Weddings at Lauriston House Function Centre
Lauriston House Lauriston House is a magnificent event center, especially for weddings. It is a heritage-listed property surrounded by picturesque Victorian gardens and stunning interiors.
Weddings Legal Requirements Step-by-Step
Legal Requirements for Marriage in NSW
Navigating Weddings Legal Requirements is a vital step in planning a seamless wedding.
Booking an experienced celebrant in Sydney will make this process smooth and stress-free, guiding you through each step to ensure your marriage meets all legal standards.
In Australia, couples must first lodge with a celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month before the big day. An authorized celebrant handles the register for marriage process, ensuring that all necessary documentation is in order.
Weddings legal requirements in Australia.
How to get married in NSW and If you intend to marry in NSW – A civil marriage celebrant or clergy must authorize the marriage.
A legal wedding ceremony is a union of two people to the exclusion of all others. Also, same-sex marriage in Australia is legal since December 2017.
Registration of Marriage NSW
Marriages NSW in Only 3 Simple Steps
- Lodge and sign the NOIM with me. (either in person or by e-signature)
- Present/email me either original birth certificates + photo ID, OR passports. If applicable – Divorce/death papers/change of name.
- Enjoy your wedding ceremony. This is all YOU have to do. I will take care of the legal/paperwork for you as well as the wedding.
Documents the Marriage Celebrant Must Sight
The Marriage Celebrant must sight certain documentation before the marriage is solemnized.
- Either your Original Birth Certificate and a photo ID OR your passport.
- If either of you has been previously married then your Original Divorce papers or Death Certificate of a previous spouse. ( For a copy of your Divorce Paper please contact the Family Law Court in the State you were Divorced)
- If either party has officially changed their name, then a Change of Name Certificate is required.
* Any documents in a foreign language must be translated into English and a Translation Certificate supplied.
Requirements for Getting Married in Australia
- You must be over 18 years old.
- You must be marrying of your own free will.
- Both partners must be free to marry (not married to somebody else at the time of your wedding).
- You need to lodge the NOIM form with a celebrant.
- All nationalities can get married in Australia.
NOIM For Weddings
- It is a legal requirement to complete a “Notice Of Intended Marriage” and lodge it with your marriage celebrant, at least 1 calendar month and no longer than 18 months before the wedding ceremony day. It is valid for 18 months.
(I would suggest earlier rather than later so we can start the legal process) - You’ll need to sign the Notice of Intended Marriage Form either with your celebrant or another authorized person who must witness your signature.
Statuary Declarations – If you cannot obtain a copy of your birth certificate due to you being a refugee or other circumstances, I can help you complete a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration where you state details of the date and place of your birth, your parents, etc.
The Easiest Way to lodgeNOIM
- The quickest hassle-free easiest way to lodge the NOIM will be with a celebrant.
Two witnesses at the Wedding Ceremony
There should be 2 witnesses over the age of 18 present to sign the Marriage Register and Certificates after the wedding ceremony.
The Marriage Age in Australia
Both persons intending to marry must be over the age of 18.
So if one party is between the age of 16 and 18 years old you will need to obtain the following:
* parents’ consent on the required form
and
* a court order under section 12 of the Marriage Act.
Documents Couples sign after the Wedding Ceremony
You will be signing 3 marriage certificates following the ceremony.
- The first is the official marriage certificate, form 16, which the celebrant will send to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to officially register the marriage.
- A Declaration of no legal impediment to marriage form.
- The third is a numbered Commonwealth Marriage Certificate. It is a legal document proof of your marriage, which you will receive on the day as a keepsake.
The Proof of Marriage you will Receive
- At your wedding, you will receive a commonwealth Marriage Certificate. So this certificate is conclusive evidence of your marriage but not of your identity.
- An official marriage certificate from the BDM. Some entities e.g. Passport Office & RTA require you to produce a copy of your Marriage Certificate. I will obtain it for you from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (fee applies).
I will ensure you have a full understanding of all legal requirements of a marriage. As well as undertake to comply with all areas of the Marriage Act 1961.
The Marriage Celebrant Must -
- Identify themselves to all parties, as the wedding celebrant authorized to solemnize the marriage. Then the celebrant has to say the words required by section 46 (Monitum), in the presence of the parties, the formal witnesses and the guests before the marriage is solemnized;
- Ensure that they see and hear the vows being exchanged because it is the exchange of vows that constitutes the marriage;
- Sign the papers required by the Act and register the marriage.
Sydney Marriage Celebrant
Call us for all your questions today.
Testimonials
I can’t thank you enough, Orna. No one can make it the best but you. We have been happy with you while preparing our wedding. You not only helped us but also you were being our friend planning, assisting and advising. We love you so much. It was one of the best choices that I’ve made in my life for going with you for our beautiful Sydney wedding. I hope you are well and there are no more great words that we can explain about your brilliant service. Take care!.
Chace & Lucy
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Shortening of Time For a Wedding
It is possible to shorten this minimum time of 30 days if special circumstances set out in the regulations are met.
- Firstly, you need to meet with me to fill out the Notice of Intended Marriage Form.
- So I will then provide you with a special letter to the authorities.
- You will need to approach a prescribed authority for approval (your Local Court or Registry Officials). They are the only ones that can shorten the required period if they are satisfied that the circumstances prescribed in the regulations are met:
These circumstances are:
1. Employment-related or other travel commitments.
2. Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations.
3. Medical reasons
4. Legal proceedings.
5. Error in giving notice.
The reason for seeking a shortening of time must fall within one of these categories and it is up to the prescribed authority to approve the application ~ it is not an automatic process.
Translation and Interpreting Services -
Community Relations Commission 24hr/7days on-site interpreting service available 1300 651 500 or Sydney 02 8255 6767 Level 8 175-183 Castlereagh St, Sydney Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm.
For marriages dissolved before 1975, a copy of the decree absolute can be obtained from the Supreme Court in the state where the marriage was dissolved.*
Couples living interstate or overseas having a wedding in Sydney
It is not a problem at all. Hence, the process is very easy. So if you live interstate or overseas and will not be in NSW until a few days before the wedding ceremony, we can still go ahead with the lodgement of the NOIM.
Please contact me for the latest updated NOIM. The appropriate authority has to sign the form in that state and then post it off to me.
Just contact me for details.
State Registry Offices
(for all birth, death and marriage certificates).
| NSW | ACT |
| GPO 30 Sydney NSW 2001 http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au | GPO Box 788 Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: 02 6207 6444 |
| Queensland | Victoria |
| PO Box 188 Albert St., Brisbane QLD 4002 Ph: 07 3247 9203 | PO Box 4332 Melbourne VIC 3001 Ph: 1300 369 367 |
| South Australia | Western Australia |
| GPO Box 1351, Adelaide SA 5001 Ph: 08 8204 9599 | PO Box 7720, Cloisters Square WA 6850 Ph: 08 264 1555 |
| Northern Territory | |
| PO Box 3021 NT Ph: 08 8999 6119 |