A terminally ill Melbourne woman and her long-term partner will make history when they become Australia's first same-sex couple to legally marry on home soil.
Cas Willow, 53, and Heather Richards, 56, have been together for 17 years, but are in a race against time to marry, as Ms Willow has breast cancer which has spread to her brain, leaving her with just weeks to live.
The pair were given the green light to marry on Monday, rather than waiting until January 9, which was expected to be the first day of same-sex weddings after new laws required couples give four week's notice.
"I don't even know if I'll make it to Christmas, let alone January 9, so they allowed us to get married early," Ms Willow told AAP on Thursday.
The couple got engaged when federal parliament legalised same-sex marriage, rather than have a long engagement or commitment ceremony as it "just wasn't the same".
"We are committed to each other, we didn't need to do a commitment ceremony to prove it. We wanted to do a wedding because it's equal, it's legal," Ms Richards said.
The pair says staff from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where Ms Willow is receiving treatment, suggested they arrange a fast-tracked wedding hosted by the hospital.
Catering, goods and services have all been donated by the hospital's service providers and contractors.
The couple said it would be an honour and a privilege if they become the first same-sex couple to be married on Australia soil.
It will allow their last precious few weeks, or even days, together to be "complete", Ms Richards said.
"It means our relationship won't just be tolerated, it will be accepted."
