The bare minimum to get legally married in Australia

Your wedding ceremony can be as long winded, extravagant, special and ceremonial as you could ever desire.

Let your mind wander, start dreaming, and that 4 hour epic adventure of wedded love can be yours!

But many couples ask me what the bare minimum is. What is the shortest, simplest, easiest ceremony you can do?

I don’t like to do bare minimum ceremonies, mainly because they are barely a ceremony, more of a procedure.

But there are reasons for doing bare minimum ceremonies You might be getting married overseas, or in a more casual arrangement and would like to do the “legals” separately, perhaps before you leave for your South Pacific getaway.

But whatever your reason, here are the bare minimum requirements to become married in Australia.

Bare minimum legal wedding in Australia

A NOIM (Notice of Intended Marriage form) must be completed in the presence of the people being married and a marriage celebrant, or another prescribed officer like a Police Officer or other. This form must be completed, with passports or birth certificates with drivers licenses sighted, before one month before the wedding day.

The one month notice can be waived by a prescribed authority in the following cases:

• Employment–related, or other travel commitments.
• Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations.
• Medical reasons.
• Legal proceedings.
• Error in giving notice.

But this doesn’t happen often. You really need to bring a case to the authorities as to why you need a shortening of time.

Before you marry each party to the marriage must make a declaration before the authorised celebrant as to their conjugal status and belief that there is no legal impediment to the marriage. This is to happen “before” the ceremony, seconds before, earlier in the day, or close to the date.

On the wedding day (i.e. at least one month later):

• The marriage celebrant should identify themselves.
• The marriage celebrant should state to the people being married, and at least two witnesses: I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. (Or words to that effect).
• The first partner must say to the second partner: I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, [full name], take thee, [full name], to be my lawful wedded wife/husband/spouse. (Or words to that effect).
• The second partner must say to the first partner: I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, [full name], take thee, [full name], to be my lawful wedded husband/wife/spouse. (Or words to that effect).
• The marriage celebrant to complete, bride and groom to sign and two witnesses to sign:
  • Form 15: Certificate of marriage given to the couple.
  • Marriage certificate for the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry.

And now you’re married.

Everything else that happens is 100% up to you.