Frequently Asked Questions

What do you charge?

You will need to contact us as this will vary depending upon things such as the type and, location of the ceremony. We charge a non refundable deposit ($100-$175) which will confirm your chosen date and time as a secure booking. This covers for our time and other administration costs and provides you with access to relevant resources and is deducted from the total cost.

What is included in your standard fee?

Preparation of the ceremony, which for a wedding can include up to three readings plus one additional ceremony such as candle lighting or blessing of hands.

Preparation and checking of all legal documents and forwarding them to BDM after the ceremony.

Meeting with you prior to the ceremony, including a rehearsal if you wish.

Officiating at the ceremony.

One personalised copy of the ceremony in a folder for you to keep.

What do you charge extra for?

Travel to areas outside of our target area. Although both of us may attend the ceremony we will only ever charge the travel amount for one person.

Any parking fees required.

Preparation of formal correspondence in relation to a marriage e.g. to Consuls, Embassies or other Government Departments.

Ceremonies involving unconventional time, place or risk.

Hire of special clothing e.g. kilts, costume hire.

Any other special requirements, as agreed between all parties.

What other items can you supply?

If required, at no extra cost, we can supply a small PA system (wireless microphone for the Celebrant, plus one hand held microphone for readers if required), a CD player and a limited choice of wedding music, a table and chair for signing, choice of a plain or lace cloth and a ring pillow or plate.

What other special ceremonies can we include in our wedding?

"Blessing of the hands" or the "Warming of the Rings" are popular choices.

Couples with children from their own or previous relationships find the "Sand Ceremony" an ideal way to share the occasion with the children. This is especially lovely when held in a beach setting.

"The Unity Candle Ceremony" is also popular; both as a way of honouring the commitment the couple have to each other but also the part that their families have played in the relationship.

"Handfasting" and "Jumping the broom" are ceremonies that go back in time to when couples wanted to show their commitment when it was not practical or possible for their union to be formalised by a priest or minister.

"Butterfly releases" are usually held at the end of the ceremony.

We can supply readings for these, or you can research/write your own. For the Candle and Sand ceremonies and also the butterfly releases there are companies on the Net who can help you with the supplies for this as we do not supply items other than readings for these ceremonies at all.

How far ahead do we need to book you?

If required, we may be able to perform ceremonies at short notice, as long as, if it is a wedding that you have lodged your NOIM within the required time frame or applied to the court for , and been granted, a shortening of time. Note: this is something that the Court only allows under exceptional circumstances.

Please note however, with many ceremonies being arranged well in advance it is possible we may already have other commitments so it is best if you book at the very earliest possible moment. It is also best if you have several different time options available if you can (the most requested day is Saturday and the most requested time is 5 pm!). Alternative days and times give you a greater choice. As we are full time celebrants we are available to perform ceremonies on any day of the week.

What happens once we choose you as our celebrants?

We will make arrangements to meet at a mutually agreeable place and time. Often this will be our home where we can relax over a cup of tea or coffee and start to organise the paperwork and get to know each other. A non refundable deposit is required from you at this stage to lock your chosen date in our diary. For marriages we will supply you with the Notice of Intended Marriage NOIM which needs to be lodged with us prior to the wedding. This can be filled out on the day if required. We will also need to see proof of place and date of birth and also photo proof of your identity.

Once you have paid your deposit we will supply you with a choice of several vows and readings etc which can act as an aid in creating your ceremony. It is your ceremony and although there are certain legal words in a wedding that the celebrant has to say, the remainder of the ceremony can be written entirely by you if you wish.

The remainder of the contact will probably be by phone and email until closer to the day when we can meet again to go over the ceremony, finalise the legal paperwork if required and have a rehearsal if you wish. Depending upon the location there may be an extra fee for a location rehearsal.

On the day of the ceremony we will arrive at the agreed time and perform the ceremony.

After the ceremony we will wish you and your guests goodbye and return home where if necessary we will complete the final parts of the paperwork and send it all off to Births Deaths and Marriages. In the majority of cases this will be by the next available post.

Do we have any obligations to you once we have organised our ceremony with you?

Yes. You do have obligations to us once you have confirmed the booking with us. We will require you to sign an Agreement which sets out these matters. This Agreement is actually a contract between us and will include the following.

The payment of the full amount of our fee by the required date which will, in all situations, be prior to your ceremony. A non refundable deposit will secure your date and time and will be required before/on lodgment of the NOIM
Advising us prior to making any change to the time of your ceremony - as it is quite possible that we may have other commitments and will therefore be unable to perform your ceremony at the new time.
Advising us of any change to the location of your marriage ceremony as soon as such a decision is made. The same applies if you are planning an outdoors ceremony. We will already have enquired as to what contingency plans you have in place in the event of wet weather. Nevertheless, in the case of a last minute switch of venue owing to bad weather conditions or anything else, you must always contact us, or have someone else contact us on your behalf as soon as you make the decision to switch. The onus for this rests with you.

Can we have a wedding rehearsal?

We believe strongly that the celebrant and the bridal party should meet before the wedding. We can have a relaxed meeting on a day and time that is mutually convenient to deal with the legalities and/or rehearse parts of the ceremony. We are full-time celebrants so we can be flexible regarding possible meeting times and we can concentrate fully on your ceremony and leave you to concentrate on your day with one less thing for you to have to think about.

How long before the ceremony will you arrive? What happens if there is a delay?

We aim to be there about half an hour before each ceremony but no less than twenty minutes before. This gives us time to make sure everything is ready for you. Depending upon location we only take booking for one or two ceremonies in a day and make sure we have at least 2 hours between ceremonies so that we are not rushed at all. This is not a performance. We are all participating in what may be one of the most significant and sacred occasions of your life. If unavoidable things happen everything will be ok. Your family and friends will join me in supporting you whatever happens, so relax and enjoy your day.

What happens if for any reason you are not able to perform the ceremony as booked?

Because we are both celebrants if either one of us is unable to perform the ceremony the other can do so instead, which makes it a lot easier than trying to find a celebrant at short notice and will not incur any further costs for you. If it is a marriage and the original celebrant is unable to officiate, the paperwork has to be legally transferred to another celebrant and because we both involve ourselves in all aspects of the process this is easily accomplished.

If both of us are unable to officiate we transfer the paperwork to another celebrant so your ceremony can still go ahead. If the reason we are unable to officiate is caused by an error on our part we will refund all fees you have paid to us. If however it is for a reason out of our control we may retain the deposit.

What happens if it rains on the day of our ceremony?

Ceremonies in the open always carry an element of risk that the weather will be unfavourable. You should always have an alternate venue chosen close by just in case. On the day, if in doubt the best plan is for everyone to attend the original venue and then make the decision to move elsewhere if required. The other alternative would be to clearly state on the invitation the wet weather alternative and give a mobile number for them to ring if in doubt, and then organise for a responsible person to carry that mobile and let people know what is happening.

Wet weather ceremonies must still start at the same time as the original ceremony was booked eg you can not say 3pm in the park or 6pm at the restaurant if wet! Don't forget to clear all alternate arrangements with your celebrant and other service providers like caterers and /or photographers.

What happens if I need to contact you at any time?

You can contact us by phone or email, as often as necessary. We both want to make this ceremony as perfect as it can be. There is no extra charge for this.

Can you recommend other service providers we can deal with?

Yes, we can supply you with a list of local service providers however they are completely independent of the services we offer, and you should contact them direct to make your own assessment of their suitability for your needs.

What are the legal requirements?

For a wedding you are required to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage form (NOIM) and send it to us duly signed and witnessed as per the requirements on the form. This must be no later than one month and one day prior to the ceremony and no earlier than 18 months before.

You may send a photocopy of this signed and witnessed form to us but we must have the original before the ceremony can be performed.

We will need to sight proof of your date and place of birth. If you were born in Australia this can only be your birth certificate. If you were born overseas this may be either your birth certificate or an overseas passport, which may be out of date but cannot be one which is cancelled. We can not accept an Australian passport for this although you may offer it as photographic proof of identity which we will also need to see.

If either of you have been married previously we will need to see proof of how the marriage ended, eg either a death certificate or Decree Absolute/Divorce certificate (depending upon the year of divorce).

You must be over the age of 18 and not in a prohibited relationship. You will also need 2 witnesses over the age of 18.

For all other ceremonies there are no legal requirements.

Can we marry anywhere in Australia?

You will need an authorised marriage celebrant or Civil Marriage Celebrant (CMC) like us to perform a wedding ceremony outside of a church or synagogue. You are allowed to marry on most beaches or parkland although you may need a permit and/or have to pay a fee to do so. Many couples also choose to be married in wedding chapels on private property. eg in the vineyards.

How many witnesses do we need?

You will need two witnesses who have to be over the age of 18. These can be anyone you choose other than the celebrant or minister.

Are same sex marriages legal in Australia?

No. Same sex marriages are currently not recognised in Australia. A commitment ceremony is usually performed instead.

How old do I have to be before I can get married?

In Australia the marriage of any persons under the age of 18 without an order from a judge or magistrate is invalid. A person aged 16 or 17 years old must obtain their parent's consent plus a court order from a judge or magistrate before the marriage can take place. Under no circumstances can the marriage go ahead if both parties are under 18 years old or if either party are under 16 years old.

Can I marry someone that I am related to?

The Marriage Act 1961 prohibits people from marrying an ancestor/descendant, or their brother/sister whether half-blood or whole blood siblings. These restrictions also apply to adoptive relationships even if these have ceased to be effective for any reason.

This means that a person cannot marry their parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister. However they may marry their aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin or stepsibling.

I want to arrange a marriage as a surprise to my fiancé. Is that possible?

NO. Both parties are required to lodge written notice of your marriage to your chosen celebrant no later than one month and one day before the ceremony (and no earlier than 18 months) in the form of a validly signed and witnessed Notice of Intended Marriage NOIM. If one party is overseas and unable to sign at the time of lodgement the NOIM may be lodged with just one signature but the second party must be aware of and agree to this, and the NOIM must subsequently be signed in the presence of the celebrant before the marriage can take place.

Even if there is evidence that the person would previously have agreed to a marriage proposal, their consent must not be assumed. No person can be put under pressure to enter into a marriage and the pressures imposed by a 'surprise' wedding could place in doubt the validity of the marriage. ie that the person's consent to the marriage was not a real consent because it was obtained by duress or fraud.

Can I use the Marriage Certificate presented to us on the day of our marriage to change my name on my bank account/drivers license?

The Marriage Certificate presented on your wedding day is only proof that you are legally married. The reverse side of the Marriage Certificate advises of this situation.

What you will need for change of name purposes is the registered version of your Marriage Certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM), who charge a small fee for this. You may also apply for a ceremonial certificate at the same time suitable for framing. We will supply you with an application form or you may download one from the BDM site.

If you are not planning to use your married name you are not obliged to obtain the BDM registered Marriage Certificate.

I am currently seeking a divorce. Can I still lodge my NOIM with you?

Yes, however the ceremony can only take place after the date the divorce is made final. You will need to produce an original Divorce Certificate to us before you can be married. For more information go to Family Law Court.

I want my brother/sister/friend etc to marry me. Can this be arranged?

People not authorised as marriage celebrants may participate in aspects of the marriage ceremony. However an authorised marriage celebrant must fulfil all legal requirements for solemnising the marriage. See the Attorney General's website for more information.

What happens if we wish to change Celebrants?

If for some reason you need to change your Marriage Celebrant you will need to notify us as soon as possible that you are no longer requiring our services and also of the reason for your change of mind. If necessary, we will then arrange to transfer the NOIM that you lodged with us to your new Marriage Celebrant, or you may fill in a new form and wait a further month. You should note, however, that we will retain the non refundable deposit for work we have already done on your behalf and the new Marriage Celebrant, by right, may also charge you a fee to repeat this process.

What do I do if I have a complaint about you or any other celebrant?

First of all, if the complaint is about us, I would hope you would contact us so that we might have an opportunity to work something out regarding this. Most complaints arise because of a misunderstanding or lack of communication between the two parties

If the complaint is in relation to a wedding, The Attorney General's Department have a process whereby you can complain to them but they do like you to have contacted the celebrant first to discuss any problems and try and work out a solution. If this proves to be unsatisfactory you will need to write to the Attorney General providing a written formal complaint detailing the celebrant's name, your complaint, the name of the marrying couple and the date of the wedding. You must also state that you give permission for your complaint, including your name, to be sent to the celebrant concerned for his or her comments and explanation. This must be made within 3 months of the matter complained of. See the Attorney General's website for more details if required

When the Department receives a written complaint it is recorded and acknowledged and a copy is then forwarded to the celebrant requesting comment. When the celebrant's explanation is received, as assessment is made of what action, if any, is to be taken. If the explanation is unsatisfactory, depending upon the gravity of the breach and the circumstances, the celebrant may be counseled or asked to provide reasons why he or she should not be revoked.

If you wish to make a formal complaint, please write to:

Marriage Celebrants Unit
Family Law Branch
Attorney General's Department
National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Do we have to attend any premarital courses?

It is not compulsory, it is your choice entirely, but couples who do attend a premarital relationship course say they find it very helpful. We will supply you with a copy of the booklet " Happily Ever Before & After" and also have information about these courses if you need it.

Can we use paperwork that is in another language?

No. Legal documents and other paperwork need to be in English. They must be translated by a translator registered with NAATI.

If I need a translator for the wedding ceremony do they have to be a registered translator?

No. They can be anyone who is fluent in both English and the required language. They will however need to sign a Statutory Declaration to state that they are fluent in both languages. There are penalties for deliberately stating incorrect information in a Statutory Declaration.

What if we are an overseas couple wishing to marry Australia?

If you are you will need to consider the following points to ensure your marriage is legal and your day runs smoothly:

Most foreign governments have agreements in place whereby your marriage in Australia will be recognised in your home country. You may need an Authentication or an Apostille Stamp placed on the registered copy of your Marriage Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

Further details can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Anyone may marry in Australia providing you are both over the age of 18, not already legally married and not in a prohibited relationship. You do not have to be an Australian Citizen and there is no requirement for you to have lived in Australia prior to your marriage.
You can marry the day you arrive however you must already have lodged your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with your required officiator no later than one month and one day and no earlier than 18 months before the ceremony date. You can get this form from your officiator (celebrant) or you can download it yourself from the Attorney General's website. (all 4 pages). Page 4 of the Form will tell you who can witness the form for you. You need to get the form witnessed at the Australian Embassy or Consulate in your country and then either fax or post it to me. It cannot be lodged in your country.
Other documents you may need will be original (no photocopies, certified or otherwise) birth certificates, your overseas passports (which may be out of date but NOT cancelled), divorce papers or death certificates if applicable. All of these papers must be brought with you on your arrival to Australia for sighting by the Celebrant. Please note that you cannot be married in Australia unless you have these original papers with you. They must be in English or be translated by an authorised Translator (see above)

Can we remarry in Australia if we have been married in another country?

No. We can not perform a wedding ceremony if you are already legally married regardless of where you were married. You can however hold a renewal of vows ceremony (or a commitment ceremony).