Who can get married in Australia?

The legal requirements for marriage in Australia are:

• Single Status: Neither of you can currently be married to someone else

• No Close Relatives: You can't be marrying an immediate family member (i.e. a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling)

• Age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old. If one person is between 16 and 18, there are specific court approvals and parental consents required

• Consent: You both need to understand what marriage means and freely and enthusiastically consent to marry your partner

• Authorised Celebrant: Your marriage must be performed by an authorised marriage celebrant (that's me!) or a minister of religion (definitely not me).

Do you have to be a citizen or resident of Australia to get married in Australia?

Nope! You are not required to be a citizen or to be a permanent or temporary resident of Australia in order to be married here. Theoretically, as long as you meet you the legal requirements and you’ve completed all the required notices and bits of paperwork, you can hop off the plane here, get married, then leave again! Australia is a popular destination for weddings, particularly for elopements and as a safe haven for couples from less progressive countries who do not recognise or allow their relationships

What is a "Notice of Intended Marriage" (NOIM) and why do we have to do it?

The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is an important legal form that we must lodge together at least one month and no more than 18 months before your wedding date. It's basically your official declaration that you intend to marry each other - think of it as putting the Australian Government on notice of your upcoming nuptials.

I make the completion of the NOIM as smooth as I can and guide you through it all with custom processes and remote witnessing (Australia-based couples only) as standard. I will never tell you to do it yourself then trot off into the wild to find a random JP to witness your signature - my service includes my help and guidance at every step, and I exist to make it as easy as possible for you. This helps you save time, effort and money, but it also helps to reduce the potential for errors on all the other paperwork and ensures we’re sending only accurate information through for your registration of marriage.

What documents do we need to give you for the NOIM?

To complete your NOIM and conduct your identity and date/place of birth checks, you'll need to show me:

• Your passport

• If you don't have a passport, other current photo identification AND your birth certificate

• If either of you has been previously married, a divorce certificate (if divorced) or a death certificate (if widowed).

Important: Any foreign language certificates or documents must be officially translated into English by a NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) accredited translator - you can locate one near you here.

What are the requirements for witnesses?

All ceremonies in Australia must be witnessed by two people who were present for the legal parts of your ceremony - they observe me, watch you exchange your vows, and also sign your marriage certificates. Your witnesses need to be 18 years or older and able to speak and understand English. They can be family members or friends – whoever you choose to share that special moment with! They do not need to be Australian citizens or residents. They are not required to produce any identification documents. Make sure they’re comfortable signing legal declarations - your cousin Roger who is a bigtime sovereign citizen with trust issues is probably not going to want to sign legal paperwork that gets submitted to the government.

What are the legal parts of a ceremony?

There are three legal elements involved in a ceremony:

1. I am legally obligated to identify myself and my authority to marry you, and also recite specific words mandated by law to solemnise your marriage (known as the Monitum - these are the words we changed in 2017 when we legalised same sex marriage)

2. You must each exchange your legal vow - a prescribed legal sentence that binds you in the eyes of the law. These can be standalone, or in conjunction with personal vows if you wish.

3. After steps 1 and 2, you, your two witnesses, and I will sign the official marriage certificates to confirm that everything has been done and you are legally married.

So what else happens in a ceremony? Well, we make that up between us. Sounds daunting but fear not, I gotchu - I’ll help you figure out what you want included.

Does getting married automatically change my name?

This is a common question AND an oft misunderstood one! From the time of your marriage onwards, you are entitled to use your birth surname or a married surname in general usage. If you wish to fully change away from your birth surname, you will need to change your official identification documents - this is not the same as a legal name change process (what used to be called a deed poll), it’s something government agencies and other organisations allow you to do out of custom.

So if you want your identification documents to use your married surname, you'll need to use your registered Marriage Certificate issued directly from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (which I order for you, included as standard in all my packages) and first change your driver’s licence or photo card, then use that to change your passport, then use the two combined to change any/every other thing in your life.

Remember that married surnames can only be in certain prescribed formats, or you’ll need to pursue a legal name change. For a name change by custom, the two of you can use:

• Party 1’s pre-marriage surname (let’s say Hong)

• Party 2’s pre-marriage surname (let’s say Smith)

• A hyphenate of the two pre-marriage surnames in whatever order you prefer (for example, Hong-Smith or Smith-Hong).

There is a LOT of nuance in name changes that can get a little sticky and confusing, so if you’ve got any questions unique to your situation, just ask and I’ll give you more specific advice.

Can we have a ceremony without the legal bits, like a commitment ceremony?

You sure can! Some couples choose to have a ceremony that celebrates their relationship without legally marrying, and I can absolutely create these! Whether you've already legally married overseas, have legal impediments, or want a symbolic commitment without the legal ties, there are lots of options. I can create beautiful commitment ceremonies, vow renewals, or other symbolic celebrations that are just as meaningful and unique as any of my legal weddings.