Getting Married - The Legal Stuff

Thank you so much for considering me to be your celebrant. It truly means the world to be trusted with such a special moment in your lives. Alongside creating a beautiful ceremony, I’m also the person who makes sure all the legal parts of your marriage are completed properly, in line with Australian marriage laws. This includes looking after your privacy, treating everyone with kindness and respect, and making sure everything is done correctly and on time.

Legal Requirements to Marry in Australia

To be legally married in Australia, you both need to:

• Not already be married

• Not be related in a way that would prevent marriage (e.g. parent/child, siblings, grandparents)

• Be 18 years or older (unless special court approval is given for someone aged 16–18)

• Understand what marriage means and freely consent to it

• Use a few specific legal words during your ceremony (I’ll guide you through these!)

• Lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month before your wedding

You don’t have to be an Australian citizen or resident to marry here. If you’re from overseas, it’s a good idea to check if your home country has extra requirements for recognising your Australian marriage.

The Paperwork We’ll Do Together

1. The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) - Before the Ceremony

This is the first legal document we complete. It must be lodged with me at least one month before your wedding date (and no earlier than 18 months before).

I’ll help you complete everything correctly and let you know what evidence you’ll need, including proof of birth, photo ID, and—if you’ve been married before—documents showing the previous marriage has legally ended.

You’re welcome to fill out a draft and email it through beforehand so I can pre-enter information and make the process easy when we meet.

If your wedding is less than a month away, don’t stress—contact me and we can chat about whether a shortening of time may apply.

Once this step is done, we can switch gears and start planning the fun part… your ceremony!

2. ‘Happily Ever Before & After’ Information - Before the Ceremony

By law, I need to give you this booklet. It’s all about supporting you both before and after your big day. It covers:

• How marriage works legally in Australia

• Important things to know before entering into marriage

• Where to find relationship support services if you ever need them

Couples often find this booklet helpful—it’s all about building strong, lasting relationships.

3. The Declaration of No Legal Impediment - Before the Ceremony

Just before your ceremony—usually at the rehearsal, or right before the wedding if you’re keeping things simple—you’ll sign a declaration confirming that:

• You are both over 18

• You are not related in a prohibited way

• You’re not already married

• You’re marrying freely and willingly

This is a short but very important legal step.

4. At the Ceremony – Signing Your Certificates

After your vows and the legal wording have been spoken, we’ll take a quiet moment together to sign your marriage certificates. This is where everything becomes official.

We will sign:

1. Your decorative certificate to take home

2. Two official certificates that are lodged with Births, Deaths and Marriages

All three are signed by you, your partner, your two witnesses, and myself as your celebrant.

This part only takes a few minutes but it’s such a lovely pause in the day—your first little moment as a married couple—before we head back out to celebrate with your guests. I’ll take care of lodging everything online after your wedding, so you don’t need to worry about a thing.

Your Ceremony

You can get married any day, any time, and anywhere in Australia.
All you need are two witnesses over the age of 18, who can clearly see and hear the ceremony.

What Legally Must Be Included

Every marriage ceremony in Australia must include two key legal elements:

1. The Monitum
   These are the words I am legally required to say, explaining what marriage means under Australian law.

2. Your Legal Vows
   You’ll say a short legal sentence declaring that you take each other as your lawful partner. You can add your own personal vows on top of these if you wish!

After Your Wedding

I will lodge all of your documents online with the Registry within 14 days of your ceremony.

You can then apply for your official marriage certificate directly from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This is the certificate you’ll need for things like changing your name or updating personal records.

I keep a secure copy of your paperwork as required by law, and your privacy is always protected.