The following legal requirements are a must for a marriage conducted by a registered marriage celebrant to be considered legal in Australia:

• You are required to have two witnesses at the ceremony who are at least 18 years of age to sign the certificates and register with you.

• Both parties must be at least 18 years of age. (With the exception of Section 12 from The Marriage Act 1961).

• You must sign a declaration to state that there are no legal impediments to the marriage, (for example, being married to someone else with no divorce finalised, the bride and groom being too closely related etc.)

• A Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) must be lodged with your celebrant no less than one month and no earlier than 18 months before your ceremony. (With the exception of Section 42 (5) of The Marriage Act 1961 - A ‘Shortening of Time’ may be applied for under the right circumstances and must be approved by a Prescribed Authority. Ask me how.)

• There are also 4 things that MUST be said during the ceremony: I must always introduce myself, the couple’s full names must be said at least once, the Monitum must be said, and the legal vows must be recited.

• You must show your original (not photocopied) birth certificate, extract of birth OR Passport.

• If you have been married previously, you must show your Divorce Decree Absolute or Death Certificate of your previous spouse.

For full details and all the info for couples who are about to get married, I recommend visiting the Attorney General's Department

Complete here - https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/publications/notice-intended-marriage

YES! I strongly recommend this for the couple, the bridal party and whoever else is involved in the ceremony (doing a reading etc) to attend a rehearsal 1 week before the wedding, at the venue (if feasible) at the time of the ceremony. This is to check weather, ie if the sun will be in anyone eyes at the time of ceremony or for any last minute changes. This helps with nerves big time – even just to feel more confident about the choreography for the bridal party so there’s nothing left to do on the big day but to enjoy yourselves!

I understand that many couples regret not choosing a better wedding celebrant. It's unfortunate how often people realise too late that they wanted someone more lively, articulate, hospitable, or knowledgeable about ceremony options.

I don't just show up and talk for 20 minutes. When you hire me, I spend an average of 20 hours per wedding. This includes handling the legal paperwork, having meetings with you, writing a unique ceremony script, and staying in constant communication with you throughout the entire process.

I am dedicated to ensuring that you have the best possible ceremony and experience. I will engage with all of your guests, present you with all the possibilities, and create a personalised ceremony that perfectly reflects your personality and desires. After working with me, you'll know that you don't just want to settle for a cheap option.