Not all smooth sailing
City’s first same-sex wedding hits snag
WHAT is believed to be Geelong’s first same-sex marriage went off yesterday ... but not without a hitch.
Ellex, nee Crosling, and Amy Robinson were forced to make an 11th hour venue change when their planned Steampacket Gardens ceremony clashed with the setting up of the Festival of Sails.
However, determined to see their wedding through, the couple decided — on their wedding eve — to move the ceremony to Newtown’s Leach-Wood Gardens.
The Robinsons said the lastminute venue change came as a surprise as they had made inquiries to the City of Greater Geelong about using Steampacket Gardens last year.
City Hall director of investment and attraction Brett Lux- ford said, while couples could choose to have a wedding along the waterfront, they were not allowed to block off public spaces or reserve areas.
“We failed to respond within our usual time frame due to the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” he said.
“We apologised to the couple when they contacted us yesterday (Wednesday), and our waterfront team worked with them to offer alternative locations for their ceremony.”
Ellex proposed to Amy two years ago on January 25, but they never expected their marriage to be legally recognised.
They had planned a commitment ceremony but decided to move the date when marriage equality was legalised on December 8. Yesterday’s small ceremony, attended by family and friends, was local civil celebrant Jennifer Pitcher’s first same-sex wedding.