FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have questions that aren’t answered in the below, please feel free to email me

We’re engaged! …but how do we actually get married?

Well firstly, congratulations! Generally speaking (and ignoring other aspects of your wedding like venues, photographers, guests, etc) you need to:

• Choose a celebrant to conduct your ceremony

• Fill out a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form

• Give your celebrant the NOIM at least 30 days before the ceremony date

• Have two witnesses sign your certificates on the day itself

My role as a celebrant isn’t only to conduct your ceremony, but to help you with all of the particulars leading up to the big day itself, that includes what goes into your ceremony as well as all the official paperwork you need to complete.

What ID and documentation do we need to give you?

Your NOIM needs to show proof of your name and place of birth, and I’ll also need to sight a photo ID. If you have your passport, or birth certificate and driver’s license, you’re all set. If you’ve been married before, you’ll also need to have proof that those marriages have ended.

Will you officiate same-sex marriages?

Absolutely - the important part of a marriage is the two people getting married, not how they choose to express their gender identity.

Marriage Equality has opened the doors on this front, and I’m happy to offer my services to opposite-sex and same-sex couples, just as much as I’m happy to offer services to couples where gender expression differs from those two paradigms.

Can I keep my name if I get married?

Absolutely. Getting married doesn’t automatically change your name.

I’m marrying someone from overseas. Does this automatically make them a citizen?

No. You don’t need to be a citizen or even a resident of Australia to get married here, but it won’t grant you citizenship. For all matters of citizenship and migration in relation to a wedding, I’d strongly encourage you to consult legal advice from a migration lawyer or from the department of Home Affairs.

We’re not Australian citizens - can we get married here?

You sure can, as long as you meet all the other legal requirements. I’d recommend checking with your home country to make sure they’ll recognise an Australian marriage.

Can you help us write our personal vows?

Absolutely! I’m happy to help you find the right words to say what you feel, and I’m happy to make sure you’re both coming at your vows in a similar tone.

I don’t like the legal vows. Do I have to include them?

You sure do. But if you don’t like the wording, there are some approved variations that we can use to make them sound a bit more natural.

What won’t you do in a wedding ceremony?

I draw the line at incorporating anything that’s overtly sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist or anything that I believe comes at the expense of others in an exclusionary way.

It’s also worth noting while we still deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic, I have been fully vaccinated and expect the same of clients and their guests except where medical exemptions apply.

Can I have a sneaky drink while I’m getting ready for the wedding?

Sure, but you need to be in a reasonable state of mind for the ceremony, so don’t get drunk before the ceremony’s done.

If either party to the wedding (or their witness) is intoxicated during the ceremony, it can’t be completed.

What music/poetry/other copyrighted material are we allowed to use in a ceremony?

For the most part, you can play whatever music you like in the ceremony, as a wedding is considered a private event, even if it’s taking place in public place. Poetry and other published works are usually ok to recite, but you might need to seek permission if you want them printed out as well.

What do I do if my documentation isn’t in English?

You can still use these papers to fill out your NOIM, but if they’re not in English, you’ll also need to provide a translation by an accredited translator. You can find a list of them on the NAATI website.

How far will you travel for our wedding?

As far as you need me to go, within reason. Travel costs are covered off on my pricing page.

Is a rehearsal mandatory?

No, absolutely not – but I recommend a rehearsal as way to make sure that everyone’s comfortable with how the ceremony will play out.

We’ve got a couple of celebrants in mind; what should we be looking for when selecting a celebrant?

I think the absolute most important thing for you to ask yourself is “Are we comfortable with this celebrant, and are we confident that they’re going to make our ceremony what we want it to be?”

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to a wedding, and you should feel comfortable that your chosen celebrant “gets it” – if you know what you want in your ceremony already, then you should feel confident that they can deliver that for you. If you aren’t certain what you want to include, you should feel comfortable that your celebrant will work with you to help figure that out, and then deliver it for you.

I certainly hope that I make you feel that comfort and confidence, because my intent is to make sure you have a ceremony that’s exactly what you’re after.

I want to become a celebrant, can you offer me any advice?

Sure! It was hard to find any advice on what the process was to become a celebrant when I was starting out, so I’d love to make that process easier. Shoot me an email through the contact page and We can chat.

PHOTO CREDIT: Cassie Sullivan