marriage celebrant officiant sydney - wedding ceremony

F.A.Q.s - frequently asked questions

Can we be married anywhere we like in Australia? YES I am authorised to marry couples anywhere in Australia but conduct most weddings in Sydney & the Blue Mountains.
Is it possible to be married at home? YES Home weddings are popular or you may be married in my home office if you have witnesses only.
Can we be married at any time of the day or night or on any day of the year? YES
Do we need a licence to get married? NO - You do need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) and lodge it with me, your celebrant. It is usually witnessed by me at our first meeting, but may also be witnessed by a JP, Notary Public etc. & scanned & emailed or faxed and posted to me.
May we be married in whatever clothes we like? YES
Are you, our celebrant, happy to wear a particular type or colour for our ceremony? YES, I always dress as befits the occasion but if you have any special requests,just let me know what you want and I will do what I can to comply.
Are we able to plan our wedding ceremony by email & post? YES Once you have made contact with me, we can complete all the necessary documents by email, fax or post.
Can we be married in Sydney when we arrive from overseas?YES See Overseas Visitors and Legal Information
Do we have to have a blood test? NO
What names do we use on our Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)? Your names must be exactly as they are on your birth certificate, or if previously married, your married name, or if you have a Change of Name Certificate.
Can I use the name I am known by usage?NO if you have changed your name you must register the change with the BDM in your state through a Change of Name form.If you use a name which you have assumed through usage, you may have trouble having your Marriage Certificate recognised by the Passport Office etc. in future.
Do we only need 2 witnesses? YES
Can they be members of our family, if they are over 18 years? YES
Will we be given a presentation wedding certificate on the day? YES
Will our wedding be accepted world wide? YES Some countries require an Apostille stamp. Check with your embassy or DFAT
Do you register our marriage for us? YES I will register your marriage online shortly after the ceremony.
Can you order our registered marriage certificate? YES I can order it online for you after registering your marriage. I do not charge for this service but BDM charges $45 which I pay on your behalf..
May we write our own Ceremony? YES You can write as little or as much of your ceremony as long as I make sure that it complies with the Marriage Act, 1961 of Australia.
May our friends read a poem or reading? YES I encourage family & friends to participate.
Do you provide a PA system so that all of our guests can hear the ceremony? YES I have a good PA system and do not charge any extra for its use.
What if we don't want to have a PA at our wedding as we feel it spoils the intimate nature of our ceremony. That's fine with me. It's your wedding and I will make sure that I do my best to ensure that all of your guests can hear the ceremony. As a former teacher, I have had some practice in projecting my voice.
Is it a good idea to have a drink before the ceremony in order to relax.Probably not. Under law, I am not allowed to marry anyone who is under the influence.
Is it possible to incorporate symbols and ceremonies from my religious faith or culture? YES - I encourage couples to honour their culture within their ceremony. I am happy to work with clergy from all faiths if you wish to combine your civil & religious ceremony.Discuss this with me.
Can you tell us about special ceremonies such as the sand ceremony, handfasting, unity bowl, rose ceremony, candle ceremony, ring warming? YES I am happy to give you information about ways to personalise your wedding ceremony and to discuss the most appropriate one for you
Can I marry a person of my own sex? NO You may have a commitment ceremony which is similar to a wedding ceremony & you can register your relationship with.Births, Deaths & Marriages N.S.W.
Do I have to take my husbands name? NO, there are a few options. See the USEFUL LINKS page of this site.
Do we have to have wedding rings? NO
May I be given away or presented by a person who is not a member of my family? YES
Do we need to have my birth certificate, divorce papers and death certificate translated into English? YES
If we have already produced our birth certificates, divorce papers and/or death certificates do we need to provide them again on our wedding day? NO
Can you help me apply for a fiance visa? YES - once you have completed your NOIM & booked a date for your ceremony, I will write a letter of support to the Australian Embassy in the country of your fiance/fiancee.
Are you able to write a letter of support for family members applying for visas from overseas in order to attend our wedding? YES, that is a simple procedure.
Can you help us with immigration advice? NO By law I am unable to offer advice on immigration matters but I can refer you to the relevant authorities or to an Immigration Agent who can help you.
Can you advise about a Prenuptial Agreement? NO, that is not my role but I can refer you to solicitors who specialise in this area.
Can I use my Australian passport as evidence of identity for the NOIM? NO. Only overseas passports can be accepted and a birth certificate is preferred.
Can you recommend or arrange for a photographer for us? YES See my links page or talk to me about your requirement.
Can you assist in making suggestions for our venue? YES I am more than happy to suggest different venues for you.
Will you help with production of the ceremony, ie, who stands where? YES - That's part of my role. We will discuss that & can have a rehearsal if you think that is necessary.I also provide a table for signing if needed & a quality sound system if needed..
Can we play our music through your sound system? YES - you can play an MP3 or iPod through my system.
Can we be married if we are both under 18 years? NO, only one can be under 18. (and then you need permission of the court)
Can we hyphenate our surnames? YES (see link on question 18)
We want to elope, get married without any fuss, just the two of us. Is that possible? YES. For a marriage ceremony to be legal, you only need the two of you, the celebrant (me) and two witnesses over the age of 18. And of course, you need to give the usual notice etc. Refer to my Legal Requirements page.
What if we want to change the date of our wedding? I am happy to transfer your booking fee to another date that I am available.
What happens if you are unable to conduct our wedding at short notice, due to illness or accident? I will find another celebrant to conduct your ceremony,& transfer legal documents to.I know a number of excellent celebrants.
What if I have other questions that are not answered here? Phone or email me and I will help to answer all your questions to the best of my ability.