Getting Legally Married in Perth: A Celebrant’s Guide
Getting Married in Australia: What You Need to Know About the Legals
If you’re planning a wedding in Australia, congratulations! It’s an exciting time filled with joy, anticipation, and (let’s be honest) a few logistics. One of the most important things to get right? The legal requirements of marriage.
As a registered marriage celebrant servicing Perth and the South West, I help couples navigate this process every day, and I know it can seem a little overwhelming at first. But don’t worry—it’s more straightforward than you might think.
Here’s a simple guide to the key legals of getting married in Australia so you can tick all the right boxes and focus on what really matters—celebrating your love.
1. Choose an Authorised Celebrant
To be legally married in Australia, your ceremony must be conducted by an authorised marriage celebrant—someone registered with the Attorney-General’s Department. This can be a:
Civil marriage celebrant (like me!)
Religious celebrant
State or territory registry official
Before booking, always make sure your celebrant is registered and authorised to perform legal marriages.
2. Submit a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is a legal form that must be submitted at least one month before your wedding date, and no more than 18 months prior.
You’ll need to provide:
Original ID documents (usually birth certificates or passports)
Proof of divorce or death certificate, if you’ve been previously married
Both parties must sign the NOIM in front of an authorised witness. If you're unable to submit the form together, one party can submit it, and the other can sign it later (but before the ceremony).
3. Make Legal Declarations
Before the ceremony, you’ll each need to sign a Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage, confirming that you are:
Of legal age (18+)
Not married to someone else
Not closely related by blood or marriage
Giving consent freely
This is usually completed a few days before or on the day of your wedding just prior to the ceremony. It also must be done separately, so I will meet with each of you privately to sign this one.
4. Say the Legal Wording in Your Ceremony
For your marriage to be legally binding, your celebrant must include certain words in the ceremony—and you must say some of them too.
Celebrant’s legal wording:
"I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to the law in Australia..."
Couple’s legal vows (each person must say):
"I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, [your full name], take you, [partner’s full name], to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/spouse/partner in marriage."
These words must be said exactly— don’t worry, as your celebrant, I will guide you through it all. I will also let you know the parts we can change to ensure the ceremony is inclusive and LGBT+ friendly.
5. Sign the Official Marriage Certificates
During the ceremony, you’ll sign three marriage certificates:
One for the couple (your keepsake)
One for the celebrant’s records
One that’s sent to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) to legally register your marriage
You’ll also need two witnesses over 18 years old to sign the documents. They don’t have to be part of the wedding party, but they must be present for the entire ceremony. If you are eloping, I am more than happy to arrange two witnesses for you.
6. Registering the Marriage
After the ceremony, your celebrant will lodge the legal paperwork with the relevant state or territory’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages—usually within 14 days.
Once registered, you can apply for an official marriage certificate from the BDM (this is different from the decorative certificate you receive on the day). This official certificate is what you'll need for changing your name, applying for visas, or proving your marriage legally.
A Final Word
Weddings are full of emotion, beauty, and love—but it’s the legal framework that makes it official. As your celebrant, I’m here to make sure the legal side of your wedding is handled with care and clarity, so you can relax and enjoy the day knowing everything’s in order.
Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, the legals are the same—and they can be a meaningful part of your ceremony too.
If you have questions about getting married in Perth or the South West, I’d love to chat.
With love,
Rachael
Registered Marriage Celebrant