Frequently Asked Questions

     What is a civil marriage celebrant?

A Civil Marriage Celebrant is someone who has been appointed by the Australian Commonwealth Attorney General to solemnise marriages at any location in Australia.

How soon can we get married?

You can get married one calendar month and one day after the celebrant receives the Notice of Intended Marriage (valid for eighteen months).

What do we do next?

You must be at least 18 years of age to marry in Australia. Before you can be married, Australian law requires you to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (which I will provide) or you can print the NOIM from the Attorney General's website www.ag.gov.au/celebrants and have it signed by an authorised person.  

What documents do we need to bring?

I must sight your original birth certificates or authorised extract. If you were born overseas and can’t produce your birth certificate, your overseas passport will be accepted.  If either of you have been married before, I must sight an original copy of your Decree Absolute, Certificate of Divorce, annulment certificate or the death certificate of your former spouse, whichever is applicable.  If you were born in Australia you must provide a copy of your birth certificate, an Australian passport will not be accepted. These documents must be produced before the marriage can take place.  For identification purposes I will need to sight your drivers licence or other photo ID, e.g. Passport.

Anything else to sign?

Before the marriage ceremony you need to sign a declaration stating that there is no legal impediment to the marriage between yourself and your intended spouse. This can be done at the rehearsal or in the week leading up to the ceremony. On the day of your wedding, after the ceremony, you sign the wedding register and marriage certificates.

Where can we get married?

Your wedding can be held just about anywhere: beaches, parks, gardens, private homes, boats or restaurants. I will be happy to make some suggestions if you are unsure of a location. If you choose an outside location ensure you have an alternate venue in-case of bad weather. Contact the local council for any outside venues as some of them only charge if you have more than thirty people attending. Some Councils don't allow PA systems, amplified sound or marquees, so be sure to check before you book. I am based in Sydney's Inner West, which is only 20 minutes from the city and close to all motorway & freeways. I am available for ceremonies all over the Sydney area, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, South Coast and beyond.

We live overseas/interstate, can we get married in Sydney during our holiday?

Yes, you can, providing all the legal requirements are met. The Notice of Intended Marriage must be received by me no less than one calendar month and one day prior to the wedding. The details can be arranged via email, telephone and fax. You plans can be finalised when you arrive in the country/state. Bookings will only be accepted with a deposit of A$200.00. I accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Cheque, Money Order, Bank Draft or Direct Deposit. (a 3% surcharge is applicable on all credit cards)

The steps are:

• Complete a Notice of Intended Marriage - I can email this to you or it can be obtained from any Australian Embassy world wide or on-line from the Attorney General's website.

• Have your signatures witnessed by an Australian Consulate official or Notary Public. (The witness must also sight your your relevant documents - e.g. birth certificate, divorce papers, death certificate)

• Fax or email me a copy of the NOIM with copies of your supporting documents.

• Send the originals by registered mail or bring with you. (I must sight the original documents before the marriage can proceed).

• If you were born outside Australia, you must provide your birth certificate or overseas passport.

• If you were born in Australia you must provide your birth certificate.

• If either of you have been previously married, you need to provide the original or certified copy of your Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate of former spouse.

• You must both be over the age of eighteen.

• You will need two witness over the age of eighteen.

* Fiancé Visa - If your fiancé wishes to enter Australia under the prospective marriage (fiancé) plan, I will supply a suitable letter for the Australian Consulate along with a copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage. Only one person needs to come to the initial interview to complete the legal forms. For couples who are overseas prior to the wedding, all the arrangements can be completed via telephone, email or by post. 

What do we do after the wedding?

British Commonwealth residents will need a registered copy of the marriage certificate. I will register your marriage on-line on the same day as your wedding. You can apply for the copy the next working day from  the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages at their Chippendale or Parramatta offices -Telephone: 1300 655 236. The office hours are 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday. I can order the certificate for you directly after your wedding or provide you with an application form. The fee is $44.00 or if required urgently $65.00. Or if you don't have time to apply for a registered copy of your marriage certificate while you are in Australia, you can have your marriage documents deposited with the General Register Office. Contact them on www.fco..gov.uk

Residents from other countries will also require a registered copy of the marriage certificate and may require an Apostille stamp or authentication certificate to be able to register the marriage in their country of residence. It is advisable to check what documentation you require from your consulate or local registry office in your home country. The Apostille stamp can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Sydney. The address is Level 7, 26 Lee Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Telephone: (02) 9207 6904, or follow the link www.dfat.gov.au/sydney  This office is only open from 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday and it will take three working days for your document to be authenticated. If you provide them with a stamped self-addressed envelope they will post the certificate to you.

How much does it cost?

My fee for a standard wedding is $490. I am not registered for GST so there are no additional charges. Please go to the Weddings page for detailed information about the inclusions. A non-refundable booking fee/deposit of $200 is required when signing the Notice of Intended Marriage. The booking/deposit fee covers the costs of completing all legal documentation, *statutory declarations, *letters for immigration department (*if required) and securing my services for the day of your wedding. Extra charges may apply for long distance travel, water taxi fees, national park entry fees & inner city parking fees. The only other cost is $44 to Births, Deaths and Marriages for a registered copy of your marriage certificate.

Do I have to change my name?

It is customary for a woman to change her surname to her husband's surname when she marries, although you are not legally required to change your name. It is a  matter of choice, if you do wish to change your name, a registered copy of your marriage certificate is required for your drivers licence, passport, bank, voting poll etc.  This can be obtained from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages at the Chippendale or Parramatta offices. Telephone: 1300 655 236. I can order this for you directly after your wedding or provide you with an application form. The fee to BDM is $44.00 or if required urgently $65.00.

How do we pay you?

Payment can be made by cash, money order, cheque, credit card, American Express or direct deposit into my bank account. Please contact me for details.

"There is only one happiness in life ~ To love and be loved" ~ George Sand ~