"A Melbourne judge has annulled a marriage after a woman unknowingly participated in a genuine wedding set up as a social media stunt by her partner, a social media influencer."
"Social Media Prank Turns into Real Marriage: Judge Grants Annulment"
"Social Media Prank Turns into Real Marriage: Judge Grants Annulment"
"An Australian woman discovers her supposed fake wedding was legitimate, leading to a court ruling favoring her annulment."
A woman in Australia found herself in a shocking predicament when she discovered that what she thought was a prank wedding for her partner’s social media account turned out to be a legitimate marriage. The incident, which garnered attention in the media, saw a Melbourne judge ruling in favor of annulling the marriage after the woman’s deception was established.
The saga began in September 2023 when the woman met her partner on an online dating site. Three months later, he proposed, and just two days later, they traveled to Sydney for what she was led to believe would be a themed “white party” event. The only people present at the event were her partner, a photographer, a friend of the photographer, and a celebrant.
According to the woman's testimony in court, upon arrival, she was greeted with the stunning realization that there were no guests. When she confronted her partner, he claimed the event was a prank designed for his Instagram feed, aimed at boosting his presence on the platform. He assured her that the marriage wouldn't be legally binding as no formalities had been arranged.
Despite her initial discomfort, she was reassured by a friend's laughter, who suggested that it wouldn’t be legitimate without a prior notice of intended marriage—a notion that ultimately led her to go through the motions of the ceremony, including exchanging vows and sharing a kiss in front of a camera.
Two months later, the woman was taken aback when her partner requested that she include him as a dependent on her application for permanent residency in Australia. When she reminded him that they weren't technically married, he confessed that their Sydney ceremony was indeed legitimate, which was a stunning revelation to her.
Upon further investigation, the bride found their marriage certificate and a notice of intended marriage completed before their engagement, bearing a signature that did not closely resemble hers. This revelation formed the basis for her claim that she had been misled into participating in the marriage.
During the court proceedings, her partner contended that they both agreed to the arrangement, but the judge decided that the woman had been misled about the nature of the ceremony and had not given her genuine consent. He referred to the incident as “a prank,” and this ultimately led to the marriage being annulled in October 2024, underscoring the importance of consent and transparency in relationships.
