What You Need To Know (or the boring bits)

The Marriage Act 1961 and the Marriage Regulations 2017 set the rules for getting married in Australia.

You Must:

* Not be married

* Not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister.

* Be 18 years, unless a court has approved a Marriage where one person is 16-18 years old.

* Understand what Marriage means and freely agrees to marry.

* Use specific words during the ceremony.

*Give a Notice of Intended Marriage form to an authorised marriage celebrant at least no later than one calendar month prior to the ceremony day, and no sooner than 18 months before the wedding.

* Be legally married by an authorised marriage celebrant.

The right to marry in Australia is no longer determined by sex or gender

On our first meeting I like to complete the Notice Of Intended Marriage Form -NOiM

This will book in your Date and Time of ceremony..and also your chosen celebrant for your special day.

This is also a legal form that is lodged with Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state where ceremony takes place,

I need to sight from both of you:

Full Birth Certificate or Passport

Drivers Licence

If you have been married before a certificate of Divorce or if passed away a death certificate.

At our first meet and greet I will be giving both of you a copy of a

Happily Ever Before and After Marriage brochure.

This is for both of you to read, as the decision to marry is strengthening your marriage before marriage.

Now that's the first and most important thing done.

Before the ceremony takes place (I try to catch up with you either the night before or on the wedding morning) you both must sign a Declaration Of No Legal Impediment to Marriage.

This states that you are :

Over 18 (or have court order which celebrant must send to BDM)

You're not related to each other

You are not currently married.

By signing you are also stating that you understand that you are getting married and you have consented to do so.

Finally after the ceremony is complete you will sign

Official Certificate of Marriage (which is lodged with BDM)

The Wedding Certificate

These last two have to also be signed by two witnesses over the age of 18 years .

That is basically the Legal bits of Marriage.