Weddings

David looks forward to meeting you and sharing in this wonderful time in your life.

'Couples today, wish to have more input into the ceremony. They wish to express their love for each other in a genuinely romantic sincere and public way. Thus many people will take pleasure in speaking their vows in the form of a specially written verse.'

Even though the modern engaged couples have their special desires for their wedding, David  finds that they still appreciate the quite dignity and formality of the legal requirements for the actual ceremony. Together with the much more personal and relaxed wording available

Weddings nowadays are performed in amphitheatres, gardens, parks, on the beach and in backyards - wherever the couple decides. This freedom is available to modern couples and that Celebrants are able to participate, David is delighted to be a part of this 'new generation' of weddings.

Stress free weddings

So, we offer a few suggestions, from 'lessons we have learned' to help you have a stress free ceremony.

First, we suggest that you arrive early; not ON TIME or LATE, but early. Then after you arrive, if you want to be a little late that's OK.

This will provide you with some 'personal time' to prepare for the most important part of your day. In most weddings, the ceremony usually begins a few minutes late.

This is acceptable and often unavoidable as it usually takes a few minutes to co-ordinate the 'start up'.

Beginning your ceremony reasonably close to the invitation start-time you have booked with the Celebrant is a small way in expressing gratitude for your guest's presence and will assure a stress free ceremony.

Some  final words on arriving on time. Some believe that it is 'fashionable' for the bride to be late.

The truth of the matter is that it creates a lot of stress on the wedding party, the guests, and others involved in your wedding day. The ceremony may not go according to plan and many of the scheduled events following the ceremony are often rushed. (from the photographer, caterers, limo drivers, to the reception.- nobody likes being rushed!)

Secondly, the good news is that most guests do arrive early and on time. However, a potential cause of stress is when your ceremony is delayed, because of late arrival by guests!

 People either are notoriously late or may be late for legitimate reasons.

Occasionally 'late arrivals' may try to enter at the same time as the bridal party.

To prevent this from happening consider assigning someone, to 'HOLD BACK' 'late arrivals' until the wedding party has entered and are in place.
Perhaps a friend, or the wedding organiser/hostess could be asked to assist late arrivals by 'holding them back'. After the wedding party has entered they may then be allowed to enter.

The legal requirements are as described by the Marriage Act 1961-1976.

The legal requirements of 'getting married' are quite straightforward and once you have decided how you'd like to be married,  the celebrant will advise you of your responsibilities, and help ensure you meet them.

In all areas of life, it pays to know where you stand legally, so we'll take a quick look at how the law sees your intention to wed

A 'notice of intended marriage' must be lodged at least no less than one calendar month (i.e. if lodged on the 2nd of this month you may get married on the 3rd of the next month) and you cannot lodge the form earlier than eighteen months, prior to the selected wedding date.

This time is supposed to prevent 'spur of the moment' marriages, giving partners time to reconsider their decision. In exceptional cases, this waiting time may be waived/ or shortened by the "Prescribed Authority"

Your, celebrant, will provide you with the "Notice of Intended Marriage", or it may be downloaded at the foot of this section and this should be lodged with him once you have completed the details. On lodging the completed "Notice of Intended Marriage", you have started the legal marriage process.

You will require:  If you are an Australian born Citizen:  An extract  or original  of your birth certificate !  
For overseas Born Citizens: Birth Certificates, as well as, passports for identification.

If either party has been previously married:- A Decree Absolute or Death Certificate is required as proof that any other previous marriage has been terminated.

All documentation presented must be in the English language or translated by the Accredited Translators.

If one partner wishing to marry is under 18 years of age, the legal road ahead is going to be a little rockier than if you were both 18 years or older.
If one partner is younger than 18, you must have parental consent and a magistrate's or judge's order before you can be married. The same applies if both partners are younger than 18, but it appears to be more difficult to receive the magistrate's or judge's order, if both partners are not legally of age.

Person's under the age of Eighteen years of age cannot legally be married without a court order

Notice of Intended Marriage Form

The Notice of Intended Marriage Form can be Downloaded  here. 
The form can be completed on screen and should be printed out. The 'Save function' has been disabled.

You will need Acrobat reader installed, you can download here