Twelve months after same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia, Warrnambool celebrant Emmalee Bell said marriage has become ‘more desirable’.
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Since the country voted to open the doors of matrimony to include gay couples on December 7, 2017, Ms Bell has seen a returned fondness for nuptials themselves, defying expectations.
“The flood of gay weddings many predicted, never happened,” Ms Bell said.
“While official statistics are yet to be released, it has been predicted that same sex unions will only account for around five per cent of Australian marriages in 2018.
“What did increase for me was the number of elopements between long-term heterosexual couples.
“Several of my clients mentioned that the marriage equality debate influenced their decision to marry and I can see why.
“The way the LGBTQI+ community fought so hard for the right to marry was incredibly inspiring.
“Their impassioned pleas for equality placed greater value on the institution of marriage and made it something more desirable for everyone, young and old, gay and straight.”
Ms Bell has been a commonwealth registered celebrant for over ten years, officiating 333 ceremonies.
“It was one year ago that I got to say the words, “marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people” for the very first time,” she said.
“As a marriage celebrant and strong supporter of marriage equality, it was an emotional moment of victory.
“It signalled the end of having to watch my friends bear the pain of being denied the right to marry, simply because they happened to love someone of the same gender.
“I also feel that the achievement of marriage equality has made all couples more carefully examine marriage traditions and do away with the ones that don’t suit their modern lives.
“An increasing number of my clients are choosing to share a ‘first look’ photo shoot before their ceremony, skip the Giving Away or express their own style in non-traditional wedding outfits.
Ms Bell conducted four same-sex marriages in 2018, including one of the first couples in South West Victoria.
“Their weddings were all very unique, but what they had in common was an outpouring of emotion from all of the guests, not just the immediate family. While there was a lot more tears, there was also a lot more clapping and laughter too.
“For the first time in my 10-year celebrant career, the legal words I am required to say, attracted cheers from the guests.”
At the first anniversary of marriage equality Ms Bell said it was important to acknowledge that there was still a lot of hurt and anger in relation to the postal survey and the scrutiny it placed on the lives and families of the LGBTQI+ community.
“As we enter the second year of marriage equality, it is my hope that we can help heal the hurt with greater inclusivity and acceptance,” she said.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get to the point where there is no such thing as same sex marriage, just marriage, the same for everyone.”
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