Illegal Wedding Ceremony Takes Place in Melbourne

65 participants who bravely committed themselves to their life partners in front of thousands calling for same-sex marriage laws on Saturday on the steps of the Melbourne Registry Office.

Whilst a step in the right direction Australians are frustrated at the wait for legislative change.

As a participant at the rally said, "It just makes you feel like you're not accepted wholly by society."

The service followed a colourful rally at Federation Square in central Melbourne, as almost 4,000 people draped in rainbow colours waved banners and balloons that read "Equal Love".

Performances by pop singer Katie Underwood and vocal quartet The Nymphs punctuated the protesters' serious message.

A line-up of speakers declared Australia's position on same-sex marriage lagged far behind other developed countries that allow the union. These include Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Norway.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, a married mother-of-one, told the mostly young crowd the traditional view of marriage as only between a man and a woman was out of date. "We need to accept that there is diversity in our community and we should be celebrating that," she said. "I can't believe Australia is so far behind the rest of the world."