Category: Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law
Legislation regarding remote witnessing of NOIMs!
Posted by Sarah Aird | Nov 16, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Remote witnessing of NOIMS – help make it pe...
Posted by Sarah Aird | Jul 28, 2022 | Community News, COVID-19, Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 8 |
Celebrants can witness NOIMs over the internet!
Posted by Josh Withers | Dec 21, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
How to record the location of a marriage ceremony ...
Posted by Josh Withers | Sep 19, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
The deal with Australian celebrants and international weddings
by Josh Withers | Sep 23, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Art of Ceremony | 2 |
Anka asks: Lately I’ve noticed a lot of celebrants on Facebook have started advertising that they can do weddings overseas?? I didn’t think we could? Im presuming they might be just completing paperwork at the airport before they depart? Or did u miss something
Read MoreCelebrants must have separate meetings with each party to marriage before the wedding
by Josh Withers | Jun 13, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 5 |
Webinar on this topic: $10 to watch on demand webinars to learn about the new marriage law...
Read MoreNOIM Remote Witnessing has been made law
by Josh Withers | Jun 12, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Webinar on this topic: $10 to watch on demand webinars to learn about the new marriage law...
Read MoreHistory of the one month’s notice period
by Sarah Aird | May 7, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
Couples who want to get married in Australia have to give one month’s notice. Whenever the mere suggestion of changing that is raised, there is extreme pushback from many celebrants. So I did some digging into why this rule exists…
Read MoreInterstate online BDM systems
by Josh Withers | Feb 20, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sutha asks: I am registered in NSW, but will be getting a close friend married in Melbourne. Can I...
Read MoreOn paying for a NSW Official Certificate of Marriage
by Josh Withers | Feb 20, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Lifelink was a controversial project, first proposed in 2002, it cost almost $50 million to bring it to life, but one of the small blessings it brought was surety to celebrants that the marriage was registered properly, and then we could order certificates for our couples.
Read MoreWhen can a celebrant marry a couple overseas and without a NOIM?
by Josh Withers | Feb 20, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Did you know that in a very specific circumstance a certain kind of celebrant can marry a certain...
Read MoreReport of the Senate Inquiry into the AG Portfolio Miscellaneous Measure Bill 2023
by Sarah Aird | Feb 2, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 6 |
As of June 12 2024 remote witnessing of Notice of Intended Marriage forms is now law and you can...
Read MoreOur submission to the Senate Inquiry into the AG Portfolio Miscellaneous Measure Bill 2023
by Sarah Aird | Jan 9, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
As of June 12 2024 remote witnessing of Notice of Intended Marriage forms is now law and you can...
Read MoreMarriage law reform and change in 2024
by Josh Withers | Jan 1, 2024 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
As of June 12 2024 remote witnessing of Notice of Intended Marriage forms is now law and you can...
Read MoreLegislation regarding remote witnessing of NOIMs!
by Sarah Aird | Nov 16, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
For the latest news on the remote witnessing of Notice of Intended Marriage forms visit this page....
Read MoreDigital drivers licenses as ID, a guide for celebrants
by Josh Withers | Oct 31, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
As more Australian states start delivering digital drivers licenses it’s important for Australian marriage celebrants to know if they can use digital drivers licenses as ID when solemnising marriages.
Read MoreMarry From Home – is it legal for Australian couples?
by Sarah Aird | Apr 11, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Stephanie celebrant asks: I think many of us have seen and have been contacted by “Marry...
Read MoreMy couple are breaking up, can I just not register their marriage?
by Josh Withers | Mar 26, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Marie asks: I married a couple last night and when I got home registered the marriage and ordered their marriage certificate. This morning I woke up to a string of texts from the bride to not register the marriage and that she no longer wants to be married to him. What do I do? Or what do they do?
Read MoreThe difference between religious ministers and civil celebrants
by Josh Withers | Mar 2, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Karen asks: What are the differences/similarities, restrictions and allowances between a celebrant-led wedding and a church wedding, that is, by
an ordained minister. I have noticed a lot of confusion and even ignorance about what can and can’t be done when the question of faith is raised. Can a celebrant read a biblical text, what constitutes a church and why can’t all ministers perform weddings? I am a civil celebrant who came from a faith background and I know, there are many others as well.
16 Ways a celebrant can end up in jail for six months
by Josh Withers | Jan 17, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sarah and I have been reviewing the Guidelines to the Marriage Act and one chapter caught my eye and I thought maybe you didn’t know how many things you could do that would end you up in jail for at least six months, or with “five penalty units” whatever they are.
You can find it all detailed heavily in the actual Marriage Act of 1961, but here’s the list of things a celebrant can do that could end them up in jail.
Read MoreRemote witnessing of NOIMs in 2023
by Josh Withers | Jan 4, 2023 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
In early December the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s department’s Marriage Law and Celebrants Section let us know that the remote witnessing of NOIMs has been extended to 31 December 2023.
Read MoreCelebrant legal obligations online
by Sarah Aird | Nov 8, 2022 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 5 |
Hopefully everyone has caught up on this major change to the way we do our work, but I know from my OPD classes that some people missed it. So here’s a super basic update.
Read MoreTips for completing the compulsory OPD
by Sarah Aird | Sep 12, 2022 | CI, Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
We’ve had a lot of requests about whether we’re going to run a session providing info...
Read MoreYou must call yourself a marriage celebrant
by Josh Withers | Aug 14, 2022 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I’m sure that all of you have familiarised yourself with the Marriage Act of 1961, so you probably don’t have to read this, but on the off chance that Sarah Aird has schooled you, like she’s just schooled me, on some things in the Marriage Act, I thought I’d share them here. These are new changes since marriage equality was legislated. Today we’re talking about section 39G, Obligations of each marriage celebrant.
Read MoreRemote witnessing of NOIMS – help make it permanent!
by Sarah Aird | Jul 28, 2022 | Community News, COVID-19, Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 8 |
Let’s make remote witnessing of NOIMs permanent! We need your help to change marriage law.
Read MoreCelebrants can witness NOIMs over the internet!
by Josh Withers | Dec 21, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Breaking marriage law news – for the second time since 1961: Celebrants can witness NOIMs over the internet! From 22 December 2021 you can witness the Notice of Intended Marriage over a video call. You can send a couple their NOIM as a PDF…
Read MoreHow to record the location of a marriage ceremony on the water or in the air
by Josh Withers | Sep 19, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Lizzie asks: “My couple is getting married on a boat in The Pittwater located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Please advise how I best record the “at” on the docs for a wedding adrift.” The Guidelines to the Marriage Act, in relation to the place a wedding would occur, gives this poor advice: “The marriage must be registered in the state or territory where the marriage was solemnised. To meet this requirement, and possible requirements of other countries for recognition of the marriage, marriages in aircraft and ships at sea should be avoided.” I’m not going to say they’re wrong, but they’re not right. Australian authorised marriage celebrants have the authority and the ability to marry couples anywhere and at any time on any day within Australia and its territories.
Read MoreJPs witnessing the NOIM via audio visual link – NOT ALLOWED
by Sarah Aird | Aug 2, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
As of June 12 2024 remote witnessing of Notice of Intended Marriage forms is now law and you can...
Read MoreLegalities for parties who are vision impaired
by Sarah Aird | Jul 12, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Tania asks: I have an enquiry from a couple, one party is Visually Impaired. They would have the...
Read MoreManaging marriage documentation after death of a celebrant
by Sarah Aird | Feb 22, 2021 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
When a celebrant dies, what happens to their marriage documentation?
Read MoreMoving a wedding from Queensland to New South Wales
by Josh Withers | Sep 29, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Luke asks: One of my couples that had a Qld wedding booked, now want to change the ceremony location to NSW since the new border easing. What do I need to know and how do I go about doing a wedding in NSW? Is there a set criteria that determines the couples eligibility for getting married over the border into NSW?
Read MoreCorrecting marriage paperwork
by Josh Withers | Sep 16, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
There’s a new fact sheet on the Attorny-General’s department website on correcting marriage paperwork, and it’s an important read. Luckily for us, our own Sarah Aird heavily impacted the final draft. We’re copying and pasting the fact sheet here, but find the original on the AGD website.
Read MoreHow to lodge marriage documents electronically with the ACT BDM
by Josh Withers | Aug 6, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
The Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, all have their own online systems for logging in online and submitting marriage paperwork electronically. The Australian Capital Territory BDM doesn’t have an online system, but they do accept via email.
Read MoreForm 15 Record of Use in Excel
by Sarah Aird | Jul 25, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
(Sorry for the radio silence on my behalf – I’ve been answering members’ questions, but otherwise frantically working on all things Life Skills Training, which hasn’t left much time for writing blog...
Read MoreHow to marry people overseas
by Josh Withers | May 8, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Art of Ceremony | 2 |
Maria asks: I am hoping to be able to travel and marry people in other countries so how do I go about doing that? I understand the law is different in each state in the US and of course Canada so is there an easy process to get the legal requirements to marry people overseas?
Read MoreWitnessing a NOIM over Zoom in the COVID-19 lockdown
by Josh Withers | Apr 20, 2020 | COVID-19, Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
With Police Officers and JPs being the most popular witnesses to notices of intended marriage forms when a celebrant cannot attend the witnessing…
Read MoreWhat happens if we don’t submit the official marriage certificate to BDM within two weeks
by Josh Withers | Feb 4, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
A Celebrant Institute member asks: “I know celebrants are required send all the legal documents after the wedding day or submit via lifelink within 14 days of the ceremony but what actually happens if we forget?” Sarah’s on holidays this week but luckily for you, this is a question even I can answer.
Read MoreThe golden rule of marriage legals and ethics
by Sarah Aird | Jan 29, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
Lots of the questions celebrants ask me relate to how far they can push the legislative requirements or ethics of our role. I have one simple test you can apply to any situation
Read MoreAdvice for couples re name changes after marriage
by Sarah Aird | Jan 28, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
I’ve had a couple ask about what happens with there names after they are married. I’m not sure if I’m meant to know or if it’s some what part of my role but what is the legal action for changing the couples names after the ceremony?
Read MoreHow to make marriage paperwork PDFs, and where to send them
by Josh Withers | Jan 25, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
While I’ve talked a lot about how I sign my paperwork on an iPad, you’re welcome to choose your tablet and software of choice, I haven’t detailed exactly where the paperwork comes from.
Of course you can [download blank marriage paperwork] from the Attorney-General’s office, and if you wanted to find the shortest link between the AGD website and signing it on an iPad, you could literally treat that blank paperwork like blank physical paper. But there’s a better way and it depends which state you live in.
Read MoreQueensland BDM needs more info on parents
by Josh Withers | Jan 24, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
A member asked for help with the Queensland BDM pushing back on a marriage registration and wanting more info on parents.
Read MoreMinimum requirements for accepting a NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Jan 10, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
What is the minimum required information needed to accept a NOIM, and can you accept a NOIM without yet seeing proof of identity and date and place of birth?
Read MoreRecord keeping in an online environment
by Sarah Aird | Jan 6, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I read the latest Marriage Celebrant Matters Newsletter and it states that “Hard copies of the Notice, DNLI or any supporting documents (divorce orders, parental consents etc) do not need to be kept once lodged electronically with the registry of births, deaths and marriages (BDM). Celebrants may wish to retain these documents until the marriage is registered”
Does this include all the previous hard copies we kept and lodged electronically? Because previously we were suppose to keep the hard copies for X years from what I remember. I think it was 5 years from memory.
Read MoreChildren of previous marriages on the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Jan 2, 2020 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
It’s here again, the most dreaded question on the NOIM. We do know it’s being removed from the next iteration of the forms, but given they’ve been on their way for 5 years, don’t hold your breath. Liane...
Read MoreMultiple NOIMs for one marriage
by Sarah Aird | Dec 28, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
Once a NOIM has been submitted to the NSW Registry BDM, do you know if that one has to be used, or if it could be abandoned and brand new NOIM submitted to a different celebrant?
Read MoreChanging the planned date of the marriage on the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Dec 24, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A couple from America have gone gung ho and booked to elope in December. They have their heart set on coming into their wedding on a camel!
I advised them that this our ‘wet’ season and there may be a chance of rain and will need a plan B. However there is no plan B option for a camel to be involved….which is their whole motivation for getting married in this destination. The cameleer has advised them that they definitely need a plan B too. He has asked them potentially plan to have the wedding on 2 consecutive dates (28th and 29th Dec) so that if it is raining on the first date, they can do it on the second date.
I advised them that this isn’t possible due to the NOIM limitations. Anyway I got to thinking, is it totally illegal to fill in 2 NOIMS – one for each date? I feel like this would be a no-no but I guess I want to satisfy my curiosity
Read MoreChanging the redundant parts of the Marriage Act – December 2019 Update
by Josh Withers | Dec 21, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
If you’ve been following an earlier blog post where we made submissions to our local MP regarding removing some redundant parts of the Marriage Act of 1961, well, I got an update:
Read MoreContingency/death planning for celebrants
by Sarah Aird | Dec 20, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Business of Celebrancy | 0 |
Now I’ve reached the stage of life where I have a mortgage and a family I figure it’s time to put a grown up will in place.
This got me thinking about what instructions I need to leave for my surviving relatives and the obligations that they have not only to comply with the law but to also ensure a smooth transition for my couples.
I was wondering if you guys have any tips or could give a basic overview of what process you guys have in place?
Read MoreNames in the ceremony
by Sarah Aird | Dec 16, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I have a Jane Brown (married name from her third marriage – the marriage I am looking after will be her fourth)
She uses the name Jane Brown in everyday use, and has Jane Brown on all her current documents. The only document she has with her maiden name (Jane Smith) is her birth certificate.
She has asked if I can use her maiden name, Jane Smith, in the ceremony on the day?
Read MoreParents’ names on the NOIM. Part 3
by Sarah Aird | Dec 6, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
Party to the marriage is completing their NOIM and has advised me that:
1) her father is not listed on her birth certificate or any other official/legal documents relating to her identity
2) she knows who her father is, and they are involved in each other’s life
I’m aware we don’t have to check evidence of parents names – so just wanted to double check that I am correct in advising that she should list her father on the NOIM despite him not appearing on her birth certificate (as to write ‘unknown’ would be to knowingly make a false statement on the NOIM)?
Witnessing the NOIM via videoconferencing
by Sarah Aird | Dec 2, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
With the new law, we are able to sight their identification online, so can we do the same if they sign the documents in front of us but online? So signing in America, we watch them do that over Skype, then they mail us the form, and we sign NOIM and date when we watched them sign over Skype.
Read MoreContacting our local MP about the now redundant requirement of two official marriage certificates
by Josh Withers | Nov 30, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
On this week’s podcast episode I talked about contacting our local member of parliament to request a change to the Marriage Act of 1961. The act requires two official certificates of marriage be prepared, which in a digital age where we’re creating PDF certificates, is a little redundant.
Read MorePayments direct from clients to celebrants
by Sarah Aird | Nov 24, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Business of Celebrancy | 2 |
Ky Sign in or become a...
Read MoreCan’t access a birth certificate but has a passport!
by Sarah Aird | Nov 16, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Cass asks: I’m marring a couple in October and one of them can’t find his birth certificate and he’s looked everywhere. He seems to think it can’t get posted to him in time to fill out the NOIM. He only has a passport and not a drivers license or proof of age. Is there any other form of ID he can use like Medicare or like proof of residency? Sorry, I tried looking it up and can’t quite figure out how to use other IDs on the NOIM?
Read More“Authority for marriage despite late notice – not applicable”
by Sarah Aird | Nov 12, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
“I’m confused about a tick box on the NOIM with these words beside it “Authority for marriage despite late notice – not applicable”. It does not have an asterisk or dagger next to it for actioning (i.e. strike out words not required, or strike out if inapplicable). Can you advise when and what this should be actioned for please?”
Read MoreEvidence of divorces granted overseas
by Sarah Aird | Nov 8, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
I’ve written before about how easy it is for parties to get a copy of their divorce order if they were divorced in Australia. I’ve also written about the changes in the 2018 Guidelines that allow us to accept a stat...
Read MoreLegals Only weddings: clarity for couples
by Sarah Aird | Nov 4, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 5 |
How do you lock down clear processes for legals? I often have the issue of legals being pushed to a short and sweet without them paying for that.
Read MoreStatutory declaration for evidence of date and place of birth
by Sarah Aird | Oct 31, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Shamini asks: I’ve got a couple who came here as refugees (by boat) 9 years ago and are looking to get married. In terms of ID they have a travel document that is provided by the Australian Govt (looks like a passport). Is...
Read MoreTaking over a ceremony for another celebrant: legal obligations
by Sarah Aird | Oct 27, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
A celebrant friend has asked me to be a standby in case she cannot officiate her nieces wedding next month. I am meeting the couple this week so we can all feel comfortable and I will also check ID’s so I am happy with that aspect. The best outcome is that I am just there on the day and she is well enough but we are both wanting to be prepared so her niece has a legal and memorable wedding with no glitches. Is this enough?
Read MoreUS citizens marrying in Australia
by Sarah Aird | Oct 23, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
US citizens marrying in Australia; are there any differences for us to be aware of?
Read MoreSigning documents electronically under the new rules
by Sarah Aird | Oct 19, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
What does “signing electronically” actually mean?
Read MoreGiving the couple a copy of their NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Oct 15, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I have completed a NOIM with a bride for a ceremony next year, the groom lives in the USA and they are submitting a prospective marriage visa application. When signing the NOIM with the bride I provided a letter of support but she also wanted a copy of the NOIM for her lawyer. I said I wasn’t able to provide this and the letter should be enough (I have done a few of these now and no other couple have asked for it and visas have been processed). I double checked this with some other celebrants at the time as I was sure we were not supposed to pass on copies of the NOIM to anyone and they agreed, do not pass it on. Anyway today the lawyer called me asking for the NOIM again. I advised the same thing and she was super nice about it but said in 5 years I am the only celebrant to have ever said no…………. SO am I wrong or is she wrong? I don’t want to hinder their visa application in any way but I also want to follow our rules!
Read MoreWedding location on the marriage paperwork
by Sarah Aird | Oct 11, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
I am doing a backyard wedding next week (the couple have changed their mind at the last minute) so do I need to put their street address as the location, along with the town and state? I can’t find any guidance in the Guidelines about how nailed down the location has to be but I remember in my Cert IV that I had to write location as well as town and state.
Read MoreTiming of divorce and the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Oct 7, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
When do I need to sight proof of the end of a previous marriage?
Read MoreTotal period of residence on the NOIM, part 2
by Sarah Aird | Oct 3, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I have a groom who is a foreign national, but this is not the first time he lived in Australia – he lived here as a child as well. Does ‘Total Period of Residency’ only refer to his most recent stint, or is it a sum of all the times he has lived here?
Read MorePostponing a wedding: what happens to the NOIM?
by Sarah Aird | Sep 29, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Dee asks: After reading the guidelines I’m after some clarification regarding a NOIM. One of my couples have unfortunately had to postpone their wedding. Am I right in thinking the below : – If the wedding takes place with...
Read MoreVIC BDM RIO: children of previous marriages
by Sarah Aird | Sep 25, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Trying to input previous marriage’s children’s birth years on VIC BDM site… there are 5, it will only accept 1. I’ve tried commas and with out, not go.
Read MoreRegistering Australian marriages overseas
by Sarah Aird | Sep 17, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Just wanting some advice on how you inform couples on how to register their marriages aboard? E.g A Scottish couple marry here, and ask you how they register their marriage in Scotland. I understand they need to have the Original Marriage Certificate apostille stamped, before their government will recognize it as a true document, however where can they get this done? The Australian Embassy in their country or??
Read MoreMarrying in your birth name after changing your name by marriage
by Sarah Aird | Sep 13, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
I have a bride that is divorced but still goes by her previous spouse’s surname. In regards to moving forward and taking on the new spouses name – does she have to go through any special process or will she just go to her organisations and show her divorce cert, and new marriage certificate to change to her new surname? In regards to the paperwork NOIM etc – if she shows me her birth certificate, but a passport/drivers licence with her previous married surname – as long as I’m satisfied that it is the same person, and she is who she says she is, does it matter? And i fill out the documentation with her maiden name?
Read MoreWhat does Queensland BDM email people after their marriage is registered?
by Josh Withers | Jul 18, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
I’ve been telling couples that after their marriage ceremony the Queensland Births, Deaths, and Marriages will email them with “an opportunity to order their marriage certificate” but I had not actually seen one of those emails yet. I’m guessing you hadn’t either.
So here’s what the Qld BDM emails after you register a marriage online with them:
Read MoreWhat does our annual registration fee pay for?
by Sarah Aird | Jul 16, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
After a chat with some other celebrants recently, it occurred to me that I had no idea what our annual registration fee actually goes towards other than a vague concept of it supporting the Marriage Celebrants Programme. What benefits do we receive in return for our compulsory registration fee?
Read MoreVisa/residence requirements for marrying in Australia
by Sarah Aird | Jul 9, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
I have a groom whose status in Australia is as a ‘permanent resident’ which was granted last year. (He is from the UK.) To be sure to satisfy both myself and also the couple, this status does NOT require any additional paperwork/applications etc to legally marry here in Australia, correct?
Read MoreHow to change what address appears on your AG Register listing
by Sarah Aird | Jun 19, 2019 | Marketing and Social Media, Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
As a follow-up to my recent post about a super easy and free advertising platform for Australian celebrants, this is how you can change which address is displayed in your listing. As mentioned in that post, I only display the...
Read MoreWhat exactly is a Commissioner for Declarations?
by Sarah Aird | Jun 11, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
On page 4 of the NOIM, in the tiny font underneath the signature panels, there is a list of people who can witness the signatures of the parties on the NOIM. There’s a rather confusing entry in this list for people who can...
Read MoreCelebrant numbers at 10 June 2019
by Sarah Aird | Jun 10, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
How many celebrants who perform civil ceremonies decided to become Religious Marriage Celebrants after marriage equality was introduced? I counted in 2018, and I’ve counted again in 2019. Enjoy the fruits of my nerdom!
Read MoreCan we marry people on the water or in the air in Australia?
by Josh Withers | Apr 22, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Art of Ceremony | 2 |
Elle asks: I have a wedding where I am marrying the couple on a boat, we are all going to get on and cruise for 10mins until the couple get a feeling like yep lets pull up here and then I will do their ceremony, then the boat will carry on for couple of hours whilst everyone has drinks, food and watches the sunset. So in regard to Location of marriage on paperwork, NOIM and Marriage Docs as I won’t know the coordinates until we literally pull up, do I just write the coordinates in quickly before I call everyone in to kick ceremony off or can I fill when we go to sign docs? And am I just writing the coordinates, or do I need to put the boats name also?
Read MoreChange of name by marriage and the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Apr 3, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Some of you may recall this little rant I went on after the updated Guidelines were released last year: “Change of name by marriage: A party who has changed their name by marriage, and retained their previous...
Read MoreTaking over a wedding from another celebrant: logistics and money
by Sarah Aird | Mar 28, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Business of Celebrancy | 2 |
“A local celebuddy and I have recently been chatting about being a primary back-up celebrant for each other. As a fairly new celebrant, it got me wondering how other people manage replacements when you have to cancel at short notice (or even on the day). Do you ask the new celebrant to use your script (even if it’s very much in ‘your’ voice)? How do you divide payment? Do you partially/fully refund the couple because you’ve not completely fulfilled the contract? What if you’re in a car accident on the way to the ceremony and you have all the paperwork on you?”
Read MoreWitnessing the NOIM: how much information is required?
by Sarah Aird | Mar 18, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Lauren asks: “I got this question from my bride and I’m second guessing myself! ‘Went up to the police station on Sunday and got this signed, but I just wanted to check before I send you the original…in the qualification section, is it fine that it just says police officer? I only realised when looking at it later that there is no section for the witness’ name or identification number or anything, so hoping this is ok!’
Read MorePassports: how old is too old?
by Sarah Aird | Mar 15, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sean asks: I know expired passports are okay, as long as they haven’t been cancelled but is there a time limit on that? This one expired in 2012
Read MoreWhat do celebrants legally have to say?
by Josh Withers | Mar 13, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Kelly asks: What do we legally have to say? Just read guidelines and act section 45/46 and I’m reading we only need to say monitum and a couple the legal vow. I read/was trained that we have to introduce ourselves as the celebrant with the lucky job of marrying the shit outta the couple before us…but do we actually have to? I’m looking at making my intro less formal and hoping I’ve read it right.
Read MoreVIC BDM RIO: everything I know
by Sarah Aird | Mar 13, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
As anyone who’s reading this will be aware, the rollout of the Victorian BDM’s new online registration system, Registry Information Online (aka RIO) has been less than smooth. As I write this I’m locked in a text conversation with our very own Josh; he’s the techiest person I know and even he’s confused. Things that work one day don’t seem to work the next; you ring the helpdesk and get a “solution” that is really just them fiddling around until it suddenly works for no good reason, etc etc etc.
Read MoreVictorian BDM RIO tutorial
by Sarah Aird | Mar 12, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Let’s face it, the new BDM online registration system implementation has not had the smoothest roll-out in the history of tech roll-outs. It’s certainly not a particularly intuitive, user-friendly system, and I’m disappointed at the number of issues with it. However I also know BDM are working really hard to rectify the issues as soon as possible.
Read MoreHow a real celebrant should read the Guidelines, and other thoughts on marriage celebrancy
by Josh Withers | Feb 26, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
The recent post on sighting ID included some powerful language from the Attorney-General’s office:The Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for authorised celebrants is issued to assist celebrants to comply with the Marriage Act and Regulations. Ultimately it is up to the celebrant to comply with all of the requirements of the Act. I appreciate that some of the language used in the Guidelines is of a directive nature, rather than of best practice nature.Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Marriage Celebrants Section
Read MoreA massive change to how marriage celebrants can sight ID
by Josh Withers | Feb 22, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 17 |
For the past six months I have been pursuing a line of inquiry with the Attorney-General’s office Marriage Celebrants Section over the line in the Guidelines section 4.4.2: It is not acceptable for a celebrant to accept a NOIM and/or supporting documents via videoconferencing services such as Skype. Actual documentation must be received by the celebrant.
Read MoreThe Unofficial Guidelines on the ‘Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for Marriage Celebrants’ for Marriage Celebrants
by Josh Withers | Feb 2, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Deb writes in asking “I appear to get myself into hot water time and time again, by saying that the Guidelines are just that GUIDELINES, and the act and the regs are the actual LAW. Am I right?”
Read MoreInterpreters and translators
by Sarah Aird | Jan 2, 2019 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sarita asks: We’re away at the moment and then the couple in question head away as we get back – so the NOIM will be getting lodged in Jan, with a day to spare. The bride is from China and all her ID is in Chinese. As long as I tell them to get the passport, (birth certificate) & drivers license/ID card interpreted by a NAATI registered interpreter – is that all ok? Just wanted to check I’m not missing anything as it’s my first time doing a marriage that will involve an interpreter.
Read MoreWhen to provide documentation to couples
by Sarah Aird | Dec 26, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
Peter asks:
By when in the process must we have given the required documents to the couple?
I have been giving the required documents (happily ever…, code of practice, complaint info, etc.) with the engagement letter / quote, however, often I only have an email address at this stage for one party, not both. As I understand it, this doesn’t satisfy the requirements of the act (giving happily ever… effectively to only one party).
Upon booking, that’s when I get my now clients to give me their complete contact information. I’ve trialed different methods of getting complete contact info on enquiry but nothing has really been effective.
I’m trying to optimise my systems and I don’t want to send more emails in my workflow than I have to, so I was wondering can I send this info at the point of our planning meeting (circa 4 months out) as part of an email that already sits in my workflow rather than at the point of booking?
Read MoreSigning two Official Certificates of Marriage electronically
by Sarah Aird | Dec 22, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Alison asks: This might be more of a Josh question because it’s about electronic paperwork – or maybe it is for Sarah because of the legal side. I’m performing my very first ceremony tomorrow (hooray!) and I’ve received permission from the ACT BDM to accept electronic signatures and to submit the paperwork by email. I’ve watched Josh’s video for how to sign the marriage paperwork on an iPad and I’m all set to go.
Read MoreSighting identity documentation when the couple isn’t together
by Sarah Aird | Dec 19, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Precious asks: I have a couple that I’ve met but they forgot to bring their ID when they signed the NOIM. One of them is available tomorrow to come round with both of their ID, but do I need to see both of them at the same time I see their ID, or can I see partner A and both partner A and Bs ID then?
Read MoreLodging marriage paperwork electronically
by Sarah Aird | Dec 16, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 6 |
Hey there.. a question – I’ve just registered to submit ceremonies online in NSW (I am in Vic). In reading the manual, I discovered you can scan/lodge all official documents ONLINE once the ceremony is over and that’s that. I emailed them to ask if that was for real – we don’t need to mail the official docs in? They emailed back that is correct and we just file the documents.
Now – that’s not what the Act says. Hmmmmm. I don’t want to be responsible for holding the originals. I asked a few celebrants who all say they send the docs in as well. One celebrant said he rocked up to NSW BDM to hand the documents in and they flatly refused to take them from him, saying once they are uploaded online there is no need for the BDM to have them.
So I guess they are binning / destroying all the original docs people are sending them, if those same docs have been uploaded online.
I am dying to know: what do you two do when registering a marriage in NSW then uploading the documents? Do you send/destroy/keep the originals?
Read MoreDifferent signatures by parties
by Sarah Aird | Dec 13, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
A celebrant asks: I have received a Notice of Errors in documentation email from BDM. They have requested the bride provides a stat dec indicating why her signature on the NOIM and Marriage Certificate are different. Is there wording we can provide on the stat dec to assist completion? Can we provide a scanned copy of the stat dec to BDM (or do they need to sight originals)
Read MoreWitness signatures, or the one in which Josh and Sarah disagree…
by Sarah Aird | Nov 29, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sometimes (often?) Josh and I disagree on the answer to a question. This was one such time… Bree asked: Sign in or become a...
Read MoreWhen a party’s recorded sex is different from their gender identity
by Sarah Aird | Nov 25, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
A celebrant asks: The groom was born female, and identifies as male. He is male on his passport (that’s the doc I saw for ID purposes), but he’s just asked me if it poses any problems that his birth certificate lists him as ‘female’. I said no, because the changes to the rules have allowed for him to identify as male, so no dramas at all. However, my question is do I need to write a note of explanation in the ‘Additional Information to BDM’ section online? I know they sometimes cross reference with birth certificates and I don’t want to put the groom to any trouble by having to justify his gender. (I’d prefer not to make an issue of it by raising it if I don’t have to, but I know BDM can sometimes be a bit heavy-handed and insensitive).
Read MoreSigning and transferring a NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Nov 23, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 7 |
A member asks a question about how to transfer a NOIM (Notice of Intended Marriage) between celebrants
Read MoreCost to register a marriage?
by Sarah Aird | Nov 21, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
A celebrant asks: Does each state charge different fees to submit completed marriage docs? I’ve got weddings in NSW, SA and VIC coming up and I can’t find any details on costs associated with registering the paperwork?
Read MoreSighting identity documents from parties living interstate or overseas
by Sarah Aird | Nov 19, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A celebrant asks: I have a question about sighting ID when the Celebrant and marrying couple are in different states. I have a number of family and friends in other states that have asked me to perform their ceremonies for...
Read MoreDocuments translated by overseas services
by Sarah Aird | Nov 17, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
Alice asks: I’m lodging a NOIM for a couple where the bride is Japanese. She has a passport (which is in English), but Japanese passports do not include place of birth, so I’ll also have to use her birth certificate...
Read MoreCorrecting errors on the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Nov 15, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Bree asks: Some of my parties have completed their NOIMs ready for our meeting and for me to witness. I have noticed as I have gone to log them into BDM that there are certain things I am concerned about as follows: Sign in or...
Read MoreChanging first (or middle) names after marriage
by Sarah Aird | Nov 13, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
[MM_Access_Decision access=’false’]§ MEMBERS ONLY CONTENT Klara asks: Sign in or become a...
Read MoreNew draft NOIM. Sarah’s thoughts
by Sarah Aird | Oct 17, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Hopefully all registered celebrants received an email from the Attorney General’s Department on 27 September 2018, inviting feedback on a new version of the Notice of Intended Marriage. Anyone who’s listened to me talk at OPD or...
Read MoreEvidence required for a change of name by marriage
by Sarah Aird | Oct 11, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A celebrant asks: Groom previously married – all documents are satisfactory. Bride previously married – Has returned to her maiden name. Provides Passport in maiden name & Driver’s Licence in maiden name...
Read MoreChange of name and identity documents
by Sarah Aird | Oct 9, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Sean asks: Bride has officially changed her name. Has new birth certificate with new name on it....
Read MoreDissolving a registered relationship
by Sarah Aird | Oct 7, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Charis asks: My client has registered a relationship. She was never married but registered a relationship with BDM. They told her she could not get married until this is cancelled by them. Do I record this info anywhere? She has...
Read MoreWhat it’s like to be deregistered
by Josh Withers | Oct 4, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
351 Australian marriage celebrants were deregistrated this week because they “did not pay the...
Read MoreUploading documents to NSW BDM from a Mac
by Josh Withers | Sep 10, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A little tip for celebrants using the NSW Lifelink system. I tweeted at the NSW Justice Department decrying their developers of not allowing Mac users to upload documents into Lifelink and one of their staff wrote me back with...
Read MoreCo-delivering a marriage ceremony
by Sarah Aird | Aug 31, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Art of Ceremony | 6 |
Josh asks: I have a celebrant mate of mine whose registration is pending with the AG’s office. But, she has a friend’s wedding coming up towards the end of September, which is the reason why she completed the course. I initially completed the NOIM for her and kept the date in September free (just in case), but what would you recommend I do to help from here? Should I just hang tight and wait for the AG or can I take care of the legals and have the other celebrant deliver the ceremony (other than the legal elements of course)? Also how would this work if the other celebrant has spent the time getting to know the couple and I have simply helped in a legal capacity? It’s definitely possible for an authorised celebrant to manage the legalities of the ceremony while another person (whether a pending celebrant or a friend of the couple) delivers the “ceremonial” aspects of the ceremony.
Read MoreNames on the NOIM: legal change of name
by Sarah Aird | Aug 30, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Veronica asks: I have a couple that had a commitment ceremony four years ago and legally changed their names, and are now wanting to get married. What names should I use on the paperwork? What’s on their birth certificate?
Read MoreDoing deals with other vendors
by Josh Withers | Aug 17, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Business of Celebrancy | 0 |
Pete asks: I have a question about the legalities of commercial arrangements with third parties given that as a Celebrant we’re government officers and our duty to avoid potential conflicts. Sign in or become a...
Read MoreParents’ names on the NOIM. Part 2
by Sarah Aird | Aug 13, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
I’ve written previously about listing parents’ names on the NOIM, and I’ve had some follow up questions (from a celebrant who had totally read the first post, yay!): 1) Recently received a NOIM by email...
Read MoreProof of divorce: what, when, how?
by Sarah Aird | Aug 13, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A celebrant asks: Divorce certificates. They just get me confused as to what I need to sight, how I need to sight it and what I definitely need to record. What I’d really like clarified once and for all is: Sign in or...
Read MoreOne month notice period: we won!
by Sarah Aird | Aug 10, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Some of you will have been following my post about the updated guidance received on the one month notice period. If you haven’t had a chance, feel free to review it before you read on. I’m absolutely thrilled to...
Read MoreUse of name changed by usage for trans parties
by Sarah Aird | Aug 5, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
A celebrant asks: I’m marrying a couple next year – Party 1 is female; Party 2 is a transgender male. What I want to clarify is that if Party 2 has neither a birth certificate or passport in his common usage name...
Read MoreNames in the legal vows
by Sarah Aird | Aug 4, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Jac asks: I have a bride who no longer uses her birth name for anything except forms. Her invites use her preferred name. She has actually said it’s causing her anxiety that her birth name be used during the ceremony. Sign in or...
Read MoreWhat to do when the name on a birth certificate is different from that on the photo ID…
by Sarah Aird | Aug 3, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 2 |
A question came to us: I am marrying a couple of brides this week and when I talked about the ID I’ll need to witness beforehand, one piped up that her name on her Birth Cert is different to all other ID but she’s never officially changed it. So her photo ID is going to be different surname to her Birth ID. She doesn’t have a passport. I thought I’d need to use her original name on all marriage docs (for avoiding future issues with passports etc) but am I correct or can I use her preferred surname even though the paper-trail lacks an official name change?
Read MoreDo I need a qualified / accredited interpreter?
by Sarah Aird | Aug 3, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Candice asks: I have a couple wanting to elope with just their parents and children present. I’m just writing because after looking at the guidelines I’m still a bit unclear and just need clarification on the use of a qualified interpreter. My couple are both deaf and they communicate via Auslan and of course their own beautiful way. Their parents are happy to sign and be there throughout our meetings and on the day. They can sign everything I say, and everything they say in return. Is this sufficient? Or do I need to advise them to organise a qualified person to come along? If the parents are okay to do this, do they still need to fill in a stat dec?
Read MoreNew guidance on the meaning of the one month’s notice period
by Sarah Aird | Jul 24, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 5 |
Most of you probably didn’t pay too much attention to the fact sheet that was released on Friday 6 July 2018, in the email advising the new Guidelines were out. I certainly didn’t until someone brought an apparent typographical error to my attention. You can have a read of it here:
Read MoreOffice facilities for civil celebrants, what’s required?
by Sarah Aird | Jul 20, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
Alison asks: I’m currently studying to become a marriage celebrant, but there is one thing that worries me about setting up my practice once authorised: the home office. I currently live with flatmates in the city, so space is limited. I’m only planning on doing the celebrancy thing as a side gig (at the moment) as an antidote to my corporate day job, so renting full-time office space isn’t practical. In your interpretation of the Marriage Act and Code of Practice, would it be appropriate to maintain an “office” in my lockable bedroom, securing documents in a locked filing cabinet, while renting a separate interview space when needed or offering to meet couples in their homes? Can you recommend any other solutions?
Read MoreGuidelines 2018: What’s changed?
by Sarah Aird | Jul 19, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
I’m looking at the Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for Authorised Celebrants 2018: what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s gone. I’m not going to talk about changes such as the checklist for solemnising marriages moving from page 31 to the appendix, or other page or structure changes. What I will be talking about is the changes that affect the way Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants (both Subdivision C marriage celebrants and Subdivision D religious marriage celebrants) do our work, and there are more than you might expect.
Read MorePersonal vows and their content
by Sarah Aird | Jul 18, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law, The Art of Ceremony | 11 |
Veronica asks: I know according to section 45(2) of the Marriage Act, couples are required to say “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband); or words to that effect.” When it comes to couples personalising their vows, aside from the previous mentioned, do couples have to say certain things, or are they free to say what they see fit?
Read MoreThe rules for commitment ceremonies
by Sarah Aird | Jul 17, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Jac asks: I have a couple coming up. They got married a year ago (pretty much for their families to have a religious ceremony). None of their friends know this though. Before getting married officially for their parents, they said they would only do it their parents’ way if they could have a big bash with their friends the way they want this year. The time has come! It’s within a month.
I met with them yesterday and they were so stressed about their friends finding out etc that they were already married. I explained that we wouldn’t have to focus on that and include in the scripting that “this is the day that Jack and Jill are choosing to celebrate their marriage in front of you special people blah blah blah”. Instead of doing official paperwork, I offered a commemorative certificate instead (as this doesn’t have any legal bearing anyway). Are there any issues with what can/cannot be written on this? Would ‘wedding certificate’ be safe?
I really don’t want to say ‘THIS CEREMONY IS IN NO WAY LEGAL/BINDING’ so I was just going to gloss over it a little how you explained in your previous podcast. Obviously no Monitum will be said and there will be no legal vows but the couple will still write their own. Obviously I won’t be doing DONLIMs or submitting anything formal to BDM, but I thought the ‘pretty’ certificate or a commemorative certificate would be okay. Anything else I should look out for? The Guidelines are pretty clear on this, but let me give you my interpretation of what they say.
Read MoreParents’ names on the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Jul 12, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 4 |
Listing the parents’ names on the NOIM is often a huge headache. What if one of them changed their name? Do you put their name when they were born or when the party was born? What if there’s a spelling error in their name on your birth certificate? What if they go by an anglicised name? The Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for Marriage Celebrants have, until now, been silent on this matter, and it’s often been a point of contention between celebrants. Some celebrants say you should put whatever is on the party’s birth certificate, because the important thing is to be able to link all the records. Some celebrants say you should put whatever the father’s legal name is now, regardless of what it was when the party was born. But all that has changed with the release of the Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for Authorised Celebrants 2018, so I was pleased to be able to answer the following question.
Read MoreProspective Marriage Visa: the celebrant’s role
by Sarah Aird | Jul 12, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Shamini asks: I have my first Proposed marriage visa letter. Do I get the couple to fill out the NOIM and groom sign it (bride is overseas). Prepare a letter and then only when she gets in the country get her to sign the NOIM?...
Read MoreRunning side hustles alongside your celebrant business
by Sarah Aird | Jul 9, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 7 |
We’ve had a couple of anonymous questions on this in the last week, so I’m going to pop them both in here: I’m looking at expanding my services other than just celebrant. At the moment I have a little side gig where it is wedding packages with hair, make up and myself this is run on a separate facebook page. But I’m wanting to possibly offer ceremony styling as well. Just wanted to check it I could advertise this on my celebrant website under a tab “Ceremony Styling” and offer DIY or we setup and dismantle the ceremony. Think simple to start with chairs, flowers and arch. Just before I go making any purchases just wanted some feedback and advice. Thanks!
And: I am currently working for a theatre company and intend to keep working for them, but I want to be able to do weddings occasionally and for friends. However because I’m trained in fashion and costume I thought I’d be able to offer wedding dresses but from what I can understand I can’t? I understand how that can be a conflict of interest now but I was wondering where you draw the line within packages and extras. If I can’t even offer custom veils as an inclusion of a package then I feel like all my other hard earned creative making abilities are of no use?
Read MoreCeremonies in public spaces and copyright
by Sarah Aird | Jul 6, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 3 |
Jac asks: The guidelines state that weddings are usually considered ‘private in nature’ and so playing music, reading poems etc is fine. The examples the guidelines list are all indoors. What if the ceremony is in a...
Read MorePeriod of residency on the NOIM
by Sarah Aird | Jul 4, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
NOIM question: I know it says in the Guidelines if a person is in the country for a matter of days you leave the period of residency blank. Is that right? The only time I leave it blank is when they are born here, and I wouldn’t want there to be any confusion with an overseas-born person if I left it blank and BDM thought I’d made a mistake and forgot to fill it in.
Read MoreHow does a party prove they’re divorced?
by Sarah Aird | Jun 29, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
It’s super easy for a party divorced in Australia to get a copy of their divorce order; there are no excuses!
Read MoreCan the Marriage Registry transfer a NOIM to a celebrant?
by Sarah Aird | Jun 29, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 7 |
It’s absolutely possible to have a NOIM transferred from the Registry Office to a Commonwealth-Registered Marriage Celebrant. Here’s how!
Read MoreShortening of time: the celebrant’s role
by Sarah Aird | Jun 29, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 0 |
Shortenings of time come up every now and again, and they’re definitely not scary! While applying is the couple’s responsibility, there are some things the celebrant needs to do…
Read MoreWho can witness a NOIM under the title “legally qualified medical practitioner”?
by Sarah Aird | Jun 19, 2018 | Our Guidelines to Australian Marriage Law | 1 |
Notices of Intended Marriage signed in Australia can be witnessed by people with a number of different qualifications. Most are pretty straightforward: an authorised celebrant, a justice of the peace, a barrister or solicitor, or a member of the Australian Federal Police or the police force of a State or Territory. Easy, right?
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