Mardi Kent, J.P. Civil Marriage Celebrant

Wedding Formalities

Your wedding is the public celebration of your lifetime commitment to each other. In a civil ceremony, you have considerable freedom to decide what form the celebration is to take, as long as certain legal requirements are met.

• You can lodge your Notice in person, via fax or mail and you must bring the original Notice to Sydney with you. I must receive the appropriately witnessed Notice at least one month and one day prior to the wedding. You can lodge this with me up to 18 months in advance of the wedding.
• You must be at least 18 years of age to marry in Australia.
• If you are Australian born you must show your birth certificate. If born outside Australia, you are required to show your birth certificate or passport from your country of birth.
• If you have been previously married, you must show your Divorce Decree Absolute or a Death Certificate of a previous spouse.
• You are required to have two witnesses to the ceremony, both of whom must be over the age of 18 years.
• When we meet prior to the wedding I must sight your passports or birth certificate. At this meeting, I will ask for a deposit with the balance to follow before the ceremony.
• I will also give you sample ceremonies and readings to assist you with personalising your ceremony.
• If you are bringing your partner into Australia on a prospective spouse visa I can provide you with the necessary letter for the Immigration Department.
• At the conclusion of your wedding ceremony, you will receive your Certificate of Marriage and I will lodge other documentation with the Registry Office.