What do I need to get married in Australia?Identity and eligibility documents As your Marriage Celebrant I must see the following original documents:
Evidence of the date and place of birth of both of you. This can be either a birth certificate or a current overseas passport
Current photo ID. This can be either a driver’s license or proof of age card
Evidence of any previous divorce or death of any spouse. If applicable this can be either the original divorce or death certificate of the previous spouse
All your documents must be in English—or you must supply NAATI accredited translations if they are in another language
There must be 2 witnesses over the age of 18 at your wedding ceremony ( I can help arrange this)
An interpreter must be at your wedding ceremony if one or both partners cannot understand or speak English
What type of ceremonies do you perform as a celebrant
Weddings
Elopements
Small Weddings
Same Sex Weddings
Renewal of Vows
Commitment Ceremonies
Where do you perform wedding ceremonies?
Port Douglas
Cairns
Palm Cove
The Daintree
Will I get to proof my ceremony wording before the wedding day, and if so when?
Absolutely! I believe it is really important for couples to see and proof their ceremony before the special day for a number of reasons:
You know exactly what to expect on the day. You know how the ceremony flows, allowing you to relax and connect with each other.
You have the opportunity to make any changes you wish, so the ceremony really reflects you as a couple.
There will be no unwanted or awkward ‘surprises’ on the day.
I like to have a draft of your ceremony for you to review at least a month prior to your wedding ceremony, this will allow you plenty of time to personalise it further and add your own ideas to make your ceremony uniquely you! As a wedding celebrant I am well aware that on the week's and day's leading up to your wedding, couples are typically flat out, getting all the little details finalised so you don’t need me also looking over your shoulder.
I plan to take my husband/wife/ spouses ’s surname, do you submit my application for my marriage certificate?
As I have sighted your original IDs and registered your marriage with BDM QLD, I am also authorised to submit a online request with Births, Deaths and Marriages QLD for a Official Marriage Certificate. BDM QLD then text/email you direct for payment and the Marriage Certificate is posted out to your nominated address. Then when you return from your romantic honeymoon, you will have your hot off the press official marriage certificate ready and waiting for you to commence the change of name process.
I want to write my own vows but I don’t know where to start, how can you help?
Personally written vows are such a lovely way to incorporate your personalities into your wedding ceremony, I am able to provide you with inspiration and guidance and I am also more then happy to proof read them. You can either memorise them, read them or repeat after me at the wedding ceremony - the choice is all yours!
Tell me about your PA System? Is it cordless? (creating a more seamless ceremony and eliminating a trip hazard)
One of the most common pet peeves that you hear from guests is that they couldn’t hear the ceremony, so a good quality PA System is vital. I have a professional PA system with cordless microphones, so everyone can hear your ceremony and it means that you won't have to yell your vows which is the last thing you want in such an intimate and personal moment.
Can I use your PA System for my ceremony music?
Absolutely and it is free of charge, you provide the music to me and we go from there. Couples that elope or are having a smaller wedding are able to use my Bluetooth BOSE speaker so they can also enjoy their favourite music.
What kind of insurance do you have?
Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. I have a PA System that meets the legal requirements of the 2015 bandwidth changes.
Is there anything that I absolutely must include in the ceremony aside from the legal wording/ requirements?
The simple answer is NO, just like getting married is about choice and preference, so is what you include in your ceremony. This is where I come in and work with you to craft the ceremony that is about you and the celebration of your love and whatever that means to you.
In the event that you have an accident or become ill and are unable to perform the wedding, what arrangements do you have in place? There is an amazing network of professional wedding celebrants in Port Douglas, Palm Cove and Cairns that will ensure that your wedding ceremony goes ahead.
Overseas Couples
Whether you want to elope or you want an intimate wedding with family or you just want to renew your wedding vows, Australia is a great place to have your destination wedding; especially if you love to travel and you’re feeling a little adventurous. It’s simpler than you think:
Compared to other countries like France which require you to be in the country for 45 days before you can marry, it’s much easier to get married in Australia.
Start your honeymoon sooner: Having a destination wedding surrounded by beautiful tropical coastlines means you can start your Honeymoon ASAP.
You already speak the language: Australians speak English. If you’re reading this then so do you. It’s much harder to arrange a wedding in another country where you don’t speak the language.
It might save you money: If you elope to Australia, it may cost you less than if you were to have a traditional wedding in your home country and hundreds of guests.
When you tell people you got married in Australia people will envy you and think you are cool!
Weddings, Elopements and Vow Renewals
For further information specific to your wedding, elopement, vow renewal, please click on these links. I have provided further detail for each type of ceremony. If you have question's please contact me.