Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Will our wedding in Australia be recognised worldwide?
    A:    YES

  2. Can we be married if we are under 18 years of age?
    A:    YES – provided the person who is under 18 years of age obtain permission from a judge or local magistrate.  However it is known that permission is rarely granted. Under no circumstances can two persons under 18 years marry each other.

  3. Can I marry a person of the same sex?
    A:    NO - This is not legal in Australia.  However, I am happy to conduct a Commitment Ceremony for you.

  4. Will it be necessary for us to bring along all our official documents on the wedding day?
    A:    NO - as long as I as your celebrant have received your Notice of Intended Marriage and have sighted all your official documents.

  5. Is there a time restriction of when we can marry either during the day or at night?
    A:    NO – you can get married at any time of the day in Australia.

  6. Are we able to wear any type of clothing for our wedding?
    A:    YES – so long as it is appropriate.  You may choose to wear something traditional to your culture.  Your wedding attire does not necessarily need to be the traditional wedding gown and suit.

  7. How many witnesses can we have at our wedding?
    A:    TWO – and both witnesses must be over the age of 18 years.  They also do not have to be related to you.

  8. Giving away the Bride?
    Does the Bride have to be ‘given away’?                                                                 NO
    Can the Bride be given away by someone other than by a family member? YES
    A:    A bride can have anyone she wishes to give her away – her child or children or even a close friend

  9. How long does the ceremony usually last?
    A:    The average ceremony is 30 minutes long.  However, it can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour, depending on what you want to do.

  10. Can you write the entire wedding ceremony for us?
    A:    YES

  11. Can we write our own ceremony or have some input into our ceremony?
    A:    YES, I do encourage you to have some input.  However according to the Australian Marriage Act, there are some legal requirements in your wedding ceremony which must be included to ensure the marriage is legal.

  12. Can we read or hear our ceremony before our wedding day?
    A:    YES – After I write your first draft, I will email it to you, and you are free to make any changes you like – except where it cannot be changed for legal requirements.

  13. As an overseas couple, can we be married anywhere we like in Australia?
    A:    YES - There are no restrictions on where you are married but some Sydney venues such as parks, etc. need to be booked and paid for in advance.

  14. Are you prepared to travel for our wedding?
    A:    Of course, however a travel fee will apply which this is dependent on how far out from Sydney your wedding is being held.

    Likewise, if you are intending to marry in the Sydney CBD area a surcharge parking fee will apply. 

    And if you intend to marry on a boat in our beautiful Sydney harbour, the cost of a water taxi to get me back to land after the wedding ceremony will also apply.

  15. Do you have a PA system?
    A:    Yes, this is one of the most important equipment I have with me at all weddings.

  16. How many times do we have to meet with you?
    A:    As your celebrant, I encourage open communication.  Therefore you can have as many consultations with me as you want - either personally or by phone, fax, or email.  At the very minimum, we will probably meet at least twice before your wedding day.

  17. If our documents are in a foreign language, do they need to be translated to English?
    A:    YES - This will be the bride and groom’s responsibility to have these done.

  18. Is it possible for us to be married in Sydney when we arrive from overseas? 
    A:    YES – provided you have filled out all the necessary documentation within the specified time and have all your legal paperwork.

  19. With regards to changing surnames:
    Do I as the bride have to take my future husband’s surname?                               NO
    After we marry, can we hyphenate both our surnames?                                          YES

  20. Do you normally attend the Reception?
    A:    NO – In general, if I do stay after your ceremony, it will only be long enough to pack up my equipment and to pass on my best wishes to you again.  But in most cases, I will have booked another ceremony to perform after yours, so will need to leave almost immediately after your ceremony has concluded.

  21. Are you able to assist us with any recommendations of other wedding service providers as we prepare for our wedding?
    A:    YES - Of course, with many years of experience in events management and also knowledge in the bridal industry, it will be my pleasure to assist wherever I can.

  22. What name does the bride sign on the wedding day?
    A:    On the wedding day, the bride must sign with the same signature as the one she used when completing the previous wedding documents like the Notice of Intended Marriage.

  23. It’s known that it is fashionable for the bride to be late for her wedding. 
    A:    Not anymore.  It is more fashionable to be on time actually.  If anything, you do need to consider your guests and more importantly all the other services that you have engaged for your wedding – your photographer, videographer, musicians, reception, cars – all these people are also working to a schedule.  So if you are late, imagine the effect on their schedule.

  24. We want to arrive together at the ceremony, can we do this?
    A:    Of course, it’s your wedding and you can do whatever you want – nowadays it doesn’t really matter.

  25. If there are people around where we intend to get married, can we ask them to move?
    A:    Provided that you have obtained Council’s written approval to hold your wedding at that particular site, you have the right to ask them to move.

  26. Serving drinks
    A:    It is a good idea not to have any drinks before or during the ceremony.  However drinks may be served while the bride and groom are signing the registry.  Although it would be a good idea to check with the respective Council first on what their ruling is for serving drinks - particularly if it is a public venue like a park.

  27. Should we have a contingency plan or Plan B?
    A:    If you are planning an outdoor wedding, it is a good idea to have a Plan B just in case the weather is not in your favour – for example an alternative indoor venue, hire a marquis or have a large supply of umbrellas on hand for your guests.  It also wouldn’t hurt to have a large umbrella handy in the wedding car just in case.


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