09 Jan Engaged?!? Marriage – The Official Stuff
Congratulations! You’re Engaged!
Do yourself a favour and put down pinterest!!! First thing, First! The most important part of your wedding day is the official documentation of your wedding! This also can be the most boring part of wedding planning for an over excited bride but by far the most essential part! So let’s spell it out so nothing is missed!
Paperwork Required
To get married in Australia, you must provide a completed Notice of Intended Marriage form to your celebrant at least one month before the wedding. You can give it to your celebrant up to eighteen months beforehand. You will need to give your celebrant evidence of date and place of birth, identity and the end of any previous marriages for each party. Your celebrant may also ask you to complete a statutory declaration to support your evidence.
On your Wedding Day
On your wedding day, you will sign three marriage certificates. Each certificate should be signed by you, your celebrant and two witnesses. Your celebrant will give you one of the certificates as a record of your marriage.
Your celebrant must register your marriage with the registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory it took place within fourteen days.
The certificate issued by the registry of births, deaths and marriages is required for many official purposes. You should apply for a copy of this certificate from the registry after your wedding through the relevant births, deaths and marriages.
Thinking of a Destination Wedding?
The Smartraveller website has detailed information about getting married overseas.
If you intend to marry overseas, please note that marriage celebrants authorised in Australia can only perform legal marriages within Australia.
An overseas marriage cannot be registered in Australia, and the foreign marriage certificate will be evidence the marriage has occurred. Ensure you keep this certificate as it may not be easy to replace if lost and it provides the only evidence of the overseas marriage.
Please note that it may not be possible to rely on a marriage certificate issued overseas for some purposes in Australia. A party to a marriage which takes place overseas may not be able to rely on an overseas marriage certificate to have an Australian driver’s licence or an Australian passport issued in their married name.
An overseas marriage will generally be recognised in Australia if it:
- was a valid marriage in the overseas country
- would have been recognised as valid under Australian law if the marriage had taken place in Australia.
Thinking of taking his or her surname?
To apply for a formal change of name in Australia, visit your state or territory’s Births, Deaths and Marriages registry.
Stephanie Hamilton
Posted at 14:28h, 09 JanuarySome great information that I (as an over excited bride to be) had not thought of yet. Very Helpful, Thank you !!!
Kim
Posted at 08:43h, 10 JanuaryKeep following our blogs over the next week to really get your wedding planning going!