Same-sex wedding package recipients to have 'geeky' wedding

Shirley Kirk and Courtney Mann have been announced as the recipients of the region’s same-sex wedding package giveaway, and it means much more to them than just making it official.

The couple will now be able to wed a year earlier than they’d planned, and locally, which means the difference between having family present and not.

They’ve been engaged for five years – but it wasn’t one of them who proposed.

Rather, it was superstar singer Pink at a Sydney concert in 2013.

“That’s how we ended up meeting: we were talking online with other fans,” Ms Kirk said.

“I’d done up a sign because I knew we were going to be really close to the stage.

“She saw it and came over and said, ‘Can I see that sign again?’ … and she said, ‘Courtney, will you marry Shirley?’. I had the ring and everything. It was the most romantic moment – between us and about 80,000 other people.”

But the women have also been going through a tough patch, after Ms Kirk injured her back at work.

“That has resulted in major, major back and spinal surgery, and most of the time I can’t get up and around,” she said.

“Courtney has cared for me for well over 12 months in between working and looking after Jack.”

Jack is the couple’s three-year-old son and he’s reportedly very excited about his mums’ wedding, as are Ms Kirk’s adult sons.

“I had to hold my phone away from my ear when I rang and told them, they were so excited,” she said.

Ms Kirk said the couple had been saving for an elopement package at a Gold Coast Comic Con, which satisfied their “geeky” side and their budget.

Now they’ll be able to splurge a bit on a hometown wedding.

“It’s a bit of relief for me that we don’t have to worry about having to save the whole amount in such a short amount of time, that we can get married before something happens to my grandparents,” Ms Mann said.

“In the last week my nan has had some strokes, but thankfully she seems to be OK …

“It’s an amazing package, and it’s very nice, very generous, of those companies.”

The package is by Love Story Photography, Ceremonies by Donna, Tamworth Event Planners – Wedding Angels, The Pavillion Function Centre and Designer Bunches.

Beautifully Bronzed has also offered to give the brides spray tans for their wedding.

Both women said they wanted a relaxed wedding.

“I think it will be fairly laid-back, most probably because I can’t do much,” Ms Kirk said.

“My wheelchair will be close by ...

“There will definitely be some geeky things throughout: some touches of Marvel, Star Wars, Dr Who, Supernatural, things like that.”

“She is just so sweet and caring, and she’s always open and willing to listen and to learn new things.

“She wasn’t into all the nerdy side of things when we first got together and I always have been, ever since I was little, and so she was open to this whole other world that quite honestly people on the outside just roll their eyes at.”

“I love that she is smart and she’s strong.

“We never really lack for conversation and she lets me be me.”