By having a civil ceremony, you have the option to choose any place you wish for your marriage ceremony.
- a wonderfully grand affair in a formal garden
- on a cliff top or on the beach
- at the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- in a non-denominational chapel
- at a function centre
- on a luxury yacht on the harbour
- an intimate affair in a hot air balloon
Your marriage ceremony can be at any time of the day; dawn to dusk, sunrise to sunset. The choices can be overwhelming and a list of suggested venues has been provided for you to consider.
On the 9th of December 2017, amendments were finally made to the Marriage Act 1961 to provide for marriage equality. The right to marry in Australia will no longer be determined by sex or gender. I welcome enquiries from ALL couples wishing to be legally married in Australia.
I strongly recommend that you book your Authorised Marriage Celebrant as soon as you have set your wedding date (even if you haven't made a decision on the venue for the ceremony). I accept bookings up to 18 months in advance from couples in order to secure their chosen wedding date. I will then arrange to meet with you and review the necessary paperwork, answer any questions you may have and discuss with you the format of your ceremony.
Together, we will need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (a copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage form can be downloaded from the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department website). This form must be lodged with me at least 1 month prior to your ceremony taking place.
The Notice of Intended Marriage form can also be filled in by you and your signatures witnessed by a prescribed authority if you are unable to meet with me. Again, this form must be lodged with me at least 1 month prior to your ceremony taking place.
Whether you born in Australia or overseas, you must provide an original birth certificate OR your passport - this can be an Australian or foreign passport.
If you have been married previously, you will need to provide documentation (original or authorised copy of your divorce certificate) showing how the marriage was terminated.
A deposit is required at the time of activating the Notice of Intended Marriage and to secure your booking with me. I will then provide you with a selection of ceremonies that I have crafted. After you have had time to review the ceremonies, you may choose to use one in its entirety or a mix of the various ceremonies. You may also use them to gain inspiration to design your own ceremony (which I am happy to assist you with).
Your ceremony is special to you and your guests and should be heard by all attending your wedding. I can supply one of two state-of-the-art portable cordless PA systems with wireless microphones. The PA systems are also available to play music which I am happy for you to utilise during your ceremony. I will conduct a sincere and professional ceremony and will ensure that I dress to fit in with the style of your wedding - it is your day, not mine!
You are required to sign three documents during the ceremony; the Certificate of Marriage, the Marriage Register and the presentation Marriage Certificate. You will need two witnesses over the age of 18 to sign these documents.
At the end of your ceremony you will receive your presentation Marriage Certificate and bound copy of your ceremony as a keepsake.
I will attend to the lodgement and registration of your marriage with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in a professional and timely manner. I can also assist you with the application for an official marriage certificate.