Civil Celebrant FAQs
What is the role of a registered Civil Marriage Celebrant in Australia?
As your Registered Civil Marriage Celebrant, it is my job to ensure that you understand the legal requirements. To ensure that these legal requirements are followed according to Australian law and you have a valid & legally binding marriage.
The "Celebrants Code of Practice" outlines the obligations, requirements and penalties associated with Civil Marriage Celebrants and non-secular Celebrants under Australian Law. Please link to www.ag.gov.au "Code of Practice" for full details.
(I am able to provide a printed copy should you request)
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Marriage, according to law in Australia is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. I have officiated marriages of diversity in our communities and will continue to do so with honouring and dignity for all.
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Yes! I am able to supply my own PA system with wireless microphone. My couples are able to bluetooth or cord adaptor to access the speaker for ceremony music. This is included in the marriage ceremony packages. The PA system is for celebrant & ceremony only and is not for hire.
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Once a month every Wednesday between 11am to 7pm Ngahuia in collaboration with the Port Lincoln Hotel will be officiating ELOPE marriage ceremonies. This is a Legals only official marriage ceremony. Meaning that all the components that are required to be said to ensure a legally binding marriage by Australian law is administered. Making this ceremony short, sacred & sweeet!
The venue is set and the times are set for booking couples. Couples are still required to lodge their NOIM forms one month before the set date. Witnesses can be provided for the ceremony upon request at no extra charge. Up to four guests can accompany the couple for the ceremony. (Guests are only to attend your ceremony and asked to vacate with their newly wedded couple) Couple may bring a photographer and videographer however they are only to record the ceremony and during the couples ceremony time. Not before or after.
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Absolutely!
Your wedding ceremony can have your own style and be as long or short as you both are comfortable with.
There are legal components that I, as your Civil Marriage Celebrant must ensure are met before, during & after your ceremony. All these components are set in accordance to the Marriage Law in Australia.
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Once the booking date of the marriage has been confirmed, we then sit in for our first interview together.
During the first interview we complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form. I witness the signatures and ensure the identification and/or certificates are current and correct.
The Notice of Intended Marriage NOIM form must be submitted at least one month prior to the date of your intended marriage and up to 18 months prior to the wedding.
I am able to provide you with the NOIM at our first interview.
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My preference is to have these documents available at the first interview when filling the NOIM form, however, they can be sighted prior to the day of the marriage.
The original birth certificate or birth extract that has the date and place of birth. Also a current form of photo identification such as your drivers licence
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Your current passport issued by the Australian government or your current passport issued by the government from your overseas country. The passport must that show the date and place of birth
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The Commonwealth statutory declaration states the reasons why it is impracticable for you to obtain your official birth certificate. We can discuss this together should you require more support on where/how to obtain a commonwealth statutory declaration.
The change of name certificate if you have changed your name.
The original death certificate must be sighted if the party intending to be married is a widow/widower from a previous marriage.
The Divorce certificate or decree absolute must be sighted if either party has previously been married. The evidence of the dissolution of that marriage must be produced prior to the date of your marriage. A reminder that these documents can take time to obtain and to organise these as soon as possible.
If the intending party to marry is under the age of 18 a court order and written consent from the parents or authorised guardian is required.
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If you were born in Australia, you can obtain a copy of your birth certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages, in the state in which you were born.
This service with Birth, Deaths and Marriages incurs a fee and the application can take a couple of weeks to be processed.
If you have divorced and need a copy of your divorce certificate or decree absolute, then this can be obtained from the family law court in the state in which the marriage was dissolved.
Your civil celebrant is able to receive your identification via email or photo via your phone.
The marriage ceremony cannot proceed unless all the required documentation has been produced.
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In accordance to Australian Law all authorised Civil Celebrants must...
Introduce themselves and make it known during the ceremony that, "I am an authorised Civil Celebrant that is registered to perform marriages in Australia".
State the words from Section 46 of the Marriage Act 1961 referred to as The Monitum: “I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence & in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn & binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”
Use your full names at least once during the ceremony.
You the party to marry must state the words from Section 45 of the Marriage Act 1961 as your marriage vows “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I (Bride, Groom, spouse) take you (Bride, Groom, spouse) to be my lawful wedded wife, husband, spouse.” This must be done in the presence of your witnesses.
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In accordance to Australian Law of Marriage, the NOIM form must be submitted at least one month prior to the date of your intended marriage. Only when the NOIM form is completed, dated and signed the one month period begins.
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My preference is to have both people at the first interview for preliminary discussions please.
However, it is possible that only one person is available to visit me to complete the NOIM form and the other partner may sign the NOIM at a later date before the marriage ceremony.
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The Notice of Intended Marriage form can be downloaded https://www.ag.gov.au
The form is able to be signed in the presence of an authorised celebrant, a justice of the peace, a barrister or solicitor, a legally qualified medical practitioner, or a member of the Australian Federal Police. I can help you source your local authority if required.
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There are exceptional circumstances where a court can approve a shorter timing and I welcome you to contact me to further discuss.
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Now as your chosen marriage civil celebrant I am unable to give marriage counselling. However it is a legal requirement that I give you a brochure called “Happily Ever…Before & After”
I also provide you with a diverse range of counselling providers if you wish to pursue further. Port Lincoln and Australia wide have many options available for free and for small investment. These services can be available for personal consultation or with groups.
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Two witnesses are required and must be over the age of 18, preferably known to you. Your children most certainly can be witnesses as long as they are over 18 years of age.
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The two witnesses are the official legal witnesses to the marriage under law and their presence serves a legal purpose. That purpose is to be able to swear in court, or elsewhere, as to the identity of the parties or to testify to the circumstances in which the ceremony was performed, including the date and place.
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The Dress Rehearsal can be scheduled one week to one day before the intended date of the marriage ceremony. As part of my signature offerings, I share an additional blessing for all those invited to the dress rehearsal.
This is a perfect time to refine details of the Marriage Ceremony and to also complete and sign Form 14*
Form 14 is detailed in the following paragraph.
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There are a series of three forms;
The first is Form 14, each party intended to marry is required to sign the statutory declaration witnessed by the authorised celebrant as to their conjugal status and belief that there is NO legal impediment to the marriage. Form 14 is usually presented at the dress rehearsal and must be signed BEFORE the marriage ceremony.
The second is Form 15, this is a Marriage Certificate. Both the Newly weds sign this Certificate with their two witnesses and authorised celebrant. This is signed at the Marriage Ceremony.
The third is Form 16, this also is a Marriage Certificate. Both the Newly weds sign this Certificate with their two witnesses and authorised celebrant. This is signed at the Marriage Ceremony.
Finally the Marriage Registar Book, this is in the care of the Marriage Celebrant as a record of your marriage. Both the Newly weds sign this Certificate with their two witnesses and authorised celebrant. This is signed at the Marriage Ceremony.
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The Form 14 and Form 16 are sent to Births, Deaths and Marriages registry office in the state where the marriage ceremony was officiated.
The Form 15, Marriage Certificate is a keepsake for the couple.
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Your official marriage certificate can be obtained through the Births, Deaths and Marriage registry by application. This requires a fee to the registry.
This certificate is what you will need if you are changing your name.
As part of my service for extra clarity and support, I provide my newly weds with after wedding information, which provides instructions on applying for your official marriage certificate and how to change your name after marriage.
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An interpreter maybe required if the bride, groom or witnesses do not speak English or are not fluent enough to understand everything an interpreter must be used. This may be a family friend or relative. There are legal requirements that include a Statutory Declaration regarding an appropriate interpreter. I am able to provide additional information upon request.
As your marriage celebrant I must be confident that the party intending to marry must understand English sufficiently. I will request an interpreter is present for processing of all legal forms and at the ceremony should I believe that a party intending to marry requires. This service will incur an additional fee. Should the party intending to marry say or do anything that suggests that the consent is not real it is against the law for me to continue with the wedding.
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Where one party to the marriage is resident overseas & is applying to immigrate to Australia on a fiancé (Prospective Spouse) visa, the Department of Immigration & Citizenship requires that you provide proof of your intention to marry & that you actually marry within 9 months of arriving in Australia. I am able to guide you to the appropriate authorities such as a registered Migration Agent to ensure you are provided with the proper immigration advice.
If you would like any further information please link to www.ag.gov.au
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At the first interview we will go through the "Agreement for Ceremony" together.
The "Agreement for Ceremony" includes
the investment of your chosen Wedding Package
possible sur-charges
special requirements.
total Fee Payable
deposit and payment
refund policy (A change of date as a result of COVID restrictions for guests does not apply for a refund)
refund policy (The deposit will not be forfeited if the ceremony is cancelled due to state government announcing no weddings are to be officiated during your ceremony date)
policy on delays to the ceremonies starting time
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To secure your ceremony date, a non-refundable deposit of 50% of your chosen marriage package is required upon booking and the full balance two months before your ceremony.
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A couple has 14 days Grace to shift their date after securing their ceremony date. Your deposit will not be forfeited in that first 14 days of shifting/postponing your ceremony date.
After 14 days deposit is non-refundable due to securing the date for potential couples and business for Mana Ceremonies. The deposit also honours services rendered by your civil celebrant.
Deposit is non-refundable for moving of ceremony date or cancellation due to Government lockdowns of Covid.
Cancellations within two months of ceremony date forfeits full payment.
CODE RED day officially announced by state government of the area in your ceremony will be able to change dates only ONCE without any loss of deposit or full fee of celebrant services. There will be no cash refunds.
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Cancellation Policies
Deposit is non-refundable due to securing the date for potential couples and business for Mana Ceremonies. The deposit also honours services rendered by your civil celebrant.
Deposit is non-refundable for moving of ceremony date or cancellation due to Government lockdowns of Covid.
Cancellations within two months of ceremony date forfeits full payment.
CODE RED day officially announced by state government of the area in your ceremony will be able to change dates only ONCE without any loss of deposit or full fee of celebrant services. There will be no cash refunds.
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Mana Ceremonies is a non-alcoholic ceremony. Alcoholic beverages may be enjoyed before or after the ceremony. However once the ceremony starts alcoholic beverages to be placed aside so we can stand in honour with presence for our couple.
Safe and respectful space for all
Sexual harassment, Abusive language is not tolerated by the civil celebrant for anyone at the ceremony. This can result in cancellation of ceremony and asking the person/persons to be removed from the ceremony.
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Your ceremony script will be delivered a week after lodging your NOIM documents. It is absolutely important to have that script with your vows returned to your celebrant 4 weeks before the ceremony date. This ensures Ngahuia is prepared and your booklet is printed for you to keep. Any support you need please reach out to Ngahuia.
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Simply click on the link below…