Getting Married
In Australia
To be legally married in Australia you must:
- not be married to someone else;
- not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister;
- be at least eighteen years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where one party is aged between sixteen and eighteen years old;
- understand what marriage means and freely consent to becoming husband and wife;
- use specific words during the ceremony;
- give written notice of their intention to marry to their authorised celebrant, within the required time frame.
To be legally married in Australia you must:
- not be married to someone else;
- not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister;
- be at least eighteen years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where one party is aged between sixteen and eighteen years old;
- understand what marriage means and freely consent to becoming husband and wife;
- use specific words during the ceremony;
- give written notice of their intention to marry to their authorised celebrant, within the required time frame.
Before your marriage ceremony can be solemnised, you must decide where the marriage will take place and whether the ceremony will be a religious or civil event. As an authorised marriage celebrant I can perform both forms of ceremony, which are recognised as legal marriages under Australian law.
A Notice of Intended Marriage must be completed and lodged with me, your celebrant, at least one calendar month, but no more than 18 months, before your preferred date of marriage. You can download a copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage form here
The marriageable age in Australia is 18 years for both men and women. If you are under 18 years of age and you wish to be married, please contact me for further information regarding the legal requirements.
Before I can marry you, you must show me documentary proof that you are 18 years old or older. That evidence must be either a birth certificate or a passport. I may also need to see your driver’s licence or other identification to support the information given on the Notice of Intended Marriage form.
If either person has been married before, that person must show me proof that they are free to remarry. That proof is usually in the form of a Certificate of Divorce or a Death Certificate.
You don't have to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia to legally marry here. Where either the bride or groom is a foreign national entering Australia on a Prospective Spouse Visa (Fiance Visa) the wedding is required to take place within 9 months of the granting of the visa. Such weddings may be either be conducted in very simple English or with the assistance of an Interpreter as required.
As your celebrant I can provide the required letter and other documentation regarding the arrangements for the wedding that authorities require as part of the visa application process. There is an affordable extra charge for this service.
On the day of your wedding, you will sign three marriage certificates. Each certificate should be signed by you, your celebrant and two witnesses. One of the certificates will be presented to you as a record of your marriage.
As your celebrant, I will register your marriage with the Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within fourteen days.
The certificate issued by the registry is required for many official purposes. It is advisable to apply for a copy of this certificate from the registry after your wedding.
Getting Married
Overseas
If you intend to marry overseas you should be aware please that marriage celebrants authorised in Australia can only perform legal marriages within Australia.
An overseas marriage cannot be registered in Australia, and the foreign marriage certificate will be evidence the marriage has occurred. Ensure you keep this certificate as it may not be easy to replace if lost and it provides the only evidence of the overseas marriage.
An overseas marriage will generally be recognised in Australia if:
- it was a valid marriage in the overseas country;
- it would have been recognised as valid under Australian law if the marriage had taken place in Australia.
The Smartraveller website has detailed information about getting married overseas.
Perth Wedding
Council Permits
If you would like to hold your wedding ceremony on a public beach, or in a public park or garden within Perth, you will need to obtain a permit from the relevant Perth Regional Council. Below are links to local council websites.
Can't Find What You're Looking For?
If you can't find the information you are looking for, then please get in touch.
I will be happy to help and answer any questions you have.
