Blog
Category - Wedding Legals
To be married legally in Australia,
you must do everything the Marriage Act requires and
do it of your own free will, both before and during
the ceremony. I make sure everything is done
properly and legally, so as not to create any
problems for you down the track. But I"m also
committed to is also important to read between
the lines, and to carefully examine all the things
that people think are legal requirements, but
aren't. This blog category also includes information
about overseas destination weddings.
See also Tutorials
About Getting Married(Bite-size how-to posts about the legal aspects of getting married.
Particularly useful when completing your Notice of Intended Marriage
- Most
Frequently Asked About
- About Witnesses
- About Giving Notice
- About
Certificates and Signing
- About Legal Requirements for the Ceremony
- About Changing your Name
- About Consent
- About Destination Weddings - both here and there
- Other Things to Know about Legal Marriage
Most
frequently asked about
out
What's a Legals Only Wedding?
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (28/01/2020)
You might be wondering what those Legals Only weddings you've seen advertised are. Simply put, Legals Only is marriage celebrant speak/shorthand for the bare minimum ceremony as required by the Marriage Act. But that's not the whole story ... More ...
How to have a Non-Legal Wedding Ceremony
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(14/05/2020)
Getting married and having a wedding can be a two-step process.. ... More ...
10 Things we "Know" about Getting Married that Ain't So (26/07/2016)
Categories: Wedding Legals | Wedding PlanningAs Artemus Ward said 'It ain't so much the things we don't know that get us in trouble. It's the things we know that ain't so.' In wedding land there are a lot of common beliefs that just aren't true ... More ...
7 Surprising Facts about Getting Married in
Australia
Categories: | Wedding Legals |Wedding Planning | (16/09/2019)
Getting married in Australia is easier than many people imagine - here are some little known facts that confirm that. ... More ...
About
Witnesses
out
Being a Witless Witness is not an option!
(08/10/2024) Categories: | Wedding Legals |
When you are one of the legal witnesses to a marriage, you have to have your wits about you throughout the ceremony because you could be called on to testify in court. More ...
Witnesses and Disability
Categories: | Wedding Legals | (04/03/2024)
You need two witnesses to a legal marriage. Despite how common ableist assumptions are about this role, a witness having a disability is not an automatic disqualification More...
Avoid pre-wedding dramas with a Witness Lottery
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |(02/10/2019)
Because being witness is an honour, not choosing someone who expected to be chosen can cause hurt feelings and a ongoing drama, including broken friendships and family rifts. Sidestep problems by having a witness lottery .... More ...
Witnesses and Weddings
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals |(05/12/2018)
In Australia, no matter whether you marry in church, the registry office, or by a civil celebrant, and no matter whether you have the big white wedding with a large wedding party, or choose just to elope, the one thing that every wedding must have is two witnesses... More ...
About
Giving Notice
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Giving Notice of Your Intended Marriage when You
Live at Opposite Ends of the Country (or the Earth)
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(24/02/2020)
Giving Notice of your Intended Marriage when you are not together in the same state or country is not as difficult as it might seem at first. ... More ...
No Licence Needed
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | Wedding Planning |(21/02/2020)
Getting married in Australia is super simple. You don't need a marriage licence, and your venue doesn't have to have a licence to host wedding ceremonies ... More ...
What is a month?
Categories: | Wedding Legals | (25/01/2020)
What is a month? is an all-important question because you can't legally be married less than a full calendar month from the day you give Notice (on the Notice of Intended Marriage) ... More ...
About
Certificates and Signing
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Form 15: The On the Day Certificate (and yes, it is a Legal Document!)
(16/01/2025)
Categories: | Marriage Paperwork | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |
Despite all the misinformation floating around about it, the Form 15 certificate your celebrant hands you on your wedding day IS a legal document and not a mere keepsake or souvenir. More ...
Your Marriage Certificate(s)
Categories: | Marriage Paperwork | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(06/02/2020)
Every couple marrying in Australia will be presented with a certificate on the day. That certificate is proof that you are married, but it isn't proof that your marriage has been registered. So you need a second (and different) certificate as well ... More ...
Can Guests Sign Your Marriage Certificate?
Categories: Celebrant |
Wedding Legals | (25/11/2019)
Your Presentation Certificate is a legal document, therefore only your two legal witnesses may sign it, along with you and your celebrant. But there are other lovely options for guests to sign More ...
The curious reasons why Marriage Documents are signed with black ink
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(04/08/2019)
Have you ever wondered why your marriage certificate must be signed in black ink? Or, indeed, why the Notice of Intended Marriage should be filled in using black ink (if you're filling it in by hand)? It has a lot to do with archival requirements - but also with status! More ...
Signing the Register and the Certificates (updated 16/12/2017)
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |Everything you need to know about signing the Marriage Register and Marriage Certificates... More...
About
Legal requirements for the Ceremony
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3 Words in the Legal Vows that say Everything -
Without Making a Single Promise
(28/07/2025)
Categories: | Vows | Wedding Legals |
The Legal Vows are the mandatory words that create your marriage, a declaration that contains 3 words that say everything, without making a single promise More ...
The Monitum in a Civil Marriage
(02/05/2025)
Categories: | Wedding Legals |
In every civil wedding the celebrant is required to recite the Monitum. There are good reasons for this, and for why it is not required in a religious wedding. More ...
AI, Copyright, and you, the Celebrant
(30/03/2024) (Previously published article)Categories: | for Celebrants | Wedding Legals |
A discussion of the risks and realities of using AI tools such as ChatGPT to write celebrant blogs, ceremonies, and materials More ...
Why it is Lawful Wedded, not Lawfully Wedded?
Categories: | Vows | Wedding Legals |22/08/2023
There is a huge legal difference between taking one another as your Lawful Wedded spouse compared to saying Lawfully Wedded spouse. Which is why you mustn't change that one word when you say your legal vows More ...
Weddings and Weaponry in Queensland
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(03/11/2021)
Carrying a knife (sgian dubh) is part of the traditional male Scottish Highland Dress. But in many
places, including Queensland, carrying a knife in a public place can land you in trouble with the law. Read on to find out about the rules and what you can do to get round them .... More...
Could a Tandem Wedding be Your Thing?
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |(10/10/2021)
A tandem wedding ceremony is one that is officiated by two people, working in concert, but only one of whom is authorised to solemnise legal marriages ... More...
About Changing
your Name
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How to Change Your Name
(14/07/2025)
Categories: | Changing Your Name | Wedding Legals |
If you decide to change your name, here is the most efficient way to do that, together with the long list of entities you need to notify More ...
Keeping your Name after Marriage, the Modern Option
(30/01/2025)
Categories: | Changing Your Name | Wedding Legals |
While the majority of women in Australia still change their names to their husband's name on marriage, the numbers of women who don't increases every year. More ...
Legal Name Change or Change of Name by Marriage - the Facts and the Pitfalls
Categories: | Changing Your Name | Wedding Legals |(24/10/2021)
Changing your name after you are married. You don't have to do it. But if you decide to change your name you have the choice of doing it *by marriage* or through a *legal change of name* so how do you choose? ... More ...
About
Consent
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Safeguarding Love: Why it's the law that your
celebrant must meet with each of you separately before
you can be married
Categories: | Wedding Legals | (31/08/2025)
In Australia it is now a legal requirement that the celebrant meets individually with each of the marrying couple to ensure that they are not being forced, coerced, or tricked into the marriage ... More ...
The Importance of Consent: Why no-one can force you
to marry, to kiss in your wedding, or to have sex
afterwards
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (02/03/2020)
Celebrants in Australia have to be on the lookout for any indication that you might not be freely and willingly agreeing to marry, and if we are at all concerned, to pull the plug on the wedding. You can't be forced to marry, to kiss during the wedding, or to have sex after marriage ... More ...
Booze, Pills, and your Wedding
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | (08/07/2019)
Being drunk or under the influence of other substances, legal or otherwise, can prevent you from getting married More ...
About
Destination Weddings - both here and there
ou
Everything You Need to Know about Marrying Overseas
when you Live in Australia
(21/04/2025)
Categories: | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |
What do you need to know as Australian residents wanting to marry overseas and have your marriage recognised in Australia? Getting it wrong, believing you are legally married when you aren't, or are not legally married when you are, could get you into an immense amount of legal hot water back in Australia - even to the extent of ending up with a criminal record. More ...
Will your overseas destination wedding be recognised
in Australia?
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(28/08/2019)
While Australia generally recognises overseas marriages, as long as those marriages would be legal if solemnised in Australia, there are a number of things you need to do to make sure your destination marriage overseas is recognised in Australia ... More ...
Will your Australian marriage be recognised
overseas?
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(06/08/2019)
Will a marriage registered in Australia will be recognised overseas? Generally speaking, legal marriages solemnised in Australia are recognised world wide, but that's not the whole story More ...
Bali Weddings (27/07/2016 update 25/09/2019 to reflect changes in Indonesian law)
Categories: Wedding Legals | Wedding PlanningEverything you need to know about getting married with an Australian celebrant in Bali ... More ...
Other
Things to Know about Legal Marriage
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Heads Up: Your Wedding Will Invalidate your Will
(14/11/2024) Categories: | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |
When planning your wedding don't forget that getting married will invalidate your will. You need to make a new one in order to ensure that your assets are divided up the way you want them to be and that your children are cared for by someone you trust. More ...
What Marriage Changes - and What it Doesn't
(24/03/2024)Categories: | Wedding Legals |
Getting married immediately changes your legal status, and with that comes a change in rights and responsibilities... More ...
What Does The Marriage Act Do?
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(26/09/2021)
The Marriage Act applies to all marriages solemnised in Australia. It lays down the framework, creates offences, and deals with the recognition of foreign marriages ... More...
Why Border-Straddling Weddings Are a No-No
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(25/09/2021)
Marriages in Australia must be registered in the state or territory in which they take place... More
Getting Married When You Have a Disability
Categories: | Inclusive Weddings | Wedding Legals |(19/08/2021)
There is no disability or disease that will prevent you getting married in Australia... More
7 Things your Celebrant does NOT need to know ... and 3 things they have to be sure about
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(29/07/2021)
There are certain things that the Marriage Act requires that your celebrant must know in order to make sure your marriage will be lawful. There are also things that they don't need to know... More ...
What if you change your mind? Annulment or Divorce in Australia
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(11/05/2021)
In Australia there are very limited circumstances in which you can get a marriage annulled. Buyer's Remorse (change of mind) isn't one of them. ... More ...
Like First Impressions, the First Line of Your Wedding Ceremony Matters
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(26/09/2020)
The first line of your wedding ceremony can be captivating and intriguing. It can make your
guests lean forward, eager to participate. It does not have to be boring. Unfortunately, it often is... More ...
Your Wedding Vows: Legal, Personal, Private? What's the Difference?
Categories: | Vows| Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals |(12/09/2020)
What's the difference between legal vows and personal vows (personal promises) and can you keep
them private?... More ...
The Most Important Step in Your Wedding is Free!
Categories: | Wedding Legals |(27/05/2020)
Did you know that the most important part of your wedding happens after it is all over - and that it doesn't cost you a cent? ... More ...
Getting Married via Skype - Possible in Australia or
Not?
Categories: |
Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | Wedding Planning | (24/03/2020)
Sorry, it is NOT legal in Australia to get married over Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or
other videoconferencing technology, or by proxy. And this is why... More ...
Can You Have Two (or More) Weddings?
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | Wedding Planning | (17/03/2020)
Can you, as a marrying couple, have more than one wedding? The answer is Yes, but also, That Depends... More...
Not "Just a Celebrant" (and Not "Just Half an Hour")
Categories: | Celebrant | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding
Planning |(28/02/2020)
What does a celebrant do? And why do they charge for more than the half hour the ceremony takes? The easy answer is that a celebrant changes your legal status from not-married to married. which is a pretty big thing. Life-changing, in fact. And they do that by creating and performing a ceremony. But it certainly doesn't stop there. When you hire me as a celebrant, you're getting a lot more than someone who will make sure you tick a few legal boxes, stand up in front of your guests, rabbit on for a bit, and then declare that you are married. ... More ...
It's True - Your Marriage Ceremony can be
Unstructured!
Categories: | Wedding
Ceremony | Wedding Legals | (19/01/2020)
It might surprise you to learn that there is nothing in the Marriage Act that requires that your marriage ceremony has to follow a tightly structured script. As long as you meet the very minimal legal requirements, everything else is optional! ... More ...
When Disaster Strikes - Plan D - How to Get Married Legally When your Venue and your Celebrant are Unreachable
Categories: | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |(03/01/2020)
The one thing that is required to make any Plan B work is the capacity to communicate. When disaster strikes, and communications are cut, even the most detailed and multi-faceted Plan B is useless. So what can you do if you've planned your wedding (and a viable Plan B), and now your venue and your celebrant are within one of the disaster zones ... More ...
I Won't Judge You or Your Choices (unless the Law
makes me do so)
Categories: Celebrant |
Wedding Legals | (12/11/2019)
There are some things which the law, and my obligations under the law as a Marriage Celebrant, requires me to make judgements about. But there are many things that people fear being judged about that I definitely don't and won't judge you for ... More ...
A Spontaneous Wedding? Yes you can
Categories: | Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | Wedding Planning |(29/09/2019)
Does that whole let's get married now vibe appeal to you? No big wedding, just running away and doing it without any fuss and bother?... More ...
Saying I Do in Secret (it's legal!)
Categories: | Wedding Legals |Wedding
Planning | (18/09/2019)
If you choose to be married with a civil celebrant in Australia you can be married in secret ... More ..
Getting married when you don’t identify with a
gender
Categories: Inclusive Wedding |
Wedding Ceremony | Wedding Legals | (23/05/2019)
Gender is now immaterial when getting married in Australia. When marrying you do not have to use gendered terminology or adhere to gendered role ... Read on...
Surprise Weddings - How to have a successful one
without breaking the law
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals | Wedding Planning | (03/05/2019)
The Marriage Act is very clear. Surprise weddings are illegal - but only if one of the marrying
couple is being surprised. Which means there are plenty of legal ways to have a surprise wedding ... More ...
When are you actually legally married?
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals |(08/02/2019)
There are many incorrect assumptions about when in the sequence of the ceremony, the signing, and the registration of their marriage a couple is actually legally married. ... More ...
What if Someone Objects?
Categories: Wedding Ceremony | Wedding
Legals |(05/01/2019)
We've all seen it in movie after movie - If anyone knows any reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now .... So what happens if someone objects at your wedding? More ...
Friend or Professional Celebrant?
Categories: Celebrant | Wedding Ceremony
| Wedding Legals |(02/12/2018)
Would choosing a friend instead of a professional celebrant to conduct your wedding ceremony be a good option for you? Everything you need to consider - and how you can have the best of both worlds ... More ....
Privacy and You, Your Wedding, Your Marriage
Categories: Wedding Legals |(04/11/2018)
If you’ve ever wondered what my reasons are for rarely posting photos of the couple, or mentioning their names, even though I’ve officiated well over 800 legal marriages ... More ...
Is your celebrant duly authorised? (06/08/2018)
Categories: Celebrant | Wedding Legals |
While scams involving persons who are not authorised celebrants are extremely rare in Australia, now that a celebrant can be deregistered forthwith if he or she fails to pay the annual fee celebrants are now required to pay, it is particularly important to check whether your celebrant is still registered More ...
