Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the legal requirements for marriage in Australia?

You must both be over 18 years of age.  If one person is under the age of 18, marriage is still possible by parental consent as per section 12 of the Marriage Act. A Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) must be lodged with a Celebrant at least one calendar month prior to the wedding ceremony. You can find this form here.

This form must reach your celebrant no later than one month before the wedding.

Q: What documents do I need to provide to you?

If you were born in Australia, you will need to provide me with your passport, your birth certificate or a birth extract. If any party was born overseas you will need to provide an overseas birth certificate or an overseas passport, translated into English. If either party has been previously married, I will need to cite an original Divorce or Death Certificate.

Translated documents must have a NAATI accredited Translation Certificate provided with them.  You can have documents translated here.

Q: Do I need witnesses?

You will require two witnesses. Witnesses are required by law to be present and sign legal documents at the wedding ceremony. They must be over the age of 18 and understand English otherwise an interpreter will need to be present.

Q: How do you create a ceremony?

Once we've discussed all the details of your ceremony I will then email you both a questionnaire that I require you to fill in. The questions are all based on your relationship (the more information you add into your questionnaire, the more I am able to write). To make things more exciting I always ask that you fill in the questionnaires  separately. It's always so nice to read the different and similar responses. Once your ceremony is written I share it with you, where you can read it together for the first time, edit anything you want and send it back to me. Your script becomes a working document until you are completely satisfied with it.

Q: Can you include religious readings or ritual?

If it is something you'd like to incorporate into the ceremony, most definitely. Outside of the legal wording of the monitum and some specific wording in your vows, civil ceremonies can be structured any way you'd like.

Q: Do you play music during the ceremony?

Yes, I provide a state of the art speaker system that allows me to play music. The music needs to be provided by you. My system has bluetooth and can be controlled via phone or smart device.

Q: Where can we meet you?

Whether it's your home or your local, I am happy to meet couples where it is most convenient for them.  Give me a call or send me a message to discuss this further.