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Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions.

Contents

1, Booking a Celebrant

2. Notice and Certificates required

3 What is a NOIM?

4 Requirements for the NOIM/ If partner can't sign

5 When Interpreter is required

6 Immigration letters?

7 Witnesses required?

8 Change of wedding date

9 Change of wedding venue

10 Living overseas - certification of marriage certificate for overseas recognition of the marriage

 

1. When should we make our booking with a Marriage Celebrant?

   As soon as possible!

   You must give a Notice of Intended Marriage to a Celebrant at least 1 month and 1 day before your wedding date: but you must also produce to the Celebrant, certain documents, including proof of identity and evidence that you are eligible to be married.. It may take some time for you to obtain these documents and you need to discuss with a Celebrant, what documents you and your partner must produce. 

   So,  don’t leave it until the last minute – book early, and get started now to avoid last-minute delays.

    NOTE: You do not need a “Marriage Licence” in Australia; instead, you lodge a Notice  of Intended  Marriage with your Celebrant.

2. What documents will we need to show before our Wedding?
   
   Your original Notice of Intended Marriage Form must be completed.
   
   If you or your partner were born in Australia I will also need to see your Birth Certificates or Extracts of your Birth – NOT YOUR PASSPORTS.
   
   If you were born Overseas then I will need to see either your Birth Certificate or a Foreign Passport (NOT AUSTRALIAN PASSPORT). If you cannot produce either of these then you will need to tell me at the time of making your booking so that I can send you another document to complete.
   
   If either you or your partner have been married before, I need to see evidence of what ended your last marriage. This may be a Certificate of Divorce or a Death Certificate.
    
3. What is the Notice of Intended Marriage Form and how do we Lodge it?
   
   The Notice of Intended Marriage Form (NOIM) is an Australian Government prescribed form that must be lodged with your Marriage Celebrant at least 1 month and 1 day before your Wedding. If you do not get married within 18 months of lodgement it expires. I will enclose this form with your Booking Package and give you instructions on how to complete it.
   
   Once this form has been completed and witnessed it must be returned to me with your payment. The Notice is considered lodged when I receive it.
    
4. My Partner is away and cannot sign the Notice of Intended Marriage Form.
   
   No Problem. The form can be lodged with only one signature but your partner will need to also sign it before your wedding day. Just complete it with me or send it to me with only your signature and the witnesses’ signatures.
    
5. What happens if my partner cannot speak or understand English?
   
   This is no problem but you will need to advise me of this at the time of making your booking and I will let you know the procedure to be followed. Basically you will need to appoint an interpreter, and I will need to complete an Interpreters Declaration. To see this form please CLICK HERE.
    
6. If required, do you issue letters for Immigration Requirements?
   
   Yes, I do this often.
    
7. Do we need to have official witnesses at our Wedding Ceremony?
   
   Yes. Whilst you may have as many guests as you like, you MUST have two official witnesses who are both aged over 18 years old, who can sign the Marriage Certificates as witnesses.
    
8. Can we change our wedding date if our plans change?
   
   Yes. Please note though, that each time you change it there will be a surcharge of $55.00.
    
9. What happens if we decide to change the Wedding venue?
   
   Changing the venue is no problem provided that I can accommodate your new booking. Conducting weddings at other venues may be charged for at a higher rate, depending on the venues.
    
10. I intend to live overseas.  Will my Australian marriage be recognised there?
    
    If you marry in Australia but intend to live or work in another country you will need to have your official Marriage Certificate certified as authentic for the relevant overseas country.
    
    In most cases an “Apostille Certificate” proves that an Australian registered Marriage Certificate is authentic and genuine. The Apostille Certificate can be obtained from the Australian Passport Office.
    
    This is quite a simple procedure, but you will need to allow time to finalise this after your marriage, before you travel overseas. Also, for some countries a different procedure is required, so you should ascertain as soon as possible, what is required Your celebrant can explain this; alternatively, you can obtain more information from the Australian Passport Office
    
    Following are contact details for Sydney Passport Office (It is situated about 200 metres from the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, where you obtain your Marriage Certificate):
    
    Sydney Passport Office
    Level 7,
    26 Lee Street
    Sydney NSW 2000
    (next to Central Station)
    
    Phone: 131 232
    Office hours:Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm.
    Email:passports.australia@dfat.gov.au
    http://www.dfat.gov.au/sydney/sydney-ppt.html

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