Frequently Asked Questions

Legal Requirements for Marrying in Australia.

Before you may marry, the law requires that you sign and lodge with me The Notice of Intended Marriage form (Download)

This form can be submitted to me 18mths prior to a wedding date but the cut off time is a minimum of one calendar month and one day prior to the wedding. You can submit your Notice in person to myself, or via fax/email or mail, once it is witnessed by any of the people stated at the back of the notice but you must bring the original Notice with you when you meet with me. The NIM form will remain active for 18 calendar months from the date of submission.

You must be over 18 years of age to marry in Australia

If you are Australian born you must show your birth certificate in English. If born outside Australia you are required to show your birth certificate or passport from your country of birth.

If either of you have previously been married you will have to produce your Divorce Decree Absolute papers and/or if either of your spouses are deceased, you must produce the Death Certificate.

On the day of your marriage you must have two witnesses over the age of 18.

 

How long do you arrive before a wedding?

I am there aprox 1/2 hour before and allow an 1hour for a wedding

 

What will you be wearing to my wedding?

This is a difficult question when asked, as this always depends on the seasons and the temperatures, but my clothing is never bright colours and is always subtle and complimentary to my brides and grooms photos (look at my web page for photos)

 

How many weddings will you be performing on my wedding day?

Again difficult to answer as a fulltime professional marriage celebrant, this is my profession, as we are appointed by law to marry couples, and have a role to play as does the registry and the church. And this depends on the day, and the month. If I have an 11-00 wedding in the city then my next wedding would be around the same area at 4-00. I make it a practice to never rush my weddings or my brides. I would rather give a wedding away than cause anyone, including myself stress.

Seating, and carpets for the ceremony.

I am more than happy to assist you with people who will look after the garden set up for you. Carpets, Signing tables and chairs, chairs, arches etc.

Please ensure when talking to them, that you make sure that if the wedding is being held in summer months especially high end of summer, late November, December, January and February that you tell your set up people to place us all in the shade, some of them have no idea and it turns into one of our high 30 to 40degree days it is very uncomfortable, for all concerned.

I was in the gardens that other week and it was so hot, my groom and his men in full suits and male guests also. The event people had set us all up in the blazing sun, despite the fact that a few paces to the right we had a big cool tree.

The white seats were so hot no one wanted to sit down…there were elderly guests, pregnant women and balding men, and the perspiration just dripped off the groom, and no one tends to listen to the cermony, they only want to retreat to the shade.

Be sensible go to your chosen place a few days before the wedding at the exact time your wanting to be married, and then stand there for ½ hour with out moving and see how hot it is going to be. See where the sun is positioned for glare, and in it is going to be directly in your face and then let your chair people know where you want to be.