The gold lettering on the white banner above the wedding party said it all: “We decided on forever”.
Yet, on this particular day, the words carried an even deeper significance. The ceremony unfolding beneath the banner – in which Matthew Kerr, 31, younger brother of model Miranda Kerr, wed his long-term partner James “Jimmy” Wright, 38 – was both controversial and exceptional.
The celebration, held in NSW’s Hunter Valley where the couple live and run the restaurant Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen, was attended by friends and family who flew in from all over Australia and across the globe to see Matty and Jimmy exchange vows.
“It was important for us on many levels to have the wedding here, in our home town,” says Jimmy. “We’ve been welcomed and supported so warmly by the community, so we wanted to repay them by bringing our loved ones to the Hunter Valley.”
“We wanted to showcase the region as the perfect destination for same-sex marriage. When the laws finally are changed, or indeed even before they are, it’s our aim to make sure that the entire LGBTI community knows this is a safe and accepting destination.”
Above: Matty’s mother, Therese, officiated at the ceremony while his sister, supermodel Miranda, 33, was head groom’s maid.
“The boys”, as friends and family affectionately call them, had expected Australia’s laws on same-sex marriage to have changed by the time they made their union official on December 30, 2016. It was important to the couple they went ahead, regardless.
“A few people asked me if whether our getting married is any different to a man and a woman getting married,” reveals Jimmy, who’s adamant that, “it absolutely is not. Love is love.”
Jimmy believes that until same-sex marriage is legalised, community-backed celebrations like the one the boys had will continue to happen.
“We can’t understand why the politicians just can’t pass the bill,” says Matty.
To read more about Matty and Jimmy’s Hunter Valley wedding, pick up the February issue of The Weekly at your local newsagency or visit Magshop to get your copy.
