Frequently Asked Questions

"What happens in a ceremony?"

Hi there,

The only words that are bound legally to a ceremony are:

- As a celebrant, I will announce to guests to introduce that I am authorised to officiate this ceremony.

-Monitum

-Your legal vows.

The rest of the wedding is your choice.

Usually it will go something like this:

-introduction and welcoming of guests

-Procession: the bride and groom will enter: together, bride will walk down with a family member, with/without bridal party, together at the arch with celebrant.

-a few words to let everyone know about the story behind this wedding; it can about why you have chosen this date/location; how you met; your struggles and why you have decided to get married.

-acknowledge special someone who cannot make it to this occasion; or anyone special to both parties.

-readings/speeches

Monitum + legal vows*

Ring exchange/other rituals (have a chat with me and we will come up with something together)

Recession: exiting as a married couple - i can introduce you in a number of ways - mr & mrs, your first names; here i can announce to guests to congratulate you in anyway that you like: confetti; bubbles; or simply just clapping.

Q:

Its my first time getting married. I've just been told to contact a celebrant; what happens now? How do I "lodge" my form?

A:

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations.

Yes, the first step to legally getting married is you do need to contact a celebrant to LODGE a Notice of Intended Marriage Form at the latest one month before your intended date of marriage.

You can obtain a copy of this form via Service NSW's website (if you live in NSW) or your celebrant will email you a copy of the form for you to fill in your details. You can then submit it to your chosen celebrant either in person and bring a photo ID and proof of age and birth place ID or electronically via email, your celebrant will still need to sight your IDs in person before your ceremony. If submitting in person, your celebrant can also witness your signature on the form. The day you submit your form to your celebrant, your form is lodged and your ceremony can be conducted one month from this date. This form will be valid for 18 months.

Forms of ID:

- passport

-driver licence/proof of age card

-birth certificate ( if a birth certificate is impossible to be obtained, then a statutory declaration is needed to prove your identity).

Your celebrant will explain and take care of your legal marriage documents.