| Q. |
What useful tips do you have to ensure all goes well on our Wedding Day? |
| A1. |
Planning for Your Wedding Day can include checking the times of sunrise/sunset, tides and long/short term weather forecast. If the wedding ceremony is to be outside ensure you have an alternate plan/venue. In case you do need to change location on the day have someone organised with a list of phone numbers to contact the guests.
Click on GeoScience Australia www.ga.gov.au/geodesy/astro/sunrise.jsp
Check Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au |
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| A2. |
Be as organised as possible; do any preparations that you possibly can, in advance of your Marriage Day. Allow family and friends to assist you. They will be happy to help. Practise reading your vows aloud by yourself. Remember to take a deep breath and read slowly. Ask your readers to practise, too. Arrange to have drinking water close by at the ceremony. Some vaseline on the inside of a wedding ring may help it slide onto the finger easily. I will be at the venue in plenty of time to assist wherever needed and to help calm nerves. This is going to be one of the most fantastic days of your life. Enjoy! |
| Q. |
Can couples from overseas marry in Australia? |
| A1. |
They are most welcome to do so. We are always happy to show off our beautiful country. They need to comply, as do all couples, with the requirements of the Marriage Act 1961. Some websites are mentioned here which could be of particular benefit to those from an overseas country. Please read the following Qs and As.
I am happy to respond to your enquiries. See my Contact Me page. |
| Q. |
Where/when can we marry in Australia? |
| A1. |
You may marry at any time or place within Australia – including Australian waters and Australian airspace. This includes Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. |
| Q. |
What can you tell us about the three Marriage Certificates that we sign during our Marriage Ceremony? |
| A1. |
Each certificate is different. You may need to obtain a registered copy of your Marriage Certificate from the WA Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages e.g. when applying for an Australian Passport. If you reside in an overseas country you may need to have this Registered Copy endorsed as genuine by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Click on my explanation here. |
| Q. |
Can you assist with the immigration of my fiancé to Australia?
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| A1. |
After you have lodged the Notice of Intended Marriage form with me I can prepare a “Fiance Visa Letter” to advise the Immigration Department of your intended marriage in Australia. |
| Q. |
What documents do the Bride and Bridegroom need to complete in preparation for their marriage? |
| A1. |
A ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’ (NOIM) is required to be completed by the couple and received by the celebrant at the latest - one month and one day prior to the marriage. At the earliest - 18 months prior to the marriage.
Shortening of time can be allowed in certain circumstances.
Click here for a copy of the NOIM.
The Celebrant is required to sight an official certificate or extract of your birth.
If this is in a foreign language it should be translated.If you were born overseas and cannot provide your birth certificate you may produce your current overseas passport. A Statutory Declaration will need to be made by you or your parent if you are unable to provide either of the above.
Click here for a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration.
If you are divorced or widowed, the celebrant needs to sight the certificate of divorce or death.
For Births Deaths & Marriages in Western Australia – to download Forms and Applications etc. Click here.
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| Q. |
How old do we have to be to marry in Australia? |
| A1. |
At least one of you must be 18 years of age. Consent may be given by the parent/s or guardian of a person who is over 16 but not yet 18 to marry a person who is 18. If this consent is not given other avenues are available. |
| Q. |
What are the requirements in relation to witnesses to the marriage?
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| A1. |
Two persons over the age of 18 must be present as witnesses to your marriage. |
| Q. |
What does your fee include?
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| A1. |
The detail of what services I provide is set out on the Services Page. My fee is all inclusive and is tailored to your personal requirements. |
| Q. |
Are we free to select the wording of our Marriage Ceremony? |
| A1. |
One of the advantages of a Civil Ceremony is that you are able to select the words that you wish. I will be there to guide you as little or as much as you would like to ensure your Marriage Ceremony is meaningful. However, I have been authorised by the Attorney General as a Marriage Celebrant and am obliged, under Australian law, to include certain words within the ceremony. The words are those of my authorisation and the definition of marriage plus one sentence to be included in your vows. I trust that this will not impact on your wishes. |
| Q. |
What is your professional standing?
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| A1. |
I endorse the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants as set out in the Marriage Regulations 1963.
I am a member of both the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants and the Marriage Celebrants Australia (Inc) W.A.
I hold Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. |
Should you have any concern about the service I provide please discuss this with me. You may forward a complaint to the Marriage Celebrants Section of the Attorney-General’s Department.
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Click on
The Attorney General’s Marriage Celebrants Section provides useful Downloads and Links for many topics on Marriages.
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