FAQ'S & LINKS

Q1. Can we include spiritual or religious wording in our ceremony?

Absolutely. Your ceremony should reflect your values, beliefs, and personal outlook on life. You are welcome to include religious, spiritual, cultural, or non-religious wording that feels meaningful and authentic to you as a couple.

Q2. Do we need to attend pre-marriage courses?

No, pre-marriage courses are not a legal requirement. However, many couples find them valuable and rewarding. If you are interested, I can provide information about pre- or post-marriage courses offered through organisations such as Relationships Australia and Anglicare.

Q3. What are the first steps in booking our wedding?

The first step is to arrange a meeting with me at a time that suits you. I offer flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends, making it easy to organise a convenient time to meet.

At this meeting, we will complete your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form. By law, this form must be lodged with your celebrant at least one full calendar month before your wedding date. For example, if the NOIM is lodged on 22 May, the earliest legal wedding date is 22 June.

While the minimum notice period is one month, it is highly recommended that you book and lodge your paperwork as early as possible. Many couples secure their date several months — and sometimes more than a year — in advance.

Q4. How much does a wedding celebrant cost in Port Macquarie?

My fee for conducting your wedding ceremony is $645.

In some circumstances, an additional negotiable fee may apply, such as for extended travel beyond a 50 km round trip.

Please note that the official Certificate of Marriage issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages is a separate government fee, currently $68. This certificate is commonly required for changing your surname with banks, Medicare, RMS, and other organisations.

If you wish, I can arrange this certificate on your behalf, or you may order it yourself at your convenience.

Q5. What are the legal requirements for marriage?

To legally marry in Australia:

Both parties must generally be at least 18 years of age. In limited circumstances, court approval may be granted for a person under 18 to marry.
You must provide original identification documents, such as:
- Birth certificates or passports
- Valid photo identification (for example, driver licences)
The completed Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form must be lodged with your celebrant at least one calendar month before the wedding date.
If either party has been previously married, you must provide:
- A Divorce Order/Decree Absolute, or
- A Death Certificate if your former spouse is deceased.
All documents must be original documents.
Documents in a foreign language must be translated into English by an accredited translator, preferably through a NAATI-accredited service.
On the wedding day, you must have two witnesses over the age of 18 who can speak and understand English.

Q6. What is included in your fee?

My fee includes:

All consultations and planning meetings
A wedding rehearsal, if desired
A personalised ceremony written to reflect your wishes and style
Your commemorative Celebrant’s Marriage Certificate
Travel and attendance on your wedding day
Lodgement of all legal marriage documentation with NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages
Conducting and solemnising your ceremony
Use of my PA system.

Q7. What does the Celebrant do?

As your celebrant, I will guide you through the entire process by:

Assisting with all legal documentation
Preparing and delivering your personalised ceremony
Solemnising your marriage
Lodging all required paperwork to officially register your marriage with Births, Deaths and Marriages

My role is to ensure the process is smooth, professional, and enjoyable from beginning to end.

Q8. What can be included in our ceremony?

Your ceremony can be tailored to reflect your personalities, beliefs, and relationship. You may include:

Poems and readings
Religious or spiritual passages
Personal vows
Cultural traditions
Music and symbolic rituals

I also have a wide selection of readings and ceremony material available to help inspire your choices.

Most ceremonies include:

The official legal wording required by Australian law
The exchange of vows
The exchange of rings
A formal declaration of your intention to marry

There is great flexibility in designing your ceremony, provided the legally required components — including the Monitum and legal vows — are included.

Q9. Where can we find the Notice of Intended Marriage form?

The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form can be downloaded using the link below.

However, there is no need to print or bring the form to our meeting, as I already have copies available and can assist you in completing it correctly during our appointment.

Notice of Intended Marriage [DOCX 66.49 KB]

Notice of Intended Marriage [PDF 883.06 KB]

Q10. Where can we get married?

One of the many advantages of choosing a Civil Marriage Celebrant is the freedom to celebrate your wedding almost anywhere you choose. Your ceremony location can be as traditional, relaxed, or unique as you wish — the choice is entirely yours.

Whether you envision exchanging vows on a beautiful beach, in a peaceful park, aboard a boat, at a private home, in a garden or backyard, surrounded by nature in a forest, on a mountainside, at a rural farm setting, or within a stylish restaurant or reception venue, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Your wedding ceremony should reflect your personalities and the atmosphere you would like to create for your special day.

Please see below for a selection of popular wedding venues in the Port Macquarie area.

Government Departments

New South Wales www.bdm.nsw.gov.au

Australian Attorney-General's Department www.ag.gov.au

Department of Immigration and Citizenship www.immi.gov.au

Translating and Interpreting Service www.naati.com.au

Location of Local NSW Courts www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au

Port Macquarie Wedding Venues - Highly Recommended

Mecure Centro www.centrohotelportmacquarie.com.au

Twotriplefour https://twotriplefour.com

Country Comfort Waters Edge www.watersedgeportmacquarie.com.au

Cruise Port Macquarie https://cruiseportmacquarie.com.au

Bransley Park Weddings https://bransleyparkweddings.com.au

Mansfield Estate www.mansfieldestate.com.au

Long Point Vineyard & Art Gallery www.longpointvineyard.com.au

Port Macquarie Funeral Parlours - Highly Recommended

Hasting District Funeral & Cremation Services (hastingsfuneralservice.com.au)