Same-sex Aussies queue to make their way to altar

Daniel Barnett, left, and partner Daniel Gray-Barnett are to wed. Photo / AAP

The first same-sex couple to register their notice to marry in Sydney say they never believed this day would come so soon.

Daniel Barnett, 39, and Daniel Gray-Barnett, 36, bashfully told their love story to waiting media at the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages yesterday, two days after the laws were passed in Parliament.

Since the couple fell in love "at first sight" on a night out seven years ago, they have been inseparable.

Four years ago Gray-Barnett's "extremely romantic" proposal on a lantern-lit cliffside in Bali blew his boyfriend away.

Now, they have plans for a legal wedding on January 30, to coincide with the anniversary of their symbolic wedding ceremony at the Grounds of Alexandria cafe in Sydney three years ago.

Gray-Barnett, 36, legally changed his name to add the "Barnett" to his surname and reflect their union.

However, the pair were still overcome with emotion when the "yes" vote won the postal survey.

"It was a really amazing moment. I burst into tears and I didn't know I was going to do that," Barnett said.

"Attitudes have come far.

"We can hold hands in the street and people don't bat an eyelid, whereas when I was a teenager I wouldn't dare to do that unless I was on Oxford St."

Similar sentiments were echoed by 48-year-old Valeria Ballantyne, who joined her partner Clare Jacobs, 31, at the registry.

"Being a child of the 80s there was so much more that we had to fight for. Gay acceptance. Let's not get bashed.

"I never thought that we'd reach this level of acceptance so quickly," the 48-year-old said.

"It's overwhelming."

Although the couple celebrated with a commitment ceremony in Byron Bay last year, they felt it was important to quickly get their marriage legalised.

"We already consider ourselves married anyway," Jacobs said.

New intended marriage forms include Party 1 and Party 2 instead of Bridegroom and Bride, and a description of party section offers three options: groom, bride and partner.

As well, there are three boxes for gender: male, female and x — which is described as "indeterminate, intersex or unspecified".

Gay couples who tied the knot overseas will now have their unions officially recognised.