Australia woman nullified her marriage after discovering that what she believed to be a staged wedding for a social media prank was, in fact, a legally binding ceremony.
The unexpected turn of events stemmed from her partner, a social media influencer, who orchestrated the entire scenario to boost his Instagram presence.
The woman realized the truth only when her partner attempted to leverage the marriage for permanent residency in Australia.
The case, which culminated in an annulment granted by a Melbourne judge, began in September 2023 when the woman met the man through an online dating platform.
Their relationship progressed quickly, leading to his proposal in December of the same year.
Shortly afterward, he invited her to what he described as a “white party” in Sydney, instructing her to bring a white dress.
Upon arrival, the woman was shocked to find no other guests except a photographer, the photographer’s friend, and a celebrant.
According to court documents, she recalled asking, “What’s happening?” Her partner admitted it was a prank wedding for his Instagram account, claiming he wanted to “boost his content” and monetize his social media following, which exceeded 17,000.
The woman, believing the ceremony was just for show, reluctantly participated.
She later testified, “I was happy to play along to make it look real,” trusting that a civil marriage required a formal court process.
Reassured by a friend’s dismissal of her concerns, she exchanged vows and kissed her partner, treating it as a harmless act for the camera.
The truth emerged two months later when her partner asked to be added as a dependant on her permanent residency application.
When she refused, citing their unmarried status, he revealed the wedding had been real.
Investigating further, the woman found a marriage certificate and a notice of intended marriage filed the month before the Sydney trip—well before their engagement.
The signature on the document, she noted, bore little resemblance to her own.
“I’m furious with the fact that I didn’t know that that was a real marriage, and the fact that he also lied from the beginning, and the fact that he also wanted me to add him in my application,” she said.
In his defense, the man claimed they had mutually agreed to an “intimate ceremony” in Sydney following his proposal.
However, the judge sided with the woman, stating she was “mistaken about the nature of the ceremony performed” and had not given genuine consent. “She believed she was acting. She called the event ‘a prank’,” the judgement read. “It made perfect sense for her to adopt the persona of a bride… to enhance the credibility of the video depicting a legally valid marriage.”
The court annulled the marriage in October 2024, ending a case that highlighted the risks of blurring reality and performance for social media stunts.
