A same-sex couple’s beautiful nuptials have won a coveted ‘Wedding of the Year’ prize in Australia.
The country passed legislation allowing same-sex marriage in 2017. This is the first time a same-sex couple has won the coveted competition, which is run by wedding planners Easy Weddings.
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Daniel and Michael Montgomery-Morgan met in 2011 after being introduced by their mutual hairdresser. They’re based in Melbourne and married April 5, 2019, at Metropolis Events in the Southbank district.
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They were married by Real Housewives of Melbourne star (and recent celebrant) Gina Liano. For their wedding dance, they invited all their friends and family to join them on the dancefloor and filled the room with confetti and pyrotechnics.
The couple beat 11 other finalists in the public vote-off. They have now won themselves a second honeymoon, this time to the Maldives.
“It feels pretty amazing to be the first same-sex couple to take the crown for a wedding of the year prize,” Daniel send in a press statement.
“No other same-sex marriage globally has been recognized for this type of award and we think it’s such a brilliant way to break down misconceptions and stereotypes around what a traditional wedding should look like.”
The Daily Mail reports the wedding cost around AUS$120,000 (around $79,000).
“Both Daniel and I work really hard and save really hard,” said Michael. “We’ve wanted this for a long time and did it all on our own.”
The men had a mix-gendered wedding party and invited both sets of parents to walk them down the aisle.
The couple say they’re now planning on taking their prize vacation in April, to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.
Daniel says he and Michael had the day of their dreams, and at its core was a celebration of their love and marriage itself.
Related: New study finds same-sex marriages are happier than their straight counterparts
“Marriage means ‘forever’. It is the ultimate commitment and gesture you can give to another person. A commitment of partnership, a team, and a promise to love, support and experience life with your ‘other’ person, every day – for the rest of your life.
“There is something pretty amazing about how that feels.”
He continued, “We were hesitant to share our story initially, but we have been so overwhelmed with the public support. It has been amazing.
“We’ve received so many amazing messages of support. From ‘to be couples’, parents of gay children and people who might have been on the fence about same-sex marriage.
“It’s truly been an amazing journey, and we feel we have made a real difference by sharing our story.”
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Judespeak
We indeed live in an amazing new world, where I can trash-talk Instagram-weddings of all orientations!!
Joshooeerr
If you’re married by a Real Housewives star, then you may qualify for tackiest wedding of the year, but that’s about all.
CityguyUSA
That kiss could be a little more provocative or intense and that gets an award?