What does a Marriage Celebrant do?

A Marriage Celebrant, as a qualified trained and professional person, is authorised to conduct your marriage ceremony in a manner that meets the legal requirements.  This includes a range of matters - such as ensuring that your ceremony contains certain mandatory words; the correct completion of your Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM) and all other marriage documents;  and the lodging of your marriage documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages - is done in such a way that they comply with the Marriage Act 1961.

Apart from ensuring that your ceremony contains the things that makes it legal, your Marriage Celebrant will also assist you in personalising your ceremony and, to this end, will offer some choices as to what you may like to consider for inclusion in your ceremony.   Your Marriage Celebrant can also offer you a range of resources to assist you in this process.  This is not to say that you cannot write your own vows and indeed, if you would prefer to write your own ceremony, there are a number of celebrants who would be pleased to help you in this endeavour, and most importantly, would still ensure that your ceremony complies with all the legal requirements.   

The obligations placed on Marriage Celebrants are outlined in a Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants which is to be displayed by them.  Some Marriage Celebrants may even provide you with a copy of this document.

To what extent can our family and friends participate in our marriage ceremony? 

Your family and friends may participate in your marriage ceremony in a number of ways.  However, their participation does not extend to the legal requirements which can only be fulfilled by your Marriage Celebrant and which are set out in the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants and in the relevant legislative requirements.  The legal requirements include your Marriage Celebrant:

• taking a public role in your ceremony
• identifying him/herself at your ceremony as the celebrant authorised to solemnise your marriage
• being responsible for ensuring the validity of your marriage according to law insofar as saying the mandatory words contained in the Marriage Act 1961
• being able to hear clearly and see you exchange your vows in the manner prescribed in the Marriage Act 1961
• being available to intervene (and exercise the responsibility to intervene) if events demonstrate such a need within your ceremony
• being a part of the ceremonial group or in close proximity to it
• signing the papers as required by the Marriage Act 1961

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and should you wish to obtain more detailed information on the full extent of the legal requirements, your Marriage Celebrant can advise you further.