The legal side of a wedding
What are the legal requirements to get married in Australia?
There are only a handful of legal wedding requirements when getting married in Australia, that I as a celebrant need to make sure you follow.
You will need to submit a Notice of Intended Marriage, which I will often refer to as the NOIM at least ONE month before your chosen date. It covers an 18-month period just in case the date did need to change.
Official Notice of Intended Marriage:
Can we get married anywhere in Queensland or Australia?
Absolutely, yes! As your celebrant and a Commonwealth celebrant I will marry you anywhere, anytime, as long as it’s not while jumping from a plane!
Also preferably closer to the Sunshine Coast then say, Perth!
What documents do we need to provide?
This is a good question.
I need proof of where you were born and photo I.D, and if necessary, proof that a previous marriage has ended.
If your identification is not in English, it will have to be translated into English by an accredited translator.
You can use the following:
– Original or official extract of your Birth Certificate
– Australian or overseas passport
– Driver’s license
– Divorce or Death certificate
Attorney General Marriage Information:
https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/marriage
NAATI (translator or interpreter within Australia):
Does anyone else have to be there if we want only the two of us?
Yes. It is a legal wedding requirement that every wedding in Australia needs to have two witnesses, and your celebrant cannot be one.
They must be:
-over the age of 18 and
-understand the language that the ceremony is spoken in, in my case English.
Can you help us with the legal paperwork?
I can do it all- you bring your identification and I’ll do the rest.
When and where do we meet?
We can either meet in person to fill out the NOIM or it can be done remotely over a video call, as long as I can witness you both signing the paperwork it can be completed.
Is the NOIM the only paperwork we need to do?
No. The NOIM is the only one that has a time frame on it. At some stage before I solemnise your marriage you will also need to sign a Declaration of no Legal Impediment to Marriage- this just means that you are over the age of 18 and not already married to anyone else.
On your wedding day there will be three documents to sign – two copies of the Official Certificate of Marriage and a form 15. This is done at the official signing any time after the vows have been made.
What happens after the ceremony is over?
Once the ceremony is over, I will take the signed documents and register your wedding with Births, Deaths and Marriages. I will then send you an email, to let you know it has been registered. My email has all the information you need on how to change your name, and a link for my google review, which I would so appreciate if you could do for me.
Depending on the package you picked, I will either pay for and order your certificate for you, having it sent to your home address (if you have moved you need to let me know asap), or I will get the link on how to order your Official Certificate of Marriage sent to your email address, which has very simple to follow instructions.
If you don’t hear from me for a couple of days that’s perfectly normal, it’s not me being slack, it’s me giving you space after a huge few of days! Trust me, most couples need it.
