Photo credit: Pace Photography
Frequently asked questions
Q: How long does a ceremony take?
A: It depends entirely on the couple and what you want included in your ceremony. While, on average, my ceremonies take roughly 15-20 minutes, this may be lengthened or shortened by the inclusion of readings or other things that you may want. The more information you give me about yourselves in your questionnaires, the longer (and better) your ceremony will be. The beauty of this is that your ceremony will be completely about your relationship, so the time will go by in a flash for both you and your guests.
Q: Do we have to have the same vows?
A: Again, a personal choice - personally, I love it when couples have different vows - it shows that you have really put thought into what you are promising the person you love. If writing your own vows isn't for you, you are welcome to use one or a mixture of the vows I will provide to you in my Ceremony Manual. This doesn't mean you have to choose the same vows as each other. As long as you say the legal vows, the world (or in this case, your ceremony) is your oyster.
Q: Who can be a witness to my marriage?
A: You must have two witnesses aged 18 or over to witness you marriage ceremony and sign your marriage certificates. The witnesses must be able to hear you exchange vows, but there is no nationality requirement.
Q: How early should I book my celebrant?
A: As early as possible once you know the date of your wedding. In Australia, unless there are special circumstances which allow the grant of an exemption, all couples planning to marry must sign a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) in the presence of their celebrant at least one month prior to their wedding. As such, couples should book their celebrant more than a month prior to their wedding to ensure the legality of the ceremony.
Q: What documents should I bring to my first meeting with my celebrant?
A: Your celebrant will need to be able to identify you in order to complete the legal documentation and solemnise your wedding.
Q: Can I remove the words "marriage is between a man and a woman" from my ceremony?
A: Unfortunately not. At this stage, Australian law dictates that these words much be used in your ceremony in order for the marriage to be legal. If you feel uncomfortable with this wording, we can adapt the non-legal wording to express your views.
This FAQ is a constant work in progress. If you have any questions that you think should appear here, please send me an email at lauren@theweddingcelebrantperth.com
A: It depends entirely on the couple and what you want included in your ceremony. While, on average, my ceremonies take roughly 15-20 minutes, this may be lengthened or shortened by the inclusion of readings or other things that you may want. The more information you give me about yourselves in your questionnaires, the longer (and better) your ceremony will be. The beauty of this is that your ceremony will be completely about your relationship, so the time will go by in a flash for both you and your guests.
Q: Do we have to have the same vows?
A: Again, a personal choice - personally, I love it when couples have different vows - it shows that you have really put thought into what you are promising the person you love. If writing your own vows isn't for you, you are welcome to use one or a mixture of the vows I will provide to you in my Ceremony Manual. This doesn't mean you have to choose the same vows as each other. As long as you say the legal vows, the world (or in this case, your ceremony) is your oyster.
Q: Who can be a witness to my marriage?
A: You must have two witnesses aged 18 or over to witness you marriage ceremony and sign your marriage certificates. The witnesses must be able to hear you exchange vows, but there is no nationality requirement.
Q: How early should I book my celebrant?
A: As early as possible once you know the date of your wedding. In Australia, unless there are special circumstances which allow the grant of an exemption, all couples planning to marry must sign a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) in the presence of their celebrant at least one month prior to their wedding. As such, couples should book their celebrant more than a month prior to their wedding to ensure the legality of the ceremony.
Q: What documents should I bring to my first meeting with my celebrant?
A: Your celebrant will need to be able to identify you in order to complete the legal documentation and solemnise your wedding.
- If you hold an Australian passport, you should bring this as evidence of your place of birth. If you were born in Australia but do not have an Australian passport, you should bring your birth certificate.
- If you were not born in Australia and you do not have an Australian passport you should bring your overseas passport (current or expired but not cancelled) or birth certificate. If you were born overseas and you do not have your birth certificate or a foreign passport, you will be required to complete a statutory declaration. You must also bring photo ID (such as a drivers licence).
- If you have been previously married, you should bring evidence of the termination of that marriage (whether by divorce, annulment or death of your former spouse).
- If you have changed your name, you should bring evidence of the change of name
- If you have any other special circumstances (for example, you may be a minor or are applying to be exempt from the 1 month notification period of the NOIM), please contact me to ask what you should bring
Q: Can I remove the words "marriage is between a man and a woman" from my ceremony?
A: Unfortunately not. At this stage, Australian law dictates that these words much be used in your ceremony in order for the marriage to be legal. If you feel uncomfortable with this wording, we can adapt the non-legal wording to express your views.
This FAQ is a constant work in progress. If you have any questions that you think should appear here, please send me an email at lauren@theweddingcelebrantperth.com