Marriage
Congratulations, lovers! You’re getting married.
From a backyard BBQ to a black tie soirée, civil marriages can take any shape or form.
Marriage is the service I offer for wedding ceremonies of 20+ guests. See Elopement and Legals Only for intimate, low-key options, and scroll ↓ for the fine print (legal requirements).
If you need a host for your reception, head to Celebration for more on how I can help.
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Pre-ceremony meetings (in person and online), personalised ceremony, help writing personal vows, rehearsal, preparation and lodgement of paperwork, travel, use of professional PA system.
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From $500
Please contact me for more details.
Legal requirements
Marriage is about more than love
In Australia, only authorised people can legally marry a couple, and there’s paperwork before, during and after the ceremony to make it official in the eyes of the law.
I’m here to ensure we meet these requirements. You can read all about my responsibilities in the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants.
Eligibility
To get married in Australia, you must:
∞ not already be married
∞ not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister
∞ be at least 18 years old (unless the court has approved a marriage where one person is not 18), and
∞ understand what marriage means and freely agree to marry.
You can find out more at Get Married on the Attorney-General’s Department website.
The monitum
One of the key legal requirements is that I recite the monitum during the ceremony. It defines marriage and the legal obligations and requirements of marriage:
I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to the law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Legal vows
The second requirement is the exchange of legal vows. They are set by law and designed to ensure that you, the couple, are clearly committing to each other:
I call upon the persons here present, to witness that I, (name) , take you (name), to be my lawful wedded spouse / partner / wife / husband / in marriage.
Paperwork
There’s a little paperwork involved in getting legally married in Australia, but I’m here to guide you through the admin.
Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
This is the big one. Together, we’ll complete and lodge your NOIM at least one month before your wedding day. It includes details like your names, dates and places of birth, and proof of identity.
Official Certificate of Marriage
This is the legal proof that your marriage took place. Two copies are signed by you, your witnesses, and me during the ceremony. I’ll lodge one with the relevant births, deaths and marriages registry within 14 days of your wedding and safely keep the other copy.
If you need an official certificate later for things like changing your name or updating identification, it can be ordered from the registry in the state or territory where you were married.
Declaration of no legal impediment to marriage
A bit of a mouthful, but it’s simply a declaration confirming there’s no legal reason you can’t get married. You’ll sign it before the ceremony, and I’ll witness it.
Form 15 Certificate of Marriage
Don’t let the name fool you. This is the ‘fancy’ keepsake certificate you receive on your wedding day. It is perfect for framing, but it is not an official document.
Other paperwork
Depending on your circumstances, you may need a few extra documents, such as divorce papers or translated documents. If anything extra is required, we’ll go through it together at our first meeting.