Getting Married
Getting married to your partner is one of the most important and beautiful events of your life. For everything you need to know about getting married, from our initial contact, first meeting, legal paperwork and ceremony format, through to your rehearsal and ceremony, I will help guide you through the entire process with professionalism and ease.
So where do you start?
Firstly, I’ll need to know the date, time and location of your ceremony and which Wedding Ceremony style you are interested in, so that I can confirm my availability for you.
Once known, we can then arrange a convenient time to meet in person over coffee (or video call), whichever you prefer.
Our first meeting is “no obligation” and an opportunity for us to get to know each other. This is a chance for you to also ask questions and discuss your plans further.
I will ask you to bring to our first meeting, original documentation to establish your identities, including any of the following (where applicable):
– a full Birth Certificate, or an official extract of an entry in an official register, AND
– a driver’s licence, by way of photo ID, OR
– an Australian or overseas Passport showing the date and place of birth (*this form of ID replaces both a Birth Certificate and Driver’s Licence); AND
– evidence of any name changes since birth; AND
– evidence of any divorce or death of a party’s spouse.
~ Charlotte & Joshua ~
The Old Dairy Maleny – QLD
During our meetings, I will provide you with a thorough explanation of all legal paperwork, including the Notice of Intended Marriage form (‘the Notice’), the Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage (‘the Declaration’), Marriage Certificates and application to the Registry for an official Certificate (discussed further below).
The Notice is the first legal documents to be prepared by you. Once prepared, I will then review it for completeness and arrange a time to witness your signatures. This must be done at least 1 calendar month before your proposed ceremony date and no earlier than 18 months. For example, if you were to sign it with a Celebrant on 20 July 2026, then the first day they could legally marry you, would be 20 August 2026. This will usually be done in our first or second meeting.
Once the Notice is signed, I am legally required to provide you with a brochure called ‘Happily Ever…Before and After’, which outlines not only the importance of marriage, but marriage education, counselling and dispute resolution; changing your name; making a Will and Taxation.
The Declaration is the second of the legal documents, which is to be prepared by me. It is recommended that this be signed as close to your ceremony date as possible, to ensure all information is correct and up-to-date. Your Rehearsal is an opportunity to sign this document, but it can be signed on the day of your ceremony, so long as it is done before it commences, noting the time it was signed.
As a Registered Online Service Provider with the QLD Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, I can apply (on your behalf) for an official copy of your Marriage Certificate to be sent to you after your Ceremony. You will need this official Certificate to prove that you are legally married (as the certificate I give you on the day, is a presentation copy only). You will also need the official Certificate should either of you decide to change your surname by marriage. From 1 July 2026, the application fee (payable to the Registry by you) is $58.10 plus postage. *Fees will vary from State to State.
On the day of your Wedding, you will need 2 legal witnesses to sign the Marriage Certificates and they can be a family member, so long as they are aged 18 years or older. ID does not need to be provided, unless I am unsure they are of legal age.
There is a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ administration work that goes into getting married, from preparing all the relevant legal paperwork mentioned above; preparing your ceremony document; attending various meetings; responding to emails, calls and texts; offering a rehearsal in preparation and readiness, managing and performing your ceremony. All in all, celebrants do not just turn up on the day :)
CONTACT ME for more information and let’s start planning your special day!
