1. Allow time for the notice
A completed Notice of Intended Marriage needs to be given to your celebrant at least one month and no more than 18 months before the marriage. Do not confuse a five-minute ceremony with same-day eligibility. A prescribed authority can consider shortening the notice period in limited circumstances; it is not guaranteed.
Use the official NOIM resource, and ask Bec how to complete and witness it correctly.
2. Check eligibility and evidence
Ask your celebrant what evidence is needed for your identity, date and place of birth and, if applicable, the end of a previous marriage. The government guidance also covers eligibility and consent. This checklist does not determine whether an individual is eligible to marry.
3. Arrange the required meetings and witnesses
Your celebrant must meet each party separately and in person before the marriage. At the ceremony, both parties and the celebrant must be physically present. You also need two witnesses aged 18 or over.
Confirm who will arrange the witnesses and any practical access requirements; do not assume witness provision is included in a package.
4. Understand your certificates
The ceremony certificate and an official marriage certificate from the relevant state or territory registry are not the same document. Ask which certificate you need for your intended purpose and how it will be obtained. Bec’s current Bespoke Package lists the official certificate cost as included; do not assume the same for every package.
The Attorney-General’s guidance explains registration and official certificate applications. Follow the registry for the state or territory where the marriage takes place.
5. If an overseas celebration is part of the plan
A valid overseas marriage is generally recognised in Australia, and an overseas marriage cannot be registered here. If your overseas event is symbolic only, a separate Australian legal ceremony may be relevant. If you are already legally married, do not book another legal marriage on the assumption it is needed to make the first one valid.
Read the Australian Government marriage guidance and discuss your circumstances with your celebrant.
Choose the ceremony around the legal essentials
Legals Only keeps the ceremony simple. Intimate and Bespoke add different levels of personal ceremony support. The legal requirements still apply to each.
Official sources checked 20 October 2026. Requirements can change; verify the current guidance before acting. This resource is general planning information, not legal advice.