'Come on Oz, Say I Do' Hosts Lesbian Catwalk Wedding

Influential New Zealand fashion designer Annah Stretton is trying to prompt Australia's new Prime Minister Tony Abbott to "say I do" to gay marriage, via a high-profile fashion wedding. The host and founder of the "Come on Oz, Say I Do" campaign brought two Australian contest winners together for the first fashion show of its kind to legally marry two women on a catwalk.

"Mr. Abbott didn't hold a position on the subject of same-sex marriage before the election saying he'd reveal it after," said Stretton. "My message to him is to move with the times and hear the message of so many of his countrymen. We will look back on these legislative decisions and see them as archaic as women not having the right to vote or blacks and whites being forced to travel at different ends of a bus. Preventing couples who love each from marrying because of their gender is simply discriminative."

Competition winners Brooklyn Edwards and Nicole Dean wore wedding dresses that were specially made for them after they won the all-expenses paid catwalk show wedding. Dean, who is American, and Edwards, who is Australian, won return flights and accommodations from Australia, a wedding after-party, an exclusive video and photography package, custom-made rings and the dresses from Stretton, who also outfitted the bridal party and all of the couple's invited guests.

On Sept. 7, the women made their way down a catwalk decorated with flower-laden chandeliers and plinth displays. More than 500 people attended the beautiful and very high profile occasion.

"We can't wait for what lies ahead," said Edwards. "It's a good feeling knowing you've married your soul mate and are spending your life with them!"

The stunt made international headlines, which was a boon for Stretton, who last made headlines due to an angry backlash, when a photo of her and her two dogs sitting on a bearskin rug was published in the Sunday Star Terms, in an article about her love of taxidermy. Although Stretton says she is an animal right supporter, other animal lovers thought otherwise.

In an effort to smooth over the controversy, Stretton will auction off one of the brides' one-of-a-kind wedding dresses with all the proceeds going to the SPCA, one of the only animal charities that didn't hurl vitriolic Facebook messages at her after the article was published.

Stretton hoped that the over-the-top wedding celebration would help Australians, including Abbott, lend their support for marriage equality in Australia, as they recently did on August 19 in neighboring New Zealand.

"This is a cause that I am incredibly passionate about," said Stretton. "I have always been proud to call myself a New Zealander and even more so now that we do not discriminate against those who want to be married based on their gender. Because they cannot yet get married in their own country, I'm inviting our Aussie neighbours to jump the ditch and, using the platform I have been given at New Zealand Fashion Weekend, be married for the world to see in what is set to be a fashion show extravaganza that will be remembered for years to come."