In brief
A Melbourne judge annulled a woman's marriage, which she believed was a social media prank orchestrated by her influencer partner. The woman learned the ceremony was genuine only when asked to add him as a dependent for residency, unveiling a shocking truth.
In a bizarre twist of fate, an Australian woman's seemingly playful participation in a social media wedding prank turned into a legal marriage, prompting a judge to annul the union. The incident arose when the woman, engaged to a social media influencer, unwittingly took part in a wedding ceremony under the impression it was just for fun. According to court documents, her partner proposed in December 2023, only to take her to a "white party" in Sydney shortly after. Expecting a light-hearted event, she was shocked to find no guests present but the couple, a photographer, and a celebrant. Initially believing his claims of a prank, which was intended for Instagram, she went through with the ceremony, reassuring herself based on her friend’s dismissal of her concerns regarding its validity. However, her world turned upside down two months later when her partner requested to be added as a dependant on her application for permanent residency. Upon clarifying that they weren't legally married, she learned that the wedding was indeed valid. A further investigation revealed a notice of intended marriage was filed without her proper consent, raising alarms about the legitimacy of their union.Feeling deceived, she expressed her fury at having been misled. The judge ultimately ruled that the woman had not provided real consent to the marriage, stating she believed she was merely "acting" for a prank. The marriage was officially annulled in October 2024, highlighting the potential pitfalls of social media antics.
