Sometimes couples are not ready to legally bind themselves to another person, but want to make a public statement that they are partners without the legal restrictions that accompany marriage. Sometimes different cultures or religions mean that it would be difficult to reconcile family and friends with a wedding, and this is where a commitment ceremony would be a way to make a statement that this couple are committed being together for life – they are partners.
As the law stands at the moment, same sex couples choose commitment ceremonies as a way of saying that they should be regarded as a couple. The legal restriction of recognising marriage only if the couple are male and female is under discussion in Federal Parliament. When the law is changed to allow same sex marriage, I will be happy to help these couples gain legal recognition of their partnership.