he said, adding the pair would be back to work by Thursday.

“I think it’s just securing our bond and relationship, and celebrating our next adventure.”

Gold Coast wedding venues and celebrants are already reaping the rewards of the move to legalise same-sex marriage.

Local celebrant Sue Raward said she had met with three same-sex couples, including one transgender couple looking to get married.

“It has definitely increased my inquiry rates,” she said, adding the early-bird couples were trending towards more intimate ceremonies.

“They’re not looking at thousands of people, they’re finally allowed to get married so they’re looking at smaller ceremonies.”

Sarah-May Alexander, the wedding celebrant of Mr Sullivan and Mr Burns, said she had a few weddings booked.

Beautiful Weddings co-owner Justine Douglas said she had recorded a spike in wedding bookings with the passing of the legislation.

“We’ve got a couple of May and June weddings,” she said.

Eco Fellini Studio events co-ordinator Rehana Adcock said she had had a number of inquiries with at least one gay couple booked in for a July wedding. She said females traditionally made inquiries for weddings, but in the past few months she had received calls from more men.

Luke Sullivan and Craig Burns' wedding. Photo: James Dean Photography