As the clock struck 12 a.m. on Tuesday, wedding bells rang all over Australia as many same-sex couples exercised their long-awaited right to marry.
Though the country legalized same-sex marriage in December, a law that requires all couples to file a “Notice of Intended Marriage” at least one month before the wedding itself meant that same-sex couples would not actually be able to marry until this Tuesday.
A handful of exceptions were granted for couples with extenuating circumstances to marry last month, the Guardian reported, but most couples have had to wait until after Jan. 9.
And many of those couples decided not to wait a second more.
Across Australia, couples celebrated their love in wedding ceremonies just after midnight, according to the BBC.
Read more: Australia Just Legalized Gay Marriage and People Can't Stop Celebrating
"Equality where we can get married is a huge step forward for Australia," Luke Sullivan, who married Craig Burns at midnight in New South Wales, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
After 22 unsuccessful attempts to legalize gay marriage, Australia has finally become one of 26 countries — including the UK, Germany, and Malta — where same-sex marriage is allowed.
And people couldn’t be happier.
Today is the day! Same sex weddings commence in Australia! Happy wedding day to all the LGBTQ couples who have waited so long and fought so hard. Wishing you all a lifetime of happiness. 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
— Harry Cook (@HarryCook) January 8, 2018
🌈🇦🇺 These same-sex wedding pics from Australia makes us want to blast @kylieminogue's "All The Lovers" from the rooftops!
— Logo 🏳️🌈 (@LogoTV) January 9, 2018
So beautiful seeing the happiness and love on the news from the first legal same sex wedding ceremonies going on in Australia!
— LAURA❄️ (@laurabxo) January 9, 2018
If one man can’t love another man, or a woman love another woman in the eyes of the law, how do thy expect us to love each other?
Love is love!🏳️🌈
Happy wedding day to all the Brides & Brides and Grooms & Grooms in Australia, today and forever on.
— Lucy Cochran (@lucycochran) January 8, 2018
We are so thrilled Teegan and Mahatia are officially recognised in Australia as a legally married couple! After their first wedding at Baxter Barn the couple officially became married last night at midnight making them one of the first couples in Australia to be legally marri pic.twitter.com/CgfZV8e9MU
— Baxter Barn (@BaxterBarnAU) January 9, 2018
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