An Australian woman discovered her wedding was real after her partner sought residency using their marriage, prompting legal action.
**Bride's Shock After Real Wedding Disguised as Social Media Prank Annulled in Court**
**Bride's Shock After Real Wedding Disguised as Social Media Prank Annulled in Court**
A Melbourne judge annulled a marriage where the bride was unaware the ceremony was genuine, mistakenly believing it was a social media stunt.
In a peculiar case highlighting the intersection of social media and legal rights, a woman in Australia was left infuriated after she learned that her wedding, which she believed was a prank for her partner’s Instagram account, was a legitimate marriage. The judge ultimately ruled in her favor, annulling the marriage on the grounds that she had been misled.
This unusual situation began in September 2023 when the woman, having met her partner through an online dating platform, grew fond of him and accepted his December proposal. Just two days later, they attended an event in Sydney that the man labeled a "white party," which required her to dress in white. However, upon arrival, she found the venue empty, except for her partner, a photographer, and an officiant, leaving her confused and frustrated.
In an unexpected twist, the groom revealed that the event was intended as a lighthearted social media wedding stunt aimed at boosting his Instagram presence, where he had around 17,000 followers. Initially, she trusted his explanation, especially as her friend assured her that there was nothing to worry about since they hadn’t submitted a notice of intended marriage.
As the ceremony unfolded, the woman went along with it, believing it was a staged video intended for entertainment. They exchanged vows, and she willingly participated, accepting the scenario as a genuine act in the name of social media content. However, her perception rapidly changed two months later when her partner requested to be added as a dependent on her residency application.
In a shocking revelation, he informed her that their ceremony had indeed been legitimate. Upon further investigation, she found a marriage certificate and a notice of intended marriage that he had filed without her consent, featuring a signature that did not closely resemble hers.
Angered by the deception, she expressed her frustration in court about the serious implications of the misinformation she had been subjected to, emphasizing the betrayal from someone she considered a partner. During proceedings, the man contended that both parties had mutually agreed to the terms of their union, but the judge found merit in the bride’s claims.
In his ruling, the judge cited that although the ceremony was performed, the bride had been mistaken in understanding its legal significance. The court concluded that she did not give genuine consent to the marriage, which led to its annulment in October 2024. This incident underlines the growing complexities arising from social media and the legal obligations that can unexpectedly emerge from seemingly harmless online content.
This unusual situation began in September 2023 when the woman, having met her partner through an online dating platform, grew fond of him and accepted his December proposal. Just two days later, they attended an event in Sydney that the man labeled a "white party," which required her to dress in white. However, upon arrival, she found the venue empty, except for her partner, a photographer, and an officiant, leaving her confused and frustrated.
In an unexpected twist, the groom revealed that the event was intended as a lighthearted social media wedding stunt aimed at boosting his Instagram presence, where he had around 17,000 followers. Initially, she trusted his explanation, especially as her friend assured her that there was nothing to worry about since they hadn’t submitted a notice of intended marriage.
As the ceremony unfolded, the woman went along with it, believing it was a staged video intended for entertainment. They exchanged vows, and she willingly participated, accepting the scenario as a genuine act in the name of social media content. However, her perception rapidly changed two months later when her partner requested to be added as a dependent on her residency application.
In a shocking revelation, he informed her that their ceremony had indeed been legitimate. Upon further investigation, she found a marriage certificate and a notice of intended marriage that he had filed without her consent, featuring a signature that did not closely resemble hers.
Angered by the deception, she expressed her frustration in court about the serious implications of the misinformation she had been subjected to, emphasizing the betrayal from someone she considered a partner. During proceedings, the man contended that both parties had mutually agreed to the terms of their union, but the judge found merit in the bride’s claims.
In his ruling, the judge cited that although the ceremony was performed, the bride had been mistaken in understanding its legal significance. The court concluded that she did not give genuine consent to the marriage, which led to its annulment in October 2024. This incident underlines the growing complexities arising from social media and the legal obligations that can unexpectedly emerge from seemingly harmless online content.
