<p class="title">Australian wedding venues were preparing for a rush of couples eager to tie the knot after same-sex marriage was signed into Australian law Friday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull already boasting several invites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The historic reform was given royal assent on Friday, the final step in a process that began with a national postal vote in September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The act has now passed into Australian law," said Queen's representative, Governor-General Peter Cosgrove at a ceremony in Canberra on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gay couples who have already married overseas will have their unions officially recognised from Saturday, when the bill comes into full effect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those wanting to wed can lodge a notice to marry Saturday, but will have to wait a calendar month before exchanging vows, meaning the first weddings are expected on January 9.</p>.<p class="bodytext">All but four members of the 150-seat lower House of Representatives voted in support of marriage equality on Thursday, sparking jubilant scenes in parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Turnbull, a moderate who has long backed same-sex unions, spent Friday morning encouraging his fellow Australians to start making wedding preparations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a big Australian hug for all same-sex couples, saying we love and respect you, now go out there and get married," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At least two Sydney councils promised free venues to host marriages as a gesture of solidarity with the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer) communities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is an historic day in the struggle for civil rights in Australia," Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Council will make its facilities -- halls, community centres and parks -- available free of hire fees for 100 days for any same-sex couples wishing to get married."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many couples have long waited for the law to change and venues are expected to be in heavy demand to make their unions legal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Paddington Uniting Church, in Sydney's gay heartland and with a gay minister, said it had been bombarded with requests from couples to get married.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think there are lots of LGBTIQ people in the church who would be keen to have their union celebrated in the church," Reverend Ben Gilmore told broadcaster ABC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Turnbull is also preparing for a busy January, revealing he has had several wedding invites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have had a few, I think January is going to be very busy," he told reporters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There'll be plenty of business for the caterers, I would think over the next few months."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Demand for gay weddings is set to a moneyspinner for various sectors of the economy, including hospitality, recreation and professional services, according to an analysis by ANZ Bank.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We assume half of all couples who want to marry could do so within 12 months of marriage equality legislation," said senior economist Cherelle Murphy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Therefore based on an average wedding spend in Australia of around Aus$54,000, the marriage spend would be around Aus$650 million in the first 12 months."</p>
<p class="title">Australian wedding venues were preparing for a rush of couples eager to tie the knot after same-sex marriage was signed into Australian law Friday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull already boasting several invites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The historic reform was given royal assent on Friday, the final step in a process that began with a national postal vote in September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The act has now passed into Australian law," said Queen's representative, Governor-General Peter Cosgrove at a ceremony in Canberra on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gay couples who have already married overseas will have their unions officially recognised from Saturday, when the bill comes into full effect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those wanting to wed can lodge a notice to marry Saturday, but will have to wait a calendar month before exchanging vows, meaning the first weddings are expected on January 9.</p>.<p class="bodytext">All but four members of the 150-seat lower House of Representatives voted in support of marriage equality on Thursday, sparking jubilant scenes in parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Turnbull, a moderate who has long backed same-sex unions, spent Friday morning encouraging his fellow Australians to start making wedding preparations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a big Australian hug for all same-sex couples, saying we love and respect you, now go out there and get married," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At least two Sydney councils promised free venues to host marriages as a gesture of solidarity with the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer) communities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is an historic day in the struggle for civil rights in Australia," Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Council will make its facilities -- halls, community centres and parks -- available free of hire fees for 100 days for any same-sex couples wishing to get married."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many couples have long waited for the law to change and venues are expected to be in heavy demand to make their unions legal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Paddington Uniting Church, in Sydney's gay heartland and with a gay minister, said it had been bombarded with requests from couples to get married.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think there are lots of LGBTIQ people in the church who would be keen to have their union celebrated in the church," Reverend Ben Gilmore told broadcaster ABC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Turnbull is also preparing for a busy January, revealing he has had several wedding invites.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have had a few, I think January is going to be very busy," he told reporters.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There'll be plenty of business for the caterers, I would think over the next few months."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Demand for gay weddings is set to a moneyspinner for various sectors of the economy, including hospitality, recreation and professional services, according to an analysis by ANZ Bank.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We assume half of all couples who want to marry could do so within 12 months of marriage equality legislation," said senior economist Cherelle Murphy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Therefore based on an average wedding spend in Australia of around Aus$54,000, the marriage spend would be around Aus$650 million in the first 12 months."</p>