Wedding Ceremony

Take plenty of time and care to plan your wedding ceremony as it holds many hopes and expectations and will become a moment you’ll remember and cherish for a lifetime.

Religious Ceremonies

Religious wedding ceremonies are rituals steeped in tradition and can be incorporated into every style of wedding, from a grand traditional wedding in a cathedral to a more casual wedding in a smaller church. The ceremony is the part of your wedding planning that will be most affected by family, background, culture and religion so bear in mind that there may be expectations from family and friends. When organising a religious ceremony, be mindful of any religious etiquette that needs to be abided by – you will need to let your guests and bridal party know if there are expectations regarding dress or conduct. When doing your wedding planning it’s also wise to provide an order of service, particularly if there are prayers or hymns that guests will be invited to participate in.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

The removal of strict religious rituals makes civil ceremonies a popular choice for non-religious brides and grooms. Civil ceremonies suit both casual weddings and modern weddings and work very well for smaller less formal weddings too. Another bonus is that a civil ceremony can be conducted just about anywhere – from a beautiful garden, to a vineyard, to a beautiful beach – so you may want to have your ceremony at your wedding reception venue. When doing your wedding planning, make sure you put plenty of thought into your wedding ceremony – despite their lack of religious basis, a civil service can still be a deeply meaningful and heartfelt occasion.

You will need a registered marriage celebrant present and will be required to fulfill the regulations involved in order to make your marriage legal. A civil ceremony is just as personal and special as a religious ceremony so make sure your feel a sense of connection and trust with your celebrant. You might need to meet with one or two celebrants to find the right person. Ask for recommendations or look on the List of Authorised Marriage Celebrants or the Register of Marriage Celebrants and ensure your celebrant is authorised under the Marriage Act 1961.

Creating Your Ceremony

Writing your own vows is a heartfelt way to tell your partner how you feel about them. Some brides and grooms like the surprise of hearing each other’s vows on the wedding day but if you feel you could be emotional on the day, it’s wise to share them with each beforehand. Along with your vows you may also like to invite family or friends to read short poems or passages of text. Music is also a common element in a ceremony – especially when walking down the aisle and when signing the marriage certificate.

Making it Official

It is your responsibility to file a Notice of Intended Marriage form with your celebrant or minister no more than 18 months and no less than one month and one day before your wedding. You will need birth certificates for both of you and evidence that any prior marriage has been dissolved either by divorce or death. Your celebrant (whether religious or secular) will then provide paperwork for your marriage. On the day of your wedding you will be presented with three copies of your marriage certificate to sign – one for you, one for them and one for the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.