Firstly, I would like to whole-heartedly acknowledge the decision you have made. A decision to honour your love with Marriage. To take this step is to make a mutual commitment to one another. This ceremony not only honours your love but also your deep friendship and your loyalty to one another.
When you marry you take a legal vow. In Australia marriage is defined as a union between two people, entered into voluntarily, to the exclusion of all others, for life. It is important that you know that this ceremony is legally binding, it is an official ceremony recognised by the Australian Government. It is also a pure and personal ceremony that gives you the space to pronounce your love and commitment to one another.
When planning your ceremony you will need to consider how you would like the ceremony to proceed. Would you like it to be formal, laid back, fun, or perhaps even themed? Would you like something intimate or do you plan to make it a big celebration? The choice is yours.
Ceremonies often include poetry, literature, music and ritual. These can add depth to your ceremony and be as detailed or simple as you like. You may include family and friends in your marriage ceremony too, whether it be as bridesmaids and groomsmen, a reading of poetry and literature, or in a community ritual like a sand ceremony, unity candle or perhaps a toast to the bride and groom.
There are many options and I am here to help you create the perfect ceremony for your special day!
Wedding Package Options
**Please note ceremony 1 fees include up to 20km travel from my home and ceremony 2 & 3 fees include up to 50km travel from my home, if you are planning a wedding further away there will be an additional travel cost.
Marriage Frequently Asked Questions
The first thing you must do is fill out a Notice of Intention to Marry form (NOIM). You are legally required to have this witnessed by an authorised person, such as myself, a minimum of one month before the date of your ceremony, it is then valid for 18 months. Best not to leave it to the last minute though, you can down load the form here.
When you are having the form witnessed by an authorised person you will need to bring identification documents such as your passport, drivers licence and birth certificate. Having all three will make the process more simple. If all three are not available please bring either your passport and drivers licence or birth certificate and drivers licence. Over 18 ID card is also acceptable if it has your address on it.
If you don’t have all the necessary documents to prove your identity and are unable to get them we can organise for you to sign a statutory declaration, this document is legally binding.
Get in touch with me to find out more…
In Australia you cannot get married online. I can however witness the signing of your NOIM over a video call. Once this is done it must be given to me at least one month before the marriage is solemnised.
I will need to see proof of your divorce.The process of requesting proof of divorce records is different depending on where and when your divorce was granted. To obtain a copy in Western Australia contact Births, Deaths and Marriages (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department- of-justice/the-registry-of-births-deaths-and-marriages) (Kirsty, please open in new page)
If you are waiting for a divorce it may be helpful for you to know that in most cases, the divorce order takes effect one month and one day after the divorce is granted. It cannot be assumed that the divorce will be granted at the first court hearing. In some cases you may be told at the hearing that you need to provide more information.
Rest assured that your NOIM is valid for 18 months.
The commemorative marriage certificate is not a legal document. If you would like to change your name you will have to apply for an official marriage certificate. As your marriage celebrant I can call the BDM and see if your marriage has been registered about three weeks after your ceremony. There is no point applying before then, as your application will be rejected.
You can then either apply in person at your local court, by mail or online. If you apply in person, you will be given the marriage certificate at the time of application.
Here is a list of providers you may need to contact once your Official Marriage Certificate arrives.
The first non-refundable payment is to be paid upon confirmation of you booking. The final payment is due no less than one month prior to the ceremony and is partially refundable.
First steps...
- Complete NOIM (Notice of Intention to Marry) a minimum of 1 month and maximum of 18 months prior to the ceremony
- Get started with planning your wedding. So exciting!
If you choose me as your celebrant we can go through the questionnaire and start to make plans together at our first official meeting. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions.
