Teenage mum-to-be Emma Gregory is disappointed by a magistrate's decision this week to prevent her marrying her boyfriend - but is now turning her attention to her unborn child.
Sixteen-year-old Emma, who is seven months pregnant, applied to Wollongong Local Court for permission to marry her baby's father, 18-year-old Steven Megson.
However, the court ruled there were no "exceptional or unusual circumstances" that would allow the law to be overturned.
At home in Warilla yesterday, where they live with Emma's parents, the couple said they were "disheartened" by magistrate Michael Stoddart's ruling that the under-age marriage would not be allowed.
However, with their baby daughter due in just eight weeks, they said they had no plans to fight the decision and would instead concentrate on becoming parents.
"I'm disheartened that he didn't take into account how we feel about each other, but we'll just get on with our normal lives," Steven said.
Steven, who works as a bricklayer, moved from Cessnock to support Emma when they discovered she was pregnant, five months after they began dating.
Although the two have separate bedrooms, the court's decision has prompted Steven to move out and find his own place to live.
Emma said that, having been brought up as a Jehovah's Witness, it was important to her to be married before her baby was born.
She said she had hoped to marry Steven in a simple ceremony at Bass Point.
"It's a matter for my conscience," she said.
Emma's mother, Richelle Gregory, said her daughter realised she had made a mistake and now wanted to set things right and live her life by her own moral standards.
Luciana Rossi, from Rossi Simicic Lawyers, said in a number of cases she had seen, pregnancy had not been deemed an exceptional or unusual circumstance.
"I think because in this day and age so many people have children out of wedlock," Ms Rossi said.
"I don't think it's so exceptional and unusual a person being pregnant."
However, Ms Rossi said there was an argument that, alongside factors such as support of the families, maturity, financial stability and a sense of responsibility, the pregnancy could be viewed as exceptional or unusual.
Ms Rossi said if the case had been prepared by a lawyer (the couple represented themselves in court), it may have stood a better chance of success.
Mrs Gregory said the family would accept the magistrate's decision.
"With the baby on the way, life's very hectic and we just hope the next 13 months (until Emma turns 18) go fast," she said.
"Steven is a really nice guy. He's stuck around and he's moved down here and left his family, to take care of Emma.
"People say a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper but that piece of paper is a big thing. It does help keep people together."
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