An Australian woman recently sought an annulment after discovering that a "fake wedding" she participated in was, in fact, a real marriage.
The woman, whose identity remains confidential, claimed that she was tricked by her husband, who told her the ceremony was merely a social media stunt designed to boost his Instagram following.
The incident unfolded after the woman met her partner on a dating app in September 2023. They started seeing each other regularly, and by December, he invited her to a “white party” in Sydney, asking her to wear a white dress for the event. When she arrived, she was shocked to find that the only attendees were her partner, a photographer, the photographer’s friend, and a marriage officiant.
Her partner allegedly explained that the wedding was a prank aimed at gaining followers for his social media. Despite her initial skepticism, she called a friend who reassured her that it wouldn’t be a real marriage. With this reassurance, she agreed to participate.
The woman played along with the “wedding” for the camera, exchanging vows and even kissing her partner, all in the name of social media. However, two months later, when her partner asked her to add him to her permanent residency application, she learned the truth—he had secretly filed a notice of intended marriage with her forged signature before their Sydney trip.
Furious, she took the matter to court. In the Family Court of Australia, the judge ruled that the marriage was invalid, agreeing that the woman believed the wedding was staged for social media purposes. The annulment was granted, and the judge emphasized that the woman’s role as a bride was part of a performance, not an actual commitment.
Her partner, however, disputed her version of events, claiming that they had agreed to marry in an intimate ceremony. Nevertheless, the inconsistencies in his account led the court to rule in favor of the woman, ensuring that the marriage was annulled.
