The Wedding Process

A Step-by-Step Guide to Organising an Official Wedding Ceremony

There are four key steps that need to be taken to ensure that your marriage ceremony is officially recognised by Australian Law.  I recommend starting the process as early as eighteen (18) months but no later than two (2) months before your wedding day.

1. Introductory Meeting
2. Planning & Documentation Meeting
3. Rehearsal and/or Final Meeting
4. The Wedding Ceremony

1. Introductory Meeting

The first step of the wedding process is meeting with me in person to get to know each other.  This is an obligation free meeting at either your home or a mutually convenient location.  Here we will discuss your initial wedding plans, the location, date and time of the marriage.  I can answer any questions you may have regarding the ceremony and legal requirements.  We can also start to plan the ceremony and any special requirements and rituals you may desire.  This is a great opportunity to get a feel for my style and personality so you can decide if I am the right celebrant for you.  

To take this first step now, contact me by clicking here or the Enquiries link above.

2. Planning & Documentation Meeting

If you decide that you would like me to officiate your ceremony, I will then book in another face-to-face meeting to discuss the final details and to start to fill in the required legal paperwork.  Before this meeting, I can provide you with the legal forms so you can prepare in advance.  A Notice of Intended Marriage form needs to be completed and lodged as early as 18 months before your ceremony or no later than one month prior to your wedding. 

When you provide me with your completed form at this meeting, I will sight the following documents:

If never previously married;

• Birth Certificate or Passport
• Documentation showing your current residential address

If divorced;

• Birth Certificate or Passport
• Divorce Certificate (if you have been divorced more than once, I will need to sight ALL the previous divorce certificates)
• Documentation showing your current residential address

If a widow/widower;

• Birth Certificate or Passport
• Death Certificate of former spouse
• Documentation showing your current residential address.

Please note the following: 

• If any of your documentation is in another language I will only accept a translation certified by a NAATI-qualified translator.  Please visit the following website for details: www.naati.com.au.  
• If your name differs from your Birth Certificate, I will need to sight a previous Marriage Certificate or Change of Name Certificate issued by Births, Deaths & Marriages.
• If you do not have a Birth Certificate, I can provide advice on completing a Statutory Declaration confirming your identity. 

Once all the legal paperwork is out of the way, we can start creating your perfect wedding ceremony!  I can provide you with samples, templates and ideas that follow the traditional wedding order of service.  Alternatively, you can be as creative as you want and we can put together a ceremony incorporating your own ideas and personality as a couple.

We will consider the following factors:

• The feel and look of your ceremony
• The venue (indoor vs outdoor, and 'Plan B' options)
• Music
• Readings or poems
• Vows
• Rings
• Special ceremonies and rituals → click here to learn more
• Participant involvement
• Additional resources and services you require such as photographers, decorators, entertainment or special transportation.  

Once we have gathered your ideas and my suggestions, I will draw up a draft plan.  Over the months leading up to your wedding day, I will in contact with you via phone and email to fine tune the details of your ceremony.  

A non refundable booking fee is payable at this meeting either by cash, cheque, direct bank transfer or PayPal.  This is to secure your wedding day booking and for the lodgement of your Notice of Intended Marriage form (this text to be in the hyperlink format to the actual form).

3. Rehearsal and/or Final Meeting

I highly recommend holding a wedding rehearsal before your wedding - it will allow all the key participants to get an idea of what to expect on the day, and to make sure any traditional or complex ceremonies go smoothly.  If possible, it would be ideal to have the rehearsal at the same venue that the ceremony will take place.  

Closer to the wedding day, we will arrange a final meeting to:

• Check that we all the legal paperwork received and processed
• Run through the final details of the ceremony
• Confirm your two witnesses: both over the age of 18 whom speak and understand English. They will be required to witness the ceremony and sign the certificates on the day.
• Sign the necessary statutory declarations. 

This can all be done at the rehearsal if you choose to have one.

4. The Wedding Ceremony

On the wedding day, all the stress of planning and preparing for the ceremony will be out of the way, and it will be your time to enjoy what you created!  Rest assured, I will do everything I can to make it truly memorable.  

• I will arrive on time and approximately 30-45 minutes before the ceremony
• I will be appropriately dressed for the occasion
• I will meet the bride as she arrives to coordinate her entrance and to make sure she is ready
• I will provide a signing table and chairs if requested
• I will provide the newly weds with a Commonwealth Official Marriage Certificate

Soon after the ceremony I will lodge your marriage documents with NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.  I can also assist with applying for your NSW Marriage Certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriage if requested.  The NSW Marriage Certificate allows the bride to change her name on her driver’s license.  For all other names changes on IDs, the Commonwealth Official Marriage Certificate will be suffice as proof for name change.