Wedding Ceremony FAQ

Q. What are the Legal Requirements to getting married in Australia?

2.  Notice of Intended Marriage - NOIM:

The Notice of Intended Marriage (Form 13) commonly referred to as the NOIM, is the first legal document that needs to be completed prior the marriage.  Your acting Celebrant MUST receive this completed form at least one month and one day before the intended date of your wedding. An authorized person, one of whom can be your marriage celebrant, must witness your signatures.

Generally with couples I work with, unless they are residing overseas or unable to meet until just prior to wedding, I will supply you with the Notice of Intended Marriage form at our first meeting where we will complete it together.  In other instances I will forward a direct link so as the couple can download the NOIM themselves. To complete the NOIM you will need the following relevant documentation supporting date of birth, marital status etc. 

• If you were born outside of Australia you are required to produce a birth certificate. However, if you do not have a birth certificate I can accept your overseas Passport.   If you were born in Australia you must produce your original birth certificate – not an extract.
  
  
• If you were previously married you must produce the Divorce Decree Absolute or Death Certificate, whichever is applicable.

Prior to your wedding both partners will be required to sign a declaration, stating that you believe there is no legal impediment to the marriage between yourself and your partner.

Q.  Apart from the legal aspect of getting married, what do I do now?

A. Once you have a firm date in mind for your ceremony, contact me either by phone or email to check my availablilty (refer ‘Contact Celeste’ on home page).  My booking status does change on a daily sometimes hourly basis.  To avoid disappointment it is advisable to secure your booking ASAP as I am generally booked at least 12 months ahead for weekend weddings. 

Hopefully the date and time you have in mind is still available as I am more than happy to spend as much time as you need to discuss your plans. That first phone call can greatly ease your mind and generally gives you a feel of the type of person the Celebrant is. 

Following this I will then send you via Australia Post or email, a ‘no obligation’ proposal which outlines the nature of the weddings I officiate, a breakdown of my total fee and how you go about securing my services as your Celebrant.
The one thing you should be assured of is, that I am available to discuss any aspect of your wedding plans with you at any time.  My role as your chosen Celebrant is not simply to turn up on the day holding a book!!!! It is so much more than that and I love weddings and feel honored to fill such a special role in any couples wedding day.  It’s a real journey we take together and more often than not, this is your first wedding where as I have officiated hundreds and embraced every single one of them.
   
Q.  What locations are you allowed to get married?

A.   The simple answer is – I can marry you anywhere you chose as long as it is within Australia.  Certain locations require permits from the appropriate Council but you can get married on a balmy beach anytime from dawn to dusk, or maybe lush green garden setting nestled amongst the hills in the Hinterland.  Popular locations are gorgeous restaurant / reception or function centre – even at the dizzying heights of a hot air balloon (just give me some warning on that one so as I can get the nerves in check first!!).   You name it, and I will be there!!
   
Q.  What does My Fee Include?

A.

• Our initial meeting, of approximately 90 minutes
  
• Preparation/lodgment all legal documents
  
• Extensive preparation in creating a draft outline of your ceremony, including  selecting readings, poems, verses and quotations and choice of vows etc.
• Each ceremony involves approximately 25 hours to create from first initial contact to pronouncing you both Husband and Wife.
  
• Completion of the draft and final draft for your consideration and approval
  
• Calligraphy of your Marriage Certificate
  
• Your vows printed out on the day in scroll or folded form with names in Calligraphy
  
•   Portable PA system so every word can be clearly heard by all your guests
  (System cannot be used on sand, or in windy or wet conditions)
  
•   Phone calls, email, faxes etc over the course of time leading up to your wedding day.
  
• Finally and most importantly…. My services on your Wedding Day…..

Apart from conducting your beautiful ceremony, I will arrive 30 mins prior to liaise with other onsite professionals, e.g. Venue Manager, Photographer, Videographer, Music Technician to ensure your specific requested details as we discussed pertaining to the actual ceremony are in place at precisely the right time to allow you both total peace of mind to concentrate on enjoying your wedding ceremony.  This aspect alone is a great peace of mind to many couples.