Frequently asked questions

What paperwork is needed to get married?

You will need to complete a ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’ form. This can be downloaded from the Internet or I can help you with this. This form needs to be signed and witnessed by me at least one month before your wedding. But it can’t be any longer than 18 months before your wedding.

You will need to produce evidence of your identity and date and place of birth. This can be either a driver’s license + your birth certificate, or an Australian or overseas passport

If you have previously been married, you will also need to produce evidence of how your last marriage was terminated. This is either a death certificate, a divorce certificate or a decree of nullity if your previous marriage was annulled.

I will ask you to sign a document called a ‘Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage’ as close to your wedding day as possible, usually at the day before rehearsal. This is to declare that there are no legal obstacles to the marriage occurring.

At the end of your ceremony, I will guide you and your two witnesses (who need to be over the age of 18) through the signing of the 3 Marriage Certificates, one is a commemorative certificate which is yours to keep, the other two are Official Certificates of Marriage that I need for my records and to send to the Births, Deaths and Marriages. I will go through all documents with you to ensure you have a clear understanding of what is required.

Can we meet with you before we decide to have you as our celebrant?

Yes by all means. I encourage you to have a face to face meeting with me so you can get a feel of how I can assist you and if I fit in with your vision. We can meet at your place, my place or somewhere like a cafe or library. There is no cost involved in this first meeting.

How many times will we meet with you before the ceremony?

I think it is helpful to have a face to face meeting to work through what you would like in your ceremony and if you would like help to write your vows. I can also share with you different resources and ideas for your ceremony.

Ideally we will meet again just before your wedding for a rehearsal.

I will also be available to you by phone call, text or email throughout the planning of your ceremony.

Can we see a draft of the full ceremony script and provide feedback or make changes?

Yes! I will want your complete approval of your ceremony script and how it flows. We can make any adjustments or changes. I do ask that all changes be finalised at least a week before your ceremony so that I have plenty of time to practice.

Do we have to have a ceremony rehearsal?

It is your choice if you want a rehearsal, however I do recommend to have one so that everyone knows what is happening on the day which will give the best chance of everything going smoothly with minimal stress. It also gives me a chance to meet your wedding party and view your venue. I can also use this opportunity to complete the paperwork Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage with you.

Will we be your only wedding on the day?

Yes you will. Your wedding is important to me and I want to have my entire focus on you and ensuring you have the ceremony of your dreams.

What happens if you are sick on the day?

This is a great question. If for any reason I am unable to perform your ceremony, I will use my network of colleagues to ensure there is someone I can pass all your information onto so that you still have the day you planned.

Can we write our own vows/How do we write wedding vows?

Yes! Writing your own vows adds a personal touch to your ceremony. You have a chance to say the words that describe your love and commitment to your partner.

If you would like help writing them, then I can assist you. I will also provide you with a list of suggestions for how to write your vows. You don’t have to worry about memorising them, I can have them typed out and hand them to you during the ceremony.

Even if you are writing your own personal vows, Australian law requires us to include the mandatory legal vows during the ceremony. To make this completely stress-free, you will say these in a simple ‘repeat after me’ format. I will guide you through them line-by-line, so you don’t need to memorise a single word!

You can find the exact text for these legal vows in the Information Pack I’ll give you.

What happens after we book you as our celebrant?

Once you confirm that you would like me to be your celebrant, here is exactly what happens next to bring your wedding day to life:

Locking in Your Date: I will place your wedding into my diary, and that day will be exclusively yours. To secure the booking, I will request a $200 deposit / booking fee.
The Legal Foundation: The first official task is completing your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form. By law, this must be submitted at least one month (and no more than 18 months) before your wedding date.
Making it official: Next, we will review and sign my Service Agreement together so we are completely aligned on expectations.
The Fun Begins: We will discuss the vision, dreams, and specific details you want included in your ceremony. I love
hearing your unique love story and weaving it directly into your ceremony script.
Perfecting the Script: Once the draft script is ready, I will share it with you to read. You can let me know if you want anything changed, added, or removed. We will collaborate until it is absolutely perfect for you.
The Final Countdown: If you choose to have a rehearsal, I will be there to guide you through it. I will also take care of ensuring all official paperwork is completed exactly when it is legally required.

Throughout this entire process, you can contact me as much as you need and ask as many questions as you like. I am here to help you experience the day you desire with as little stress as possible

How long is a wedding ceremony?

Your wedding ceremony can be as unique as you are! Typically, a modern ceremony lasts up to 30 minutes, and my packages are structured to give you total flexibility over the length and feel:

For a quick, intimate moment, I offer a 5 to 10-minute ‘legals-only’ ceremony that covers the absolute legal essentials and a brief snapshot of your love story.

If you prefer a classic timeline, my 15-minute ceremony smoothly incorporates traditional elements like a reading or a special song along with your love story entwined throughout.

For couples wanting a fully personalised celebration, anything over 15 minutes allows us to weave in guest contributions, custom music, and unique wedding rituals.

I have a great list of beautiful wedding rituals ready to share if you would like to explore some ideas.

Are you a LGBTQ+ friendly celebrant?

Yes, most definitely! Everyone is completely deserving of love and celebrating their commitment through marriage if that is what they desire.

As long as it is clear that both parties are giving full, free consent to the marriage and are of legal marriage age, you have my absolute support! My services proudly extend to everyone. This includes the LGBTQ+ community, individuals living with disabilities, people from all cultural backgrounds, and those celebrating love in their later years.

Love is love, and I am here to help you celebrate it!

Do you also MC weddings?

Yes, absolutely! I am available to stay after your ceremony to provide an MC service. Having me as your MC means all your friends and family can sit back and enjoy your reception without the stress of having an active role in running it.

Just like we did for your ceremony, I will work closely with you to plan your reception and keep the vibe and flow exactly to your wishes. My role includes introducing speeches, liaising with your vendors on the timing of events (like the cake cutting), and keeping the festivities alive until you are ready to say goodbye.

I offer this as an additional service, which we can easily bundle into a combined package with your ceremony cost.