Sian and Luci chose each other, over all others, for the rest of their lives.

Blessed by their Reverend, the sailor and banker recently declared their lifelong commitment in the presence of friends and family at Sydney’s HMAS Penguin Navy Base.

It was Australia’s first same-sex wedding on a Naval Base. Same Same spoke to Sian about what their special day meant to them…

How did you and Luci meet?

We met eleven years ago at a mutual friend’s party. I was 21 and in the process of joining the Navy and she was there with her then partner. So it never occurred to us then that we might be interested in each other. We have always been in the same circle of friends, but didn’t really know each other and didn’t see each other again for some years.

Then in early 2009, I came back from a tour of the Middle East and invited some friends around to my new place for drinks. Luci’s previous partner had ended the relationship not long before and so one of our mutual friends invited her to join us, to help cheer her up.

She came around and we got to know each other again, and I realised there was something there, apparently Luci had the same feeling. The next night was Mardi Gras, and I organised to meet her at the party. We flirted for a bit, talking in the beer garden. The group we were with went in to dance so we joined them, and while on the dance floor, I thought “what the hell” and put my arms around her waist and kissed her… the rest is history!

Who proposed to who?

It was something we both wanted to do, so when we were in Hong Kong on holiday, we came across a jeweler with beautiful rings, so we bought them, and made a reservation at a restaurant and proposed to each other overlooking Hong Kong harbour. It was a wonderful night.

Planning your wedding, what led to holding it on a Naval Base? How important was it to have it there?

It was where I worked and the Navy has played a very important part of my life for the last ten years. They are another family to me and Luci. It meant a lot to both of us to have it there. Also you can’t beat that beautiful view!

How did it go on the day? Any unexpected surprises?

Well, the weather was a real concern, it had been raining all week. We were going to arrive by boat, and get married on the wharf so we were really crossing our fingers that a miracle would happen and it would stop raining. Also our boat got cancelled the day before the wedding. The boat company said they had a better boat that they would be sending, so we didn’t know what we would be getting. On the day it all came right, at 11am the sun came out and Sydney Harbour put on a show, and then a 70ft Italian Yacht turned up to take us on a cruise and to the wedding, we could not believe our luck!

It was a perfect start to the perfect day. We had all our family and close friends and we could not have asked for a more brilliant wedding. There were smiles, laughter and tears, and lots of love!

Looking back on it now, it’s a pity it went so fast, but we wouldn’t change a thing, we loved it!

What does it mean to you to get married?

Well, for us it means choosing a person above all others to be your partner for life. That person is your lover, your best friend and the person you love and trust most in the world. It means working together as a team to build and live a life together. I don’t think this is different to anyone else who can legally get married. Marriage is a personal choice, it evokes so many very personal feelings.

We certainly understand why Marriage Equality means so much to so many people. We should all have the ability to choose to marry our chosen partner.

We both hope it becomes legal soon, I think it’s time, it is a basic human right. We find it strange that it has not happened yet. Our family, friends and work colleagues have all treated our marriage with the same sense of excitement and importance as any legal marriage, so I think Australia is ready for it. There will always be someone that doesn’t agree with a change in policy, but it is a change that has the potential to positively affect so many people’s lives without impinging on the rights of others, it’s a win win!

What do you think has been the key to making your relationship last?

Communication, respect and trust. We make a great team, and support each other in everything either of us do. We talk about everything that is going on in our lives, and to this day, because of that great communication, we have never had an argument. If something is bothering one of us we trust that we can talk about it and that the other person will respect our feelings. Our personalities balance each other out.

See more gorgeous photos from Sian and Luci’s wedding here on photographer Joey Ki’s Facebook page.