Information on Getting Married
It is an honour and a privilege to have married the special couples that have chosen me as their Marriage Celebrant this far.
My Role To You As A Marriage Celebrant
Choosing Your Marriage Celebrant
Your Responsibilities
The Marriage Ceremony
Reaffirmation Ceremonies
Marriage Involving non-Australian Citizens
My Role to you as a Civil Marriage Celebrant:
As a Civil Marriage Celebrant, I am appointed by the Australian Federal Government’s Attorney General’s Department and am authorised to solemnise marriages anywhere in Australia as long as it is in accordance with the Marriage Act, 1961.
Marriages have usually in the past taken place in religious establishments; however, Civil Marriage Celebrants can offer you a variety of options. A civil marriage ceremony can be tailored to suit your exact needs. Feel relaxed in knowing that I am here to help you in any way that I can regarding your ceremony. This is your special day, so don’t be afraid to speak up. I am not limited to just Maryborough to perform Marriage Ceremonies, so don’t hesitate to contact me if you wish to enquire about having me officiate your ceremony where ever you are in Australia, as arrangements can be made. If you wish to contact me to find out any additional information regarding how I can conduct your Marriage Ceremony for you, please contact me on 0402 906 007.
Choosing your Marriage Celebrant:
As a Civil Marriage Celebrant, I am a professional who will ensure that your special day is one to be remembered, however, it is important that you make the right choice that is suitable for you. It is recommended that you base your decision on professionalism and not price. It does not mean that the dearest is best and certainly doesn’t mean that the cheapest is either. You may like to look around for yourself and check any recommendations with your family and friends. Make arrangements to meet with your Celebrant face to face to gather your own opinions and see first hand how they operate and what they offer for their fee.
Under the marriage Act 1961 there are certain obligations that you, as a couple intending to get married, must meet prior to a marriage ceremony being solemnised:
A Notice Of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form must be lodged with your Marriage Celebrant no less than one calendar month and one day and no more than 18 months prior to your marriage being solemnised.
Under normal circumstances the Notice Of Intended Marriage would be completed at your first meeting with your chosen celebrant, within the above requirements. You can download the NOIM from the following link: Notice Of Intended Marriage
For persons born inside Australia, you are required to produce your original Birth Certificate as identification.
If either person in the couple has been previously married, you are required to produce your copy of the Decree Absolute or Death Certificate, whichever is applicable. Some overseas countries do not have a divorce system, rather they have an annulment process, the Philippines is one such country. There must be produced an order of annulment in regards to any dissolved marriage in such countries.
Prior to your wedding both partners will be required to sign a declaration, under the Marriage Act 1961, stating that you believe there is no legal impediment to the marriage between yourself and your partner. This is a legal document and under Section 11 of the Statutory Declaration Act 1959 it is an offence to make false statement and is punishable by imprisonment for a term of four years. This form is often signed at the Wedding Rehearsal.
Under the Marriage Act 1961, two persons under the age of eighteen cannot marry. A person of age sixteen or seventeen can marry a person eighteen or over but they must obtain parental consent and approval of a court of law. Persons aged under sixteen cannot marry under any circumstances.
Marriage is an exciting time for all involved. Always remember that it is YOUR special day. It is important therefore that the ceremony composed is one that you both want. With this in mind you are encouraged to work very closely with your Marriage Celebrant in putting together a ceremony that will always be remembered. Ceremonies can be formal, or in a relaxed informal but sincere manner.
A Civil Marriage Celebrant has certain obligations under the Marriage Act 1961 and these will be explained to you at your first meeting.
Other than that the contents of the marriage ceremony is totally your choice.
I will supply you with samples of ceremonies and verses that can be used, however you are not obliged to use any of them. Additionally, you could mix and match parts of ceremonies to arrive at the most suitable ceremony for your particular requirements. It may well be that you are able to compose your complete ceremony and this is acceptable providing it complies with the obligations of the Marriage Celebrant under the Marriage Act.
Many couples wish to have some form of ritual or symbolic gesture within their ceremony. Feel free to talk to me about your wishes as I am happy to accommodate you wherever possible.
Family and friends can also be involved. It may well be that you have certain readings or verses that you would like them to read for you. Many couples arrange for music to be played at the ceremony, this could be anything from a cassette tape to a live jazz band.
In some instances there is a requirement for the use of an interpreter. This is a relatively simple process but there are certain forms that are required to be signed by the interpreter before the ceremony begins and at the conclusion.
At the completion of the ceremony you will be required to sign the Marriage Register and Marriage Certificates, together with two witnesses over the age of eighteen years and the Marriage Celebrant. You will be presented with your Marriage Certificate on your Wedding day, however, for the official Marriage Certificate required for change of name at banks etc, you will need to go to your local court house or registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to request a certified copy.
Persons who are already legally married to each other cannot go through a further formal marriage ceremony, and it is an offence for an authorised Civil Marriage Celebrant to purport to solemnize such a marriage.
A reaffirmation ceremony allows you to reaffirm your original marriage vows, promises and commitment to each other. Reaffirmation ceremonies can be celebrated for various reasons:
- Simply because you want to reaffirm your love and commitment for each other.
- To celebrate a special wedding anniversary.
- Perhaps you were married overseas, or interstate, and you want your immediate family and friends to be a part of your special occasion.
Reaffirmation ceremonies can be composed by the Marriage Celebrant or the couple themselves, there is no legal obligations for reaffirmation except that the Celebrant must warn couples that this is not a legal Marriage Ceremony. It would be suggested to present your original marriage certificate to the Celebrant when requesting a reaffirmation ceremony.
At the conclusion of the ceremony you will be presented with a Reaffirmation Certificate.
Marriage involving non-Australian Citizens:
Regardless of nationality you are more than welcome to be married in our most beautiful country; Australia.
The marriage must still comply with all legal obligations of the Australian Marriage Act, 1961, as previously described. There is no apparent reason why your marriage in Australia cannot be recognised within your own country, However, it is advisable to talk to your own local authorities to confirm this before making arrangements.
It is important to remember that there can only be one legal marriage, any further ceremonies have to be reaffirmation ceremonies.
I would be very pleased to assist you in arranging your special day in our special country. With the modern means of communications today this process is very simple and can be done from a distance without any form of a headache.
For persons born outside Australia, you are legally required to produce your overseas passport, and if possible, your Birth Certificate as identification.
Question: Who can perform a marriage ceremony in Australia?
Answer: Civil Marriage Celebrants (such as myself), Ministers of Religion, Non-aligned religious celebrants and Marriage Officers (through a registry or courthouse).
Question: How much notice do we need to give to get married?
Answer: You must provide one clear calendar month's notice in order to get married (One month and one day - by completing and providing your chosen celebrant with the Notice of Intended Marriage form).
Question: Can you backdate the Notice of Intended Marriage Form if we need to get married in a hurry?
Answer: Backdating the form is a serious offence which carries penalties to all parties involved. Therefore the answer is and always will be no.
Question: What identification documents do we need to provide to get married?
Answer: Birth Certificate (for those born in Australia). Photo Identification (ie Driver Licence). Evidence of how all / any previous marriages have ended (ie Divorce, Death, Previous Marriage Certificate, if applicable). Official Change of Name Certificate (if applicable).
Question: Do we need any witnesses at the wedding?
Answer: Yes, there must be at least two (2) witnesses to any wedding. The witnesses must be at least 18 years of age, understand what is being stated throughout the ceremony and present for the entire duration of the wedding ceremony.
Question: Are there any restrictions on when or where a wedding can take place?
Answer: No, there are no restrictions on where or when you can get married - as long as it is within Australian borders. It is also suggested that if you are having an outdoor wedding, you should have a back up plan incase of bad weather.
Question: Does the Celebrant have to ask if 'anyone objects' to the ceremony?
Answer: No, the celebrant does not have to state these particular words. This is often dramatised in film. Your celebrant should advise you when you meet with them to discuss the run through of the ceremony that you have a lot of choice as to what is or is not said throughout a ceremony. There is only a few sentences that are required to be said to legalise a wedding in Australia.
Question: What will the Celebrant wear for the wedding ceremony?
Answer: Your ceremony is all about you. So the celebrant should be willing to wear whatever you require them to wear. So for myself personally, I normally wear a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. I am also clean shaven for the day of the ceremony. Please check my wedding photos for an example of this.
Question: Does the Celebrant have to stay for the wedding reception?
Answer: No, the celebrant is not required to stay for your wedding reception. Do not feel pressured to have to invite your celebrant to your wedding reception.
Question: Can the Celebrant host / MC the wedding reception?
Answer: This is up to each individual celebrant and should be discussed with your celebrant when you meet with them. If a celebrant is willing to host the wedding reception please note that extra fees will more than likely apply. I personally host wedding receptions where required. Please feel free to discuss this with me when meeting.
Question: How long does a standard wedding ceremony take?
Answer: In general, a wedding ceremony usually takes approximately 30 minutes. However, discuss this with your celebrant and this can be arranged. Your ceremony can be as short or as long as you would like it.
Question: Is the bride allowed to be late for the wedding ceremony?
Answer: Within reason. Whilst it might be 'traditional' for the bride to be a few minutes late, it certainly isn't polite to the rest of the wedding party. Keep in mind that the celebrant may have to attend another wedding after yours and you should discuss this with your celebrant when you meet to discuss your wedding. Whilst the celebrant should not book another wedding immediately after yours, they may have other appointments or be required to travel elsewhere. So whilst up to 10 minutes is considered reasonably, 20 - 30 minutes is not.
Question: What happens at a wedding rehearsal?
Answer: The wedding rehearsal is a guide so that the celebrant with the wedding party can have an understanding and a 'feel' for how the actual ceremony is to take place. Whilst it is not a requirement that a ceremony must take place, it is a good idea.
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