Prior to your Wedding Day
- Between 18 months and up to 1 calendar month prior to your wedding lodge with your celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage. This can be send by email, fax or regular mail.
- Your birth certificate, or if born overseas your passport issued by your country of birth, will need to be seen by your wedding celebrant.
- Your wedding celebrant will also need to see your Divorce Decree Absolute or a death certificate of a previous spouse if you or your partner has been previously married.
- You and your partner must be at least 18 years of age
- Two witnesses you organise to attend your wedding must also both be over the age of 18
During the Wedding Ceremony
- Specific wording will need to be said during your ceremony and after which, the rest of the ceremony can be created to reflect your own style, (with poems, songs, readings etc).
- The Celebrant at the commencement needs to introduce themselves
- Before the exchange of vows the celebrant is required to say:
"Before you are joined in marriage, in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am bound to remind you of the serious and binding nature of the relationship into which you are about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life."
- Bride and Groom must say words to the effect of:
"(groom), take you (bride) to be my (wife)" and "(bride), take you (groom) to be my (husband)", to ensure your marriage is recognised in your own country.
- Many countries require you to obtain a certified copy of your Marriage Certificate. This is issued by the office of Births Deaths and Marriages once your marriage is registered. Some countries require you to have an Apostile Stamp attached to this certificate. Your celebrant can advise you fully on this.
- On the wedding day you are given a Presentation Certificate. You will also need to check with your own local authorities on what documentation is required to have your marriage recognized in your country.
Your wedding celebrant will check you have checked off all of these points in the lead up to your wedding and during the discussions about your ceremony, so it is a good idea to meet with them upon your arrival in Australia.
Source: For international visitors wishing to marry in Australia, further information can be found on the Australian Government Website.
For assistance finding a wedding celebrants visit the wedding planner directory website.
By Belinda Cook from Melbourne, Australia
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