|   Notice of Intended Marriage
A notice of intended marriage must be filled out and lodged with an authorised marriage celebrant at least one month and one day before your wedding date. You can fill it out up to 18 months earlier if you like planning ahead!
If you plan to marry to marry in Australia but live overseas, you still need to lodge the Notice of Intention to Marry with an authorised marriage celebrant.
Documents you need to bring with you when lodging or filling out the form with the celebrant include original certificates of birth, your passport (if an overseas citizen), copy of any fiance visa, any Decree Absolute or Certificate of Divorce or Nullity, or Death (of previous spouse) if you have been previously married.
You may need other documents and should discuss this with your celebrant before the meeting to lodge the form. Other documents you may need include a Statutory Declaration, official translations of overseas documents not written in English, Change of Name Certificate, Citizenship papers and Court Orders for marriage of minors.
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| Wording in Marriage Ceremonies |
| Vows |
| To make the ceremony a legal marriage, each person uses their full name and that of their partner, unless the full names have been used earlier in the ceremony. You must also use the word "spouse", or "husband" or "wife". You can refer to "partner" or "life partner" in addition to "spouse" or "husband" or "wife" but not instead of them. And, according to the Marriage Act, you also have to declare to everyone present that you take your partner to be your wife or husband. |
| Wording of the Monitum or Celebrant's Authority |
| In a civil marriage ceremony, most celebrants are required by law to say certain words, called the monitum or celebrant's authority, to make the ceremony lawful and binding. This is the part of the ceremony that states that marriage is a solemn, serious and binding relationship. |
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Witnesses
You need 2 witnesses to make your marriage legal. Your witnesses must be:
- over 18
- and capable of understanding the nature of the ceremony.
- they need not be members of the bridal party and may be in the general assembly of guests
- they must be able to hear and understand the vows of the couple in the wedding ceremony
- it is a good idea to exchange addresses and keep the names and addresses of your witnesses with your marriage certificate.
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Witnesses add support to your intentions. |
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Interpreters and Translators
If you or your intended spouse is from overseas and not conversant with English, you will need to arrange for an interpreter when filling out official forms and on your wedding day. You may also need to have official documents like your birth certificate translated into English to lodge with the celebrant before the wedding. Similarly, a person who is hearing or sight impaired may require an interpreter. Choosing an independent interpreter is your best option here, as a family member or friend of one of the spouses may not be impartial and able to fairly represent what is being said or declared.
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Heart2heart Ceremonies...for your heart and soul 
