To get married in Australia, you need to lodge a Noticed of Intended Marriage form with me no sooner than 18 months, and no later than one month before your intended wedding day. To do this, you need your passports, or driver's license and birth certificate. If either of you have been married before, you will also need relevant documentation to show how any previous marriages ended.
On the day of the wedding you will sign three certificates that need to be witnessed by myself and two people who are over the age of 18. These people can be family, or from overseas. Your next door neighbours, or the guy who makes your coffee in the morning. I just need their full names and to know their understanding of English is comprehensive.
There is no denying that COVID has affected the Wedding industry immensely. It’s been heartbreaking for couples to have to postpone and in some cases cancel weddings with little to no notice. Like many other wedding vendors I have been working really hard to help my couples rebook and hold onto their original vendor team. My intention is always to balance trying my best to look after my couples in this unusual and unpredictable time, with my need to ensure I still have my business this time next year. I have created a COVID clause for all of new couples that outlines the steps we take to achieve this in the event we do need to cancel or postpone.
I also have a comprehensive COVID SAFE plan for weddings to ensure your safety, the safety of your friends and family (and mine) and the community at large. Every guest must register their attendance via a QR code I will provide.
From the moment you have said your vows and signed your certificates in front of myself and your witnesses, you are legally married. Hooray! After the ceremony, I will then send your paperwork to Births, Deaths and Marriages for them to register.
You will need to apply through BDM for an official marriage certificate. This serves as legal proof of marriage for things like; changing your name, tax, buying a house etc. In Victoria, the cost is around $31. Wait times vary and are updated frequently. Since this is the least fun part of organising your wedding, most people tend to put it out of their minds. For this reason, I will advise you how to apply for your certificate after your ceremony.
For more information about preparation for marriage please visit:
http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/family-and-community/relationships/getting-married
Alternatively, drop me a line and we can chat.