Same-Sex Couples Can Now Get Married From Today

The time is finally here.

After a long postal vote period and an even longer campaign period for marriage equality (literal decades), same-sex couples can now officially marry in Australia from today thanks to last month's law change.  

The Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017, which was introduced to the Parliament after 62 per cent of Australians voted yes in the postal vote, passed the House of Representatives on 7 December, 2017 after getting the thumbs up from the Senate the week before. Two days later, the law officially commenced.

This meant that the first same-sex marriages would be held, at the earliest, on 9 January due to a one-month notice period that is required for weddings to be recognised by the state. 

Despite today being the official first day of marriage equality in Australia, some same-sex couples have already tied the knot after obtaining waivers to forego the one-month notice period.

SBS spoke to some of the couples who had planned their weddings at midnight to coincide with the one-month notice period.

One couple, who have been together for three decades, told SBS that despite planning the day for 30 years, they really only had one month to put it all together once marriage equality was legalised.

"It's been quite hectic trying to organise that in such a short amount of time."

Other couples had already held weddings but were holding another one now that it was legal.

They told SBS that the moment was magical.

"To be able to come back here and redo our vows and actually make it legal and finally have equality in Australia is amazing."

Well done Australia, 2018 is already a great year.

Photo: iStock.com/isitsharp