As your Marriage Celebrant I am bound by the Laws of Australia to
Discuss the values of marriage & your perspective and Marriage and how
it is seen under Australian legislation;
Provide you with a brochure entitled Happily Ever ...Before and After and
remind you of the solemness of Marriage;
Provide you with contact details for Marriage Counsellors;
I will complete a Marriage Ceremony Worksheet. This sheet will assist me
in understanding how you want your Ceremony to run and whom you
wish to be involved.
I will also offer
A P.A. system (if required);
A small table and chairs to sign the register (if required);
A document of some 29 pages as well as a selection of actual
Ceremonies (no personal details) . This document will allow you to build
your own Ceremony.
Your Stuff Here
You can use this space to give a blurb about what you are offering.
Wedding Fee Structure
The fee will vary depending on where the ceremony is to be held and what is required.
My basic fee includes
· Up to 2 face to face meetings
· A Rehearsal, if you require one.
· Completion and lodgement of all Statutory Forms
· Provision of information that will assist you to craft your ceremony.
· My assistance / guidance in writing the ceremony
· On the day I will be in place a minimum of 20 minutes before the planned start.
When we complete the Notice Of Intended Marriage, I will require a non-refundable deposit of around $150 .
The balance of the fee is payable 10 working days prior to the wedding date and is preferably paid by direct deposit.
The Ceremony
You may have definite ideas on your ceremony structure, If you are unsure of how you want the ceremony to proceed , I am here to assist you put together your own Unique “Ceremony To Remember”
I will supply you with a document of some 29 pages as well as a selection of actual Ceremonies (no personal details) . This document will allow you to build your own Ceremony.
You are required by The Laws of Australia, to have 2 witnesses 18 years of age or older. Gender is not important nor is their place of residence or their citizenship. These witnesses along with Bride and Groom will need to sign the relevant legal papers. If you haven’t already thought who this ,now is your opportunity to do so. These witnesses can be anyone attending your ceremony. It does not have to be members of the Bridal Party.
Think about whom you would like to hold and present the wedding rings.
If you have children from a previous relationship or this relationship , there are ways to involve them in the ceremony, if this is something you would like.
Finally the Ceremony will go very quickly so remember this and really just take in and enjoy every moment.
Wedding Rehearsal
The law dictates that where the parties to be married request a rehearsal then one must be held.
The fees you pay for your wedding ceremony include the rehearsal as a standard item. There is no cheaper price available for choosing not to have a rehearsal.
If you do not require a rehearsal , that is acceptable . I do, though, recommend a rehearsal.
At this meeting the following will occur
ↀ We will sign a Service Agreement detailing;
(a) the services the Celebrant will provide and
(b) the “responsibilities” of the Bride & Groom ” through out the process.
We will each have a copy.
completed not later than 1 month before the wedding date and not longer than 18
months before the wedding. The sooner the NOIM is completed the better.
declares that there is no legal impediment to your Marriage. This may be signed at this
meeting or a later meeting, depending on how many weeks away the Ceremony is.
You will need to bring to this meeting
Your Birth Certificates. Not a copy or an extract - an “original” is required.
Photo ID e.g. A current Passport or Drivers Licence
Court issued papers which evidence of a divorce if, either or both of you
have been previously married
A death certificate if either or both of you have been previously married
and your spouse has passed away.
Residents of other Countries will need a birth certificate and/or a current
passport.
Should you be under the age of 18 you will need to provide signed
parental proof or a Magistrates order allowing the Marriage to proceed.
A sworn Statutory Declaration if you were not born in Australia and
cannot get or do not have a Birth Certificate.or a Passport..
Weddings and What’s Required
Whilst it may at first appear daunting, the process is in fact quite simple.
There are certain legal requirements leading up to the ceremony and within the ceremony itself, all of which are mandatory under the Marriage Act.
So what’s involved?
ↀ Initial phone / internet contact
ↀ We meet to discuss your requirements and for you to assess if you want me as your celebrant.
ↀ Having decided to proceed we need to set aside an hour, maybe a little more, for a meeting to deal with paperwork to get the process underway. This may continue on from our initial meeting. It is up to you.