Sydney’s marriage registry office opened its doors Saturday to a massive line of same sex couples eager to register their intention to marry as soon as possible.
At the head of the line was Daniel Gray-Barnett and Daniel Barnett, who unintentionally became the state’s very first couple to sign above the dotted line.
The 36 and 39-year-old celebrated with a pint after making the life-long commitment at Chippendale’s NSW Births Deaths and Marriages office, in the city’s inner-west, at 9.10am.
Daniel Gray-Barnett and Daniel Barnett (pictured) were the first Sydney couple to sign their intentions to be married on Saturday
The 36 and 39-year-old were unofficially married three years ago, and were elated – and shocked – to be the first to sign above the dotted line
Saturday, December 9, was the first day Australians could give their compulsory one-month intention to get married after the same sex marriage bill was officially passed on Thursday.
Registry employee Ben Flinn said extra staff had been rostered on to cope with the high volume of couples expected to register, ABC news reports.
‘With the changes to the Commonwealth Marriage Act we anticipated there would be an increase in people wanting to lodge their notice of intent to marry and get married at the registry so we have opened today with that likelihood of a spike in demand,’ Mr Flinn said.
The couple, who got engaged four years ago and held an ‘unofficial’ marriage ceremony three years ago, were elated to finally be making their unity official.
The 36 and 39-year-old celebrated with a pint after making the life-long commitment at Chippendale’s NSW Births Deaths and Marriages office
Saturday, December 9, was the first day Australians could give their compulsory one-month intention to get married
Extra staff had been rostered on to cope with the high volume of couples expected to register
‘We met in Sydney. We pretty much… love at first sight and we have literally been together ever since,’ Mr Barnett said.
‘We just thought we’d get it done straight away.’
In all the excitement, the pair forgot to snap a selfie while at the office on Saturday, but indulged in an early-morning celebratory pint afterwards.
‘I know it’s early but we need a drink,’ Mr Gray-Bartlett announced in an Instagram post of the couple ‘cheers-ing’ their beverages.
The couple, who got engaged four years ago were elated to finally be making their unity official
Mr Barnett said it was ‘love at first sight’ when they first met in Sydney, with them getting engaged for their ‘unofficial’ wedding four years ago
‘Today we had the first appointment on the first day of reforms! We didn’t plan to be but are very happy to be the first gays in Sydney to lodge our notice of intent to marry this morning.’
‘Also we’ll be on the news and in the papers and my husband is totally going to murder me. REALLY SORRY BABE.’
The comment box quickly flooded with excited followers who rushed to congratulate the couple and offer their well wishes.
The Melbourne registry office was a stark contrast to scenes in Sydney, with absolutely no same sex couples spotted lining up at all.
In all the excitement, the pair forgot to snap a selfie while at the office on Saturday, but indulged in an early-morning celebratory pint afterwards
‘We didn’t plan to be but are very happy to be the first gays in Sydney to lodge our notice of intent to marry this morning,’ Mr Gray-Barnett wrote in an Instagram post
Followers rushed to congratulate the couple on the exciting news and offer their well wishes
The Melbourne registry office was a stark contrast to scenes in Sydney, with absolutely no same sex couples spotted lining up at all