You do not have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to get married in Australia.

To get married in any state or territory in Australia you must:

• not be currently validly married, you must be:

  • Never validly married, or

  • Widowed, or

  • Divorced.

• not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister

  • Australian law prohibits blood relatives from marrying and this includes adopted as well as natural children.

  • Cousins are not prohibited from marrying one another.

• be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where 1 person is 16-18 years old

  • you must be at least 18 years old to get married, unless one of you is aged between 16 and 18 and:

    • you have court approval by a judge or magistrate to marry

    • consent by your parent or guardian has been given or dispensed with

• be able to understand what marriage means and freely give your consent to marry

• be married by an authorised marriage celebrant

• The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)

  • Click here for a copy

  • This is the first piece of paperwork that confirms your intent to get married, and personal information, among other things.

  • This needs to be lodged with an Authorised Celebrant least 1 month before the ceremony.

• Happily ever...before and after brochure

  • Click here for a copy

  • This is the document outlining the obligations and consequences of marriage and stating the availability of marriage education and counselling.

  • This is given to you when you lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage form.

• The Declaration of no legal impediment to marriage

  • Click here for a copy

  • This document is confirmation there are no legal barriers to your marriage.

  • It can be signed at any point before the ceremony takes place.

• Official Certificate of Marriage

  • Click here for a copy

  • This is the official document confirming your marriage has taken place.

  • We sign this during the ceremony.

• Certificate of Marriage

  • Click here for an example

  • This is the commemorative wedding certificate for you to take home.

  • We sign this during the ceremony.

• Official Marriage Certificate

  • This is the official document used for things like change of name.

  • I will send you a link to apply through your local Births, Deaths and Marriages once your marriage is registered.

Before the marriage can take place both parties must provide to me:

• evidence of the parties’ date and place of birth, such as a birth certificate, official extract from a birth register or an Australian or overseas passport, and

• if a party is divorced or a party’s last spouse died, evidence of divorce or death of that spouse.

Every marriage in Australia needs two legal witnesses to sign:

• the Official Certificate of Marriage (the boring legal one that only us and Births, Deaths and Marriages see) and

• the Certificate of Marriage (the fancy commemorative one that you get to keep forever!)

These legal witnesses can be anyone that meets the criteria below:

• Physically present at the wedding

• Over the age of 18

• Understand English

We can provide two legal witnesses for a fee if you need!

No, both civil and religious ceremonies result in a legally binding marriage under Australian law, provided they meet the same legal requirements.

• Shortening of time

  • If there is less than 1 month until your wedding, let's have a chat. You may be able to get married if a prescribed authority approves it.

  • The five categories of circumstances set out in the Marriage Regulations 1963 for getting married in less than 1 month include:

    • employment-related or travel commitments

    • wedding or celebration arrangements

    • medical reasons

    • legal proceedings

    • error in giving notice.

  • The reason for wanting a shortening of time for notice must fall within one of these categories. There is no capacity to grant a shortening of time outside these circumstances.

  • Shortening of time is not automatic.

    • When making a decision, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) or a Prescribed Authority will weigh up the information provided in support of your application and may seek additional information as outlined in the Regulations.

If you want to use your spouse’s surname after getting married in Australia, you typically do not need to apply to register an 'overall' change of name.

Generally, you can provide your standard marriage certificate (issued by an Australian registry of births, deaths and marriages, not the commemorative certificate we sign on the day) to support the change on key identity documents like driver licences and passports.

Types of surnames:

• You can take your partner’s surname

• Your partner can take your surname

• You can combine your name and your partner’s name with a hyphen

Key things to update:

• Driver Licence

• Medicare Card 

It is then worth making a list of other places you want to update your details, and contact them. Your updated marriage certificate, and your new driver’s licence and Medicare Card will provide the proof you need in most cases to update to your married name.

The places to consider include:

• State government

  • Land Registry, for home owners

  • Rental Bond Board, for renters

  • Pet Registry, for pet owners

• Federal government

  • Australian Electoral Commission

  • Australian Passport Office

  • Australian Taxation Office

  • Centrelink

• Other businesses

  • Banks

  • Insurance and superannuation providers

  • Mobile phone and internet providers

  • Utility providers

Australian marriages are legally recognised in most countries worldwide, as Australia follows international standards for registering and solemnising marriages.

However, whether your marriage is automatically recognised in another country depends on the specific laws and regulations of that country.

Note: This does not constitute legal advice, always seek formal legal advice from a registered professional if you are unsure.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Recognition by other countries:
   Australian marriages are conducted under the Marriage Act 1961, which ensures that the legal framework aligns with international norms. Most countries recognise marriages performed in Australia, provided they comply with the laws of the country where the marriage took place.

2. Documentation requirements:
   To have your marriage recognised internationally, you will often need an official marriage certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the Australian State the marriage took place. This document is different from the commemorative certificate you receive on your wedding day. Some countries may also require an Apostille or Authentication Certificate to verify the validity of the Australian marriage certificate. These can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

3. Local laws and procedures:
   Each country has its own set of rules regarding recognition of foreign marriages. For example:

   • Name change: If you plan to change your name after marriage, the process and recognition of name changes vary by country.

   • Residency and immigration: Some countries may require additional proof of marriage for immigration or residency purposes.

   • Religious recognition: In countries with strong religious or cultural traditions, a civil marriage from Australia may not be recognised unless additional religious ceremonies are conducted locally.

4. Considerations for Non-Citizens:
   If one or both of you are non-Australian citizens, your marriage in Australia is still legally valid. However, you may need to register your marriage with the authorities in your home country to ensure full legal recognition.

5. Seeking confirmation:
   Before assuming your marriage is recognised, contact the consulate or embassy of your home country (or the country where you want the marriage recognised). They can provide specific guidance on required documentation and processes.

6. Exceptions to recognition:

   • Some countries have restrictions on recognizing same-sex marriages or marriages involving individuals of particular nationalities.

   • Marriages that violate the laws of the foreign country (e.g., involving underage individuals or polygamy) may not be recognised, even if they are legal in Australia.

After the ceremony, I will submit your marriage paperwork to the registry.

They will confirm with us once it is registered (this can take up to 2 weeks), after which we will send you an email confirming this.

You can then apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the official certificate.