Coronavirus: Last of the Melbourne newlyweds, for now

Melbourne’s couples have been jilted by COVID-19 with many rushing to meet the midnight deadline on getting married.

‘An intimate wedding is fine’: Miguelito Abenes and Geraldine Saguinsin got married on Wednesday, while they could. Picture: Aaron Francis

Melbourne’s wedding bells have now been silenced for six weeks but love was all around on Wednesda­y as couples rushed to tie the knot the day before the ban and enjoy an extended honeymoon at home.

Geraldine Saguinsin and Miguel­ito Abenes married at 1pm at South Yarra’s Melbourne Private Marriage Registry, standing on a fluffy red rug with love songs playing over the speaker system.

In two red chairs, socially distan­t from the couple, sat the bride’s mother and uncle as witnesses. The couple’s 10-year-old son, Sean, was too young to be a witness and would have been one too many for the strict five-person­ limit at the ceremony.

“He was really excited when he found out we were going to get married,” Ms Saguinsin said. “He wasn’t upset, he understood the situation.”

The couple had planned to get married on Saturday, the eighth day of the eight month, a lucky date, but they agreed it was better to get married on Wednesday, with a small wedding and weddin­g feast home-cooked by the bride’s mother, than wait. “The most important thing is we got married,” Ms Saguinsin said. “It’s not like we need a lot of people. An intimate wedding is fine.”

When asked why they were getting married, their answers were simple. “I love her,” Mr Abenes said. “I love him,” Ms ­Saguinsin said.

Celebrant and business owner Chess Allan said it had been a mad scramble on Sunday night when the stage four lockdown was announced. Couples who had already filed their paperwork could bring their weddings forward: about 20 took up the offer.

“These people just knew that they wanted to be together and be married,” she said. “One of the biggest things for us is the memory people create for the future.”

Ms Allan said people who chose to get married during the lockdown, with limited cere­mony, would still have a beautiful experience and story to tell.

“It’s a bigger memory with less people because otherwise it’s just a party, in my opinion,” she said. “Silences are better when there are only two people getting ­married with only two witnesses. The theme is truly about the bride and groom and nothing else.”