We (Brian and Sheila Longden) are Idoby2celebrants, a husband and wife team of marriage celebrants who would be honoured if either of us were to be chosen as your celebrant for wedding ceremonies, renewal of vows ceremonies, baby naming ceremonies, same sex and other commitment ceremonies.
There are several important things to look for when choosing a celebrant
It is not easy to choose a celebrant who is right for
you. It will be the most significant decision you will have to make regarding
your wedding or other special occasion. People may remember details of your
clothes or the location, but it is the beauty and elegance of the ceremony
that you and your celebrant create together that you, your family and guests
will remember most..
Your celebrant should be an experienced and knowledgeable professional who
is able to supply you with a selection of vows, readings and other material
you need to help you create a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.
Your celebrant should be flexible and approachable. You should feel that you
would be welcome to contact your celebrant about any issues or questions you
may have about your day.
Your chosen celebrant should have a clear speaking voice and be able to be
heard clearly and provide a PA system if required.
Do not choose a celebrant just on cost. The cheapest may not be the best.
Check what is covered by the fee and whether there are any additional charges.
Your marriage celebrant will need to be registered with the Attorney General
as a Civil marriage celebrant. They do not need to be registered to perform
naming ceremonies, renewal of vows or commitment ceremonies
Your celebrant should have testimonials and /or photos from previous ceremonies for you to look at.
If required, your celebrant should be able to provide
you with suggestions for including family members in the ceremony.
Your celebrant should have arrangements in place in case there is a delay
in your ceremony or if the celebrant gets sick.
Celebrate your special day in a truly personal way...with style…..with Idoby2celebrants. You deserve a celebrant who is committed to doing their best for you!
We are both Civil Marriage Celebrants and have been
the celebrants for many wedding ceremonies in Sydney and the Whitsundays as
well as one in Singapore, but now concentrating our efforts in the Central
Coast, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and Western Sydney regions..
Like all Civil Marriage Celebrants we take great pride in maintaining a high
standard of ethics, professional integrity and confidentiality., We are aware
that a weddings and other ceremonies can be stressful time for everyone concerned
and will conduct your ceremony in a warm and relaxed manner whilst still treating
your day with the greatest respect and care. We want you to feel comfortable
with us and confident that we will suit your needs and that we will enhance
and complement your special day.
We are both passionate about creating ceremonies that reflect the values and
beliefs of the couples we meet. Together we can create a ceremony that is
traditional or modern, mystical or spiritual; one that is in tune with what
you want.
We are both full time marriage celebrants and we support each other fully.
We both attend every ceremony that we are booked for at no extra cost. If
you are unsure whether you want a male or a female celebrant for your wedding,
baby naming day, vow renewal or commitment ceremony, you can book us and make
that decision closer to the day.
For Australian Birth Certificates : http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/links/links.htm
Attorney General's Dept http://www.ag.gov.au
To apply for the official marriage certificate after your wedding:
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/marriages/applicationForm.htm
Family Law Court for Australian Divorces: http://www.familycourt.gov.au/
Hamilton Island Weddings www.hamiltonislandweddings.com.au/
Information re Apostille stamp http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/authen.html
Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.dfat.gov.au/
Prescribed Authority for Underage marriages
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Marriage_GettingMarried_PrescribedAuthorities
Statutory Declaration http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Statutory_declaration
Marriage Act 1961
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw%5Cmanagement.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401554?OpenDocument
NAATI (translations and Interpreters) http://www.naati.com.au/
Weddings:
Whether you are interested in a shorter simple ceremony or one that is more elaborate we are delighted to create a ceremony that is in harmony with your cultural, spiritual or other traditions. We offer suggestions to help but as long as the legal 3 parts are included you are quite welcome to write as much or as little of the ceremony as you wish. Bear in mind however this is a moment you will want to remember for the rest of your life and it is advisable to think carefully about the length of your ceremony as you don't want to feel afterwards that it could have been longer.
This is the time to celebrate your love and friendship,
your dreams and goals for your new life together. There are many beautiful
and meaningful ways to include family members and friends, including those
not present for one reason or another, through the use of cultural symbols,
poems, songs or special ceremonies 4
Renewal of vows
This is ideal for couples who are already married to each other (whether in Australia or overseas). You may have gone through a small wedding in your own country and now wish to celebrate with a larger ceremony in front of family and friends (or vice versa). You may also wish to celebrate a significant moment in your marriage. Whatever the reason, this ceremony can be as beautiful and meaningful as a legal wedding. Because there are no legal components, there is more freedom for you to have a ceremony EXACTLY as you wish.
Commitment Ceremonies:
As same sex marriages are not currently legally recognised in Australia, many same sex couples wish to openly display their love for one another by formalising their commitment with the intention of sharing the rest of their lives together.
This ceremony may also be used for other couples eg those already legally married to other people but not divorced. There is no legal registration so the ceremony can take any format the couple wishes. Like the weddings and renewal of vows this ceremony marks a special and significant moment in your relationship and between us we will create a beautiful meaningful ceremony.
Baby Namings or other Rites of passage:
The welcoming of a new baby, or even an older child, as a member of the family and the community is always something special. The child is usually named and welcomed in a ceremony in the presence of family members and friends. This ceremony may consist of prayers and readings, if desired, or you may prefer a format to suit whatever style you wish. You may like to appoint Godparents who will assist in the guidance and protection of the child through life.
Something similar can also be used to celebrate at times of other traditional rites of passage like puberty and coming of age. It may also be a celebration for any significant event in the person's life. We can create a beautiful ceremony that will enhance the moment and provide a memory that will last forever.
House or Boat Renamings:
There is a superstition that says it is unlucky to
rename a boat. Boats have a life, and a mind of their own, once named and
christened. Naming something, anything, serves to give it life, an energy
and a mind of its own.
When a boat is named and christened, energetically, it has been enlivened,
and from that point on must be treated with the same respect that we would
a person.
You can change the name as long as you do it correctly.
We will create a ceremony that will ask the boat's permission, get the boat
involved and use a de-naming ceremony before christening the boat with the
new name.
Renaming a house is similar. There are a few things that help the house shift
its energy... over time homes tend to develop an energy of their own, especially
once they have been named, so it is always advisable to respect this and communicate
with the house about the upcoming change. At the very least, I would recommend
a good cleaning - washing floors, walls and windows, inside and out, what
folks typically call a "spring cleaning" as the first step in the
ritual... this clears the house of the old energy and helps you to set up
for the new... planting a new tree or garden is also a good way of signifying
the change, as is redecorating, especially of the entrance ways... and of
course doing some formal ritual as you hang up the new name plate somewhere...
if you haven't checked out the name numerologically, I would also recommend
this...
Not sure whether you want a male or female celebrant but not ready to make that decision yet? You can book with us and save the date and then make THAT decision closer to the day.
We are both full-time celebrants so your ceremony can be performed ANY day of the week, as we do not have the same time restrictions as part time celebrants when it comes to preparing and conducting your ceremony. When you hire us, you hire us both, regardless of which one performs the actual ceremony. We are available for weddings, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies and baby namings.
We have performed weddings or other ceremonies in Sydney, overseas and in the beautiful Whitsundays where for some years we were the resident celebrants on Hamilton Island. We mainly conduct ceremonies in Western Sydney, Blue Mountains and Central Coast/Hunter Valley regions but can conduct ceremonies in other areas by special arrangement.
As Civil Marriage Celebrants it is our duty to maintain a high standard of professionalism towards your marriage ceremony and we have great pride in doing so.
We are aware that a wedding can be a stressful time for both the bride and the groom and we endeavor to conduct your ceremony in a warm and relaxed manner and make the lead up to your day as stress free as possible.
We will provide you with a selection of vows and readings to help you create the words that will define your perfect day. If you wish to provide your own selections that is ok as well. As parents of three married daughters we know how perfect everything needs to be and your wedding will be given as much care as if you were part of our family.
It is YOUR ceremony, not ours, and as long as the legal parts are included you can choose what you want as part of the ceremony. You are the most important people on your wedding day and we will do our best to make your ceremony the one of your dreams. We are there to help things along. Not to take over!
We also believe very strongly that a celebrant and the bridal party should meet before the wedding and this can be easily arranged at a time suitable for all concerned. We can meet with you before the wedding on a day and time that is mutually convenient. We can have a relaxed meeting to deal with the legalities and/or rehearse parts of the ceremony so that you can concentrate on your day with one less thing to think about.
Our standard fee includes
Preparation of ceremony (which can include up to 2 readings, a ring exchange + one additional ceremony, eg candle lighting or blessing of hands),
* Checking all legal documents and forwarding them to BDM after the ceremony
* Meeting with you prior to the ceremony, including a rehearsal if you wish (some locations may incur extra costs)
* Solemnization of the marriage
* Use of a small PA system if required for the celebrant and readers
* One personalised copy of the ceremony in a folder for you to keep
Contact: Brian and Sheila
Email: longden_bands@telstra.com
Phone: 0428118149 or 0428121243 Brian and I are both Civil Marriage Celebrants. We are currently the only registered celebrants resident on beautiful Hamilton Island but we will be shortly returning to NSW to be closer to our 3 daughters and their families and where we plan to perform ceremonies in Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast/Hunter Valley regions.
We have officiated at many ceremonies both in Sydney and the Whitsundays as well as one in Singapore. Like all celebrants we have a duty to maintain a high standard of ethics, professional integrity and confidentiality. and we take great pride in doing so. We are aware that a wedding can be a stressful time for both the bride and the groom and we will conduct your ceremony in a warm and relaxed manner whilst still treating the day with the greatest respect and care. We want you to feel comfortable with us and confident that we will suit your needs and that we will enhance and complement your special day.
We are both passionate about creating ceremonies that reflect the values and beliefs of the couples we meet. We would be honoured for either one of us to be chosen as the celebrant for your special day. We support each other fully and both attend every ceremony that we are booked for at no extra cost. If you are unsure whether you want a male or a female celebrant you can book us and make that decision closer to the day.
You are the most important people on your special day. It may be a day you share just with each other, or with your family and friends. It is a day that can never be recaptured and because it is as important to us as it is to you, we will do our best to make your ceremony the one of your dreams and a day to remember…for the right reasons.
Q 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 deposit1 ($100-$150) 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.
Q What is included in your standard fee?
Preparation of the ceremony, which for a wedding can
include up to 3 readings plus one additional ceremony 4 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 rehearsal2 if you wish.
Officiating at the ceremony
One personalised copy of the ceremony in a folder for you to keep
Q 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 eg to Consuls,
Embassies or other Government Departments.
Ceremonies involving unconventional time, place or risk.
Hire of special clothing eg kilts, costume hire.
Any other special requirements, as agreed between all parties.
Q 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.
Q What other special ceremonies can we include in our wedding?4
"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.
Q. 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 3 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 be booked for another ceremony 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.
Q 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 deposit1 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 3 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 rehearsal2 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.
Q 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.
(a) 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 deposit1 will
secure your date and time and will be required before/on lodgment of the NOIM
3
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
Q Can we have a wedding rehearsal?2
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.
Q 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
Q 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 deposit1
Q 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
Q What happens if I need to contact you at any time?
You can contact us by phone fax or email, as often as necessary. We both want to make this ceremony as perfect and it can be. There is no extra charge for this.
Q. 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.
Q. What are the legal requirements ?3
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 or a fax 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.
Q 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.
Q 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.
Q Are same sex marriages legal in Australia?
No. Same sex marriages are currently not recognised in Australia. A commitment ceremony is usually performed instead.
Q 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.
Q Can I marry someone that I am related to? 5
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.
Q 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 3. 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.
.
Q 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.
Q I am currently seeking a divorce. Can I still lodge my NOIM 3 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
Q 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.
Q 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 3 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 deposit1 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.
Q 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
Q 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 have information about these courses if you need it.
Q 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.
Q 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
Q 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 5. 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.
Contact us for more details
Q 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).