Tracey K
Civil Celebrant
Bayside, VIC
Weddings / Funerals & more ....
Your Day Your Wa​y
Frequently Asked Questions - Weddings
Frequently Asked Questions - Weddings
What is the difference between a Celebrant Service
and a Religious Service?
What is the difference between a Celebrant Service
and a Religious Service?
A Religious service is bound by the laws of the Church and spiritual beliefs of their faith. Although like a Civil Celebrant they are also bound by the Marriage Act by law, they do have set rituals & guidelines Religious services are required to follow.
If your loved one followed their faith throughout life, it may be appropriate to use a religious service as a tribute to their faith.
Religious services can be run in a Church unlike a Civil Celebrant who is limited to almost anywhere else although there are some secular Chapels where Celebrants are permitted to conduct a service.
A Civil Celebrant is authorised by the Attorney General’s Office of Australia and is qualified to officiate as a secular officiant.
Civil Celebrants must abide by the Marriage Act by law for parts of a marriage ceremony. However, they do have flexibility in administering a personal customised service with or without referral to religious or spiritual beliefs.
Approximately 72% of Australian marriages were performed by Civil Celebrants between 2016 - 2019.​
FAQ - Weddings
What does a Celebrant do?
FAQ - Weddings
What does a Celebrant do?
•Meet you and your partner at least 31 days prior to your ceremony.
* Although if you are overseas a Skype meeting can be arranged *
•Lodging the Notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM)
•Checking and validating your ID Documentation.
•Writing a Ceremony to suit your requirements.
•2nd meeting (if required)
•Rehearsal close to your Ceremony date and to sign final papers.
•Unlimited emails, texts, phone calls.
•Finalise documentation to be signed at rehearsal.
•Ceremonial Certificate/Registry Signing
•Provide Official marriage certificate through Births Deaths and Marriages and post to your address.
•Performing of Ceremony
•Provision of PA System
•Registering all your documents with Births Deaths and Marriages
•Travel to and from your chosen Venue
FAQ - Weddings
Legals only Ceremony
FAQ - Weddings
Legals only Ceremony
This is a very short ceremony with Legals only. Usually only the couple, the 2 x witnesses and your Celebrant are present.
You may say your own vows and there will be an exchange of rings but only the minimum legal requirements will be spoken. This is not suitable for a larger event where you have family and friends present but is completely legal as there is the same documents signed and presented to births, deaths and marriages in Victoria. This suits people who are considering a pre-destination wedding overseas where their marriage would not be considered legal in Australia or for those wishing to have a larger blessing ceremony in their own countries at a later date. This has been popular during Covid 19 restrictions.
FAQ - Weddings
How far in advance should you book your Wedding?
FAQ - Weddings
How far in advance should you book your Wedding?
The maximum notice of your wedding date and completion of your Notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM)
and Identification validation is 18 months or a minimum of 31 days prior to your ceremony.
FAQ - Weddings
Do you do Same Sex Marriages?
FAQ - Weddings
Do you do Same Sex Marriages?
Of course.
Australia legalised same sex marriage in 2017.
This was welcomed by many Celebrants
who had only been permitted to perform
Commitment ceremonies prior to this.
A Marriage is legally binding for all couples in Australia
and it is an honour and a privilege to
officiate at these ceremonies.
Please note that although Australia will issue you
with an official Marriage document,this is only
recognised in countries where Same Sex
marriage is also legal.
FAQ - Weddings
Will you travel anywhere?
FAQ - Weddings
Will you travel anywhere?
In Melbourne, I mainly perform weddings and
funerals in the Melbourne CBD and Bayside
areas as I am based in St Kilda, Victoria.
I predominantly cover the Portsea to
Port Melbourne areas, though I also cover
Stonnington and several Wineries.
Though there is always an exception,
please contact me and we can discuss your
location.Over 40 km from the Melbourne CBD
would be an added travel cost.
Overseas weddings are also possible though
accommodation and travel costs would
need to be added.
Sometimes when I do a Pre-destination
wedding,I have also been asked to cover
the ceremony at your designated overseas
location. Please check with me to see if this is possible?
FAQ - Weddings
Which Venues do you perform marriages?
FAQ - Weddings
Which Venues do you perform marriages?
Your choice. Weddings can be performed
almost anywhere, from gardens, beaches, Club rooms,
Yacht Clubs, Hired Venues and your own home.
Churches prefer to use Religious officiants,
although there are more secular Chapels emerging
which allow Celebrants to perform the Ceremony.
Please check with your Chapel.
FAQ - Weddings
Do you require a marriage license ?
FAQ - Weddings
Do you require a marriage license ?
Not in Australia. A notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM) from
Births Deaths and Marriages is required not more than
18 months and not less than31 days prior
to your ceremony date and must be
signed by both parties.
Please contact me to supply this form.
FAQ - Weddings
What is the earliest date you can get married ?
FAQ - Weddings
What is the earliest date you can get married ?
You may marry as soon as the 32nd day after
submitting your Notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM),
with me or a Religious officiant and after having your
ID validated in Australia a minimum of 31 days prior
to the ceremony. There are special circumstances
when you can apply for a shortening of time please check
the website for further details.
https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/marriages-and-relationships/notice-shortening-application-form
FAQ - Weddings
Do I do Wedding Planning ?
FAQ - Weddings
Do I do Wedding Planning ?
No, I am not a wedding planner.
and perform the marriage on the day.
FAQ - Weddings
Can we get married overseas ?
FAQ - Weddings
Can we get married overseas ?
You can marry overseas but it may not necessarily be
recognised in Australia.
There is a complex process through the Australian Embassy
in the designated country to gain
approval prior to the Ceremony and may
be a long process.
Most who choose to marry overseas with their family and
friends present, have a quick short
often secret ceremony. They have a Pre-destination wedding
(usually a private affair) here in Australia
before they head off to their overseas
venue for their larger more elaborate wedding occasion.
This ensures all the legal documentation is processed and
underway while you head off to
your overseas wedding.
FAQ - Weddings
Does your Celebrant ask publicly, if anyone objects to this marriage?
FAQ - Weddings
Does your Celebrant ask publicly, if anyone objects to this marriage?
This is not part of the Australian Ceremony and therefore is not used.
FAQ - Weddings
What documentation does your Celebrant need to see?
FAQ - Weddings
What documentation does your Celebrant need to see?
- Your Original Birth Certificate
- A Passport is sufficient if you do not have your original Birth Certificate.
- Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport)
- Divorce/Death Certificates of previous spouses.
- If Certificates are in another language a translator is required or documents verified by a Notary or Certified translator from NAATI http:www.naati.com.au/
FAQ - Weddings
Will you as our Celebrant take care of all the legal documentation and paper work?
FAQ - Weddings
Will you as our Celebrant take care of all the legal documentation and paper work?
Yes, I will write up all the legal documentation and forward this on your
behalf once signed and authorised to Births Deaths & Marriages
Victoria immediately after your ceremony.
FAQ - Weddings
How many times do we need to meet you, our Celebrant?
FAQ - Weddings
How many times do we need to meet you, our Celebrant?
I meet you 2 x before the ceremony which is usual but
sometimes an additional
meeting is required.
I meet with you and your partner once for the original
NOIM documents to be signed and again the day before the
ceremony for a rehearsal and to sign off on final documents.
Sometimes an additional meeting is required before the
rehearsal a total of (2- 3 times) plus ceremony.
FAQ - Weddings
Do we have to have Readings and Vows?
FAQ - Weddings
Do we have to have Readings and Vows?
You do not have to have Readings,
this is your choice.
You may like a poem or something you’ve heard
somewhere else, but they are not an essential
requirement. I can suggest some if you like and
Google is a wonderful resource.
Vows are promises you make to each other which
personalises the service in front of witnesses
and friends.You only need one vow each and
they can be different from each others or the same.
I can send ideas to you.
FAQ - Weddings
Can you write your own Vows?
FAQ - Weddings
Can you write your own Vows?
You can write your own vows either together or secretly.
I will prompt you at the correct time in the ceremony
to read them out, you do not need to memorise them.
I will help you refine these privately
if you are unsure, so you can read them
at the ceremony. You can write your
own vows either together or secretly.
I will prompt you at the correct time in the ceremony
to read them out. I will help you refine
these privately if you are unsure, so you can read
them at the ceremony.
FAQ - Weddings
What are Secret Vows?
FAQ - Weddings
What are Secret Vows?
Secret vows are when both parties write them without the
knowledge of the other party.
These are therefore heard for the first time at the
ceremony by each other, witnesses, friends and family.
I hold your vows and print them on readable
cards so you can read them to your
partner at the right time in the ceremony.​
FAQ - Weddings
How many witnesses do you need?
FAQ - Weddings
How many witnesses do you need?
2 x witnesses are required at a marriage ceremony
and must be over 18 years old.
These witnesses can also be known as
Maid/Matron of Honour and Best Man.​
FAQ - Weddings
How long does a wedding ceremony take?
FAQ - Weddings
How long does a wedding ceremony take?
An actual marriage ceremony runs for approximately 12 minutes,
though length of vows, readings and or poems
can add approximately 10 more minutes.
Always allow half an hour for your ceremony
plus additional time for any set up.
I will always be there half an hour to an hour prior to
the ceremony to set up my
PA and table and registry book.
FAQ - Weddings
Can your kids give you away?
FAQ - Weddings
Can your kids give you away?
Your children can give you away but they cannot be Witnesses
unless they are over the age of 18 yrs.
FAQ - Weddings
Can your children be part of the ceremony?
FAQ - Weddings
Can your children be part of the ceremony?
There are many ways to incorporate your
children into a ceremony
especially when families are blending.
There are vows that can be made to the other
partners children, coloured sand rituals, tree planting,
platted ribbon bonds
and gifts presented to name just a few.
It is especially important to acknowledge
children of both parties
during the ceremony if they are too young to
be witnesses.
FAQ - Weddings
You live overseas and won't be back in Australia until a week
before the wedding. Is this okay?
FAQ - Weddings
You live overseas and won't be back in Australia until a week
before the wedding. Is this okay?
Yes. You must email me first with your intended
dates and times a couple
of months before is a good idea.I will then send you a
Notice of Intention to Marry (NOIM)
and a Booking Form via email with instructions.
You must have this signed by an official authority in the
country, a Notary or Judge an
Official Member at the Australian Embassy where
you are residing in and
send it to me one month prior to your ceremony.
We will then ‘Skype’, ‘What’s App’, or ‘Face time’ at least
1 month before your ceremony,
so I can see you both on screen.
We can then organise your ceremony via email
and I will meet you both again a few days
before the ceremony to finalise legal documents.
This is particularly helpful to people from the
UK and Canada.
FAQ - Weddings
What if you need to change your Marriage Celebrant?
FAQ - Weddings
What if you need to change your Marriage Celebrant?
If you wish to change your Celebrant after already
completing the Notice of Intention to Marry
(NOIM), this is okay.
You simply contact your new Celebrant with the
details on your(NOIM) and a process will
commence for the changeover
between the Celebrants. There are
protocols to follow.
This is often done when you initially
opt for a Registry Office Wedding and
then change your mind
due to date restrictions numbers
attending, or you decide to hold
a ceremony at another venue,
not the Registry office.
This is more common than you realise.
FAQ - Weddings
What if your are planning your marriage far from Melbourne with another celebrant
in the Country but need your NOIM signed earlier as per
FAQ - Weddings
What if your are planning your marriage far from Melbourne with another celebrant
in the Country but need your NOIM signed earlier as per