Frequently Asked
QUESTIONS
LOOKING FOR A CELEBRANT?
What is the process of getting married in Australia?
1) Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
Between ONE and EIGHTEEN MONTHS before your ceremony date, you and your partner must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form with your celebrant.
This form can be found online in PDF form here.
You and your partner must provide the celebrant with evidence of your date and place of birth, identity and the end of any previous marriages (see: What should I bring to our first meeting?).
As your celebrant, I will organise a time with you to complete the NOIM as soon as possible - this also gives us an opportunity to meet face to face!
2) Scripting of your ceremony
After you have completed your NOIM, I will begin working with you to write your perfect wedding ceremony.
Want to keep it simple? I have a number of pre-scripted ceremonies ready to go.
I will send you some "Homework" to complete - either together or seperately - so I can get to know your personal love story.
You'll have my full support along the way, for any questions, big ideas or nervous breakdowns. Becky Married Me never closes shop!
3) Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage
I like to call this the "we're still good to go" form.
By signing the Declaration, you declare that you believe that you are of marriageable age, and that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.
(e.g. you haven't sneaky married someone else in the time between the NOIM and your wedding day)
You will both need to sign the declaration as close as practiable to your wedding ceremony - perhaps the evening before, the morning of - or I can sprint to the care as you arrive!
4) Your Wedding Day
On your wedding day, your celebrant will solemnise your marriage. Your celebrant will then ask you, your partner and your witnesses to sign up to three marriage certificates.
5) After the Ceremony
After your wedding, your marriage celebrant will register the marriage with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State or Territory where your marriage took place.
For an outline of the process of getting married in Australia, have a read of the 'Happily Ever... Before and After' brochure.
This brochure is required to be provided to all couples getting married in Australia by their registered marriage celebrant.
6) Leave your celebrant a glowing review!
Ok, this part is totally optional.... but, if you're feeling generous and would like to leave Becky Married Me a review on Google or Facebook, you would make me the happiest celebrant in the world!
Also, I would LOVE for you to share some of your gorgeous photos from the day!
(See: How do I provide Feedback?)
What do we need to bring to our meeting?
Both parties will need to bring:
- Original Birth Certificate or Extract + Photo ID
OR
- Passport (expired is acceptable)
If either of you have been married before, or, go by a different name to what is on your ID, you will also need to bring along:
- Official change of name documentation (if you haven't changed your name officially, you will have to go by the name on your official identification documents).
- Divorce or death certificate for previous spouse
This is for the purpose of signing your Notice of Intended Marriage.
Take a look at the Notice to get a better understanding of the documentary requirements.
Feeling a bit confused? Get in touch.
What type of requests can I make for my ceremony?
My goal is to have your wedding ceremony be as unique as you are.
Of course, I have a go-to ceremony structure that you are able to copy, edit, tweak, delete etc.
During our meeting, I will let you know which parts of the ceremony you are legally required to include.
Other than that, the sky (as well as the venue's rules and the law) is the limit!
Can you write your own vows? - YES
Can you include cultural or religious rituals that have significance to you? - YES
Can you ditch walking down the aisle? - YES
Do you have to exchange rings? - NO
Can you include your children? - YES
Can you include your pets? - YES (as long as I am allowed to pat them)
Can you enter your ceremony on a unicycle? - YES
Can you include an interpretive dance that you've choreographed yourself? - YES
Can Nan perform a rap? - ABSOLUTELY
The only thing I don't do, is ceremony rehearsals.
Check out my blog articles on
How can I prove I'm divorced?
Please visit the Federal Circuit Court website for more informaiton on divorce.
GETTING MARRIED
What is the process of getting married in Australia?
1) Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
Between ONE and EIGHTEEN MONTHS before your ceremony date, you and your partner must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form with your celebrant.
This form can be found online in PDF form here.
You and your partner must provide the celebrant with evidence of your date and place of birth, identity and the end of any previous marriages (see: What should I bring to our first meeting?).
As your celebrant, I will organise a time with you to complete the NOIM as soon as possible - this also gives us an opportunity to meet face to face!
2) Scripting of your ceremony
After you have completed your NOIM, I will begin working with you to write your perfect wedding ceremony.
Want to keep it simple? I have a number of pre-scripted ceremonies ready to go.
I will send you some "Homework" to complete - either together or seperately - so I can get to know your personal love story.
You'll have my full support along the way, for any questions, big ideas or nervous breakdowns. Becky Married Me never closes shop!
3) Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage
I like to call this the "we're still good to go" form.
By signing the Declaration, you declare that you believe that you are of marriageable age, and that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.
(e.g. you haven't sneaky married someone else in the time between the NOIM and your wedding day)
You will both need to sign the declaration as close as practiable to your wedding ceremony - perhaps the evening before, the morning of - or I can sprint to the care as you arrive!
4) Your Wedding Day
On your wedding day, your celebrant will solemnise your marriage. Your celebrant will then ask you, your partner and your witnesses to sign up to three marriage certificates.
5) After the Ceremony
After your wedding, your marriage celebrant will register the marriage with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State or Territory where your marriage took place.
For an outline of the process of getting married in Australia, have a read of the 'Happily Ever... Before and After' brochure.
This brochure is required to be provided to all couples getting married in Australia by their registered marriage celebrant.
6) Leave your celebrant a glowing review!
Ok, this part is totally optional.... but, if you're feeling generous and would like to leave Becky Married Me a review on Google or Facebook, you would make me the happiest celebrant in the world!
Also, I would LOVE for you to share some of your gorgeous photos from the day!
(See: How do I provide Feedback?)
What do we need to bring to our meeting?
Both parties will need to bring:
- Original Birth Certificate or Extract + Photo ID
OR
- Passport (expired is acceptable)
If either of you have been married before, or, go by a different name to what is on your ID, you will also need to bring along:
- Official change of name documentation (if you haven't changed your name officially, you will have to go by the name on your official identification documents).
- Divorce or death certificate for previous spouse
This is for the purpose of signing your Notice of Intended Marriage.
Take a look at the Notice to get a better understanding of the documentary requirements.
Feeling a bit confused? Get in touch.
What type of requests can I make for my ceremony?
My goal is to have your wedding ceremony be as unique as you are.
Of course, I have a go-to ceremony structure that you are able to copy, edit, tweak, delete etc.
During our meeting, I will let you know which parts of the ceremony you are legally required to include.
Other than that, the sky (as well as the venue's rules and the law) is the limit!
Can you write your own vows? - YES
Can you include cultural or religious rituals that have significance to you? - YES
Can you ditch walking down the aisle? - YES
Do you have to exchange rings? - NO
Can you include your children? - YES
Can you include your pets? - YES (as long as I am allowed to pat them)
Can you enter your ceremony on a unicycle? - YES
Can you include an interpretive dance that you've choreographed yourself? - YES
Can Nan perform a rap? - ABSOLUTELY
The only thing I don't do, is ceremony rehearsals.
Check out my blog articles on
How can I prove I'm divorced?
Please visit the Federal Circuit Court website for more informaiton on divorce.
YOUR CEREMONY AND BEYOND...
What type of PA do you use?
I use a MiPro MA-707 Portable Wireless PA system with stand and wireless microphone.
Applying for your Marriage Certificate with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
At the conclusion of your wedding ceremony, you will sign and get to keep, what is known as a 'Form 15 Marriage Certificate' - which looks like this:
After the ceremony, your celebrant will register the marriage with the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages in the state your wedding took place in.
The Form 15 Certificate and registration of your marriage are included in my costs as your celebrant.
REGISTRY MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES
For one reason or another, you may need, or want, to apply for a Marriage Certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
A Marriage Certificate is an official copy of the marriage registration held by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. It's often used to help establish a person's identity.
For a marriage that occurred in NSW, you can apply online, by post, or in person at a service
centre.
Certificates are sent to you by the Registry, using registered post. You can't get a certificate from a service centre.
Your standard ones look like this:
My fee does not include the cost of a Marriage Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (which is currently $56, or they have a few pretty commemmorative ones for $81).
Some celebrants will offer to arrange this certificate for you - for an extra fee!
I don't see the point when you can save some money and do it yourself online!
After your ceremony, I will send you a follow up email with a link to apply for your Official Marriage Certificate - if you require it.
You wapply for this certificate through the Reigistry of Births Deaths and Marriages and produce three forms of ID.
Visit the BDM website for information on applying for your Marriage Certificate.
Changing your name after marriage
Your Surname will not automatically change when you get married.
How can I provide feedback?
As the wedding industry is based mostly on word of mouth, to help other couples, I encourage you to leave a review of Becky Married Me on Facebook or Google!
If you're really generous, feel free to send me through some of your wedding photos to hello@beckymarriedme.com.
- I would absolutely love to feature them!
I welcome feedback from clients, guests and passers by!
If you're a client who has a formal complaint about the service you have recieved from me, or another registered marriage celebrant, visit the Marriage section of the Attorney General's Department website or call 1800 550 343.
Are there any other wedding suppliers you reccomend?
Shoot me a message asking me what type of suppliers you are after, what type of vibe you want and an idea of your budget.
I have worked with lots of other wedding vendors and can always reccomend one with a great reputation to suit your needs!
How did you create your website?
If you're a celebrant without a website, would like to become a celebrant, or, are any type of small business owner - you may like to know the answer to the above question: