However, just as no two couples are alike, so also no two ceremonies are the same.

Each couple have their own special uniqueness.

Your ceremony should be about you and your beliefs, your traditions and your dreams for the future - quality wedding celebrants understand this, of course.

This is a very special day for the bride and groom and you want the day to go perfectly without any surprises, adding to what should be one of the best days of your life.

Working with an experienced marriage celebrant will help ensure that your marriage ceremony goes very well and without any problems.

A Beautiful Experience

Good marriage celebrants will work with you to create a ceremony that will touch your heart and will be a beautiful experience that will be remembered by all. That’s the celebrant’s goal as well as yours!

Together, we can create a unique ceremony that will reflect your personal values and beliefs, your love and commitment to each other.

It will be a ceremony of the utmost significance that will remain in your heart from that day forward.

As a civil celebrant in Perth who strives to provide a wonderful wedding ceremony, I will ask you questions in order to get to know you and your hopes and dreams. The initial consultation is free.

Modern, Traditional Or Your Own Vows

Your wedding vows are at the heart of the ceremony.

This is your opportunity to express the feelings and the commitment that you have for one another, to pledge your love and devotion to each other. Your vows are an expression of your desire to share your lives together.

You may choose from a selection of modern or traditional vows, or I can help you with ideas to write your own vows.

You can include special readings in your ceremony. Special readings may be read by yourselves or by a member of the family, friends or myself. If you wish, you may choose selected readings from my portfolio.

Venues For Your Wedding

For your wedding ceremony, you may choose any location you desire:

• home,
• garden,
• beach,
• riverside, etc.

If your first choice is an outside location, then you need to have an alternate venue in mind in case the weather is inclement on that day.

As one of WA’s more experienced marriage celebrants I know the weather changes can be very quick.

Perth (and the rest of Western Australia) doesn’t always have perfect conditions for weddings!

It is wise to keep in mind the environmental conditions, especially the position of the sun or shade, at the time that you wish to get married.

Choosing The Perfect Music For Your

Carefully chosen music adds an important dimension to the atmosphere of your wedding ceremony.

You may wish to appoint someone to be responsible for the coordination of the music to ensure that everything runs according to plan. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss other music options with me.

Notice Of Intended Marriage Form

The Federal Government of Australia requires that you complete and lodge with your marriage celebrant a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form.

This form must be lodged with your celebrant ‘not less than one month and one day’ and ‘not more than 18 months before your ceremony.’ If you were born in Australia you will need to provide your birth certificate.

If you were not born in Australia other forms of identification will be required to be sighted such as a current Passport.

If you have been married before you will also need to provide either the Certificate of Death of your former spouse or if you have been divorced you will need to provide your Certificate of Divorce.

Regardless of what overseas country you are coming from, if it is your desire to be married in or around the beautiful beaches of Perth in Western Australia, I can help you with every detail that is required.

Choosing The Right Celebrant For Your Marriage

Your choice of celebrant is perhaps the most significant decision that you will make with regard to your wedding, for it is the celebrant who actually marries you to each other and who starts you out on your journey through life as a married couple.

Whilst you may have engaged a professional photographer and may have carefully chosen the best surroundings in which to be married - it is the beauty and elegance of the ceremony that your family and guests will remember above anything else when they talk about your wedding in the years to come.

Your Wedding Should Be Unique & Memorable

Your wedding should be celebrated in style. It should be unique and memorable, and while all celebrants are required to meet the same ‘legal’ requirements in registering your marriage, no two celebrants will go about the planning and presentation of your ceremony in the same way.

It is therefore important to choose your celebrant carefully, and within reason you should not make your decision based upon cost alone. A cheap ceremony that cuts corners is never the best for such an important event as your wedding.

You deserve the best. Your ceremony cannot be repeated.

Experience Counts When It Comes To A Marriage Celebrant

Diversity of experience is a highly desirable asset. A celebrant is more apt to identify with you and your needs if they have former experience with couples from your country of origin.

It has been my privilege to have married couples from many countries of the world including:

• England,
• Scotland,
• Ireland,
• Switzerland,
• Germany,
• Japan,
• Philippines,
• Brazil,
• Sierra Leone,
• Spain,
• France,
• Thailand,
• Singapore,
• South Africa.

Your celebrant should be able to listen to you and react to your needs, and to give you the confidence that your ceremony will be professionally prepared and conducted.

I strongly believe in providing a personal touch to your wedding.

International Couples - Marriage Information

I am most happy to assist you with all the arrangements and provide you with the best options that are available. You will need to obtain a Birth Certificate.

If either of you have been married before you will need to produce proof of how your last marriage ended:
i.e. Divorce/Death Certificates.

These certificates must be brought with you when you arrive in Australia and must be sighted by your Marriage Celebrant.

Prior to this, you must obtain a Notice of Intended Marriage form (NOIM) from the Australian High Commission, the Australian Embassy, or the Australian Foreign Affairs Department in your country.

The form must be lodged at least one month and one day prior to the performance of the marriage ceremony. The (NOIM) must be witnessed by one of the specified witnesses designated on the form. Once the document has been witnessed it may be sent to me by fax or post.

I will then take care of all the legal paperwork required for you to be married in Australia.

Should you need any further information regarding marriage in Australia please do not hesitate to call me or send me an email.

Useful Links

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Interpretation and Translation of Documents - All Languages

Travel Information

Marriage Celebrants Perth

Question 1:
Where can we hold the ceremony?

In Australia there are many different places that you may hold a civil marriage ceremony:

• beaches and islands
• national parks
• homes
• gardens
• Australian bush
• hotels and restaurants
• chapels
• boats (in Australian waters)
• hot air balloons (in Australian air space) or
• on a bridge

Check out WA wedding venues here.

Question 2:
What paperwork do we need to bring along when we see you?

You need original documents when filling out the Notice of Intended Marriage, including:

• Birth certificate or extract of entry of birth showing place and date of birth.

• If you have no birth certificate:

Statutory declaration and a passport, or,
Certificate of Australian Citizenship.

• For an overseas resident a passport from your country of origin.

• A Certificate of Divorce or a Certificate of Nullity, if previously married.

• A Certificate of Death, if previous spouse is deceased.

• If either party are under 18 years of age, a consent form signed by the parents of the person under 18 and a court order permitting the marriage.

• An official translation of documents in a foreign language [not in English], must accompany the original documents.

• Change of Name Certificate if a name has been changed from that on your birth certificate.

Question 3:
Can we write our own vows?

You most certainly can write your own vows. However, there are several requirements to keep in mind.

The Marriage Act requires that you include some minimum requirements:

1st: You must use the words “spouse” or “husband” and “wife” in the vows. “Partner” and other terms are not permitted under the Marriage Act of 1961.

2nd: You must use your full names at least once in the ceremony.

3rd: The following phase must be used - “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I (full name) take you (full name) to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife.”

If you don’t want to write your own vows, I can provide you with a wide range to choose from.

Question 4:
Do we receive a marriage certificate on the day of our ceremony?

Yes, you will be presented with a marriage certificate on the day of your wedding.

However, whilst this certificate is evidence that you are married, I recommend that you apply for a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

This may be obtained from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Question 5:
My fiancé is coming from overseas for the wedding - what do we need to do?

If you are a citizen of Australia, your fiancé from overseas will need to obtain a Prospective Spouse (Fiancé) Visa before the day of your wedding ceremony if you both plan to remain in Australia after the wedding (it is best to consult the Department of Immigration to discuss what is the most appropriate approach for your individual situation).

In order to do this, you will need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage with me.

The Notice can be signed by your fiancé in the presence of a Notary Public or an Australian Diplomatic Officer or an Australian Consular Officer or an employee of the Commonwealth or the Australian Trade Commission.

The Notice should then be sent directly to me.

When your fiancé arrives in Australia, the original certificates will need to be produced to support the Notice of Intended Marriage.

If your fiancé cannot fill in the Notice of Intended Marriage and have it witnessed, then you can complete your section of the Notice and your fiancé can complete their section when they arrive in Australia.

I will then supply you with a letter to lodge with your application for the Prospective Spouse (Fiancé) Visa, confirming the lodgement of the Notice of Intended Marriage and the date and place of your proposed wedding ceremony.

For more information, please see the Department of Immigration web site.

Question 6:
We want a surprise wedding - is this legal?

A surprise wedding is legal only if both of you know that you are getting married. The only people you can surprise are your family, friends and guests.

Both parties of the marriage must fill out and sign the Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month and one day before the intended wedding day.

Question 7:
Do we have to remember our vows?

No, you don’t have to remember your vows, unless of course you really want to. I can say the main body of your vows and all that you have to say is “I do” or “I will.”

Alternatively, I can ask you to repeat your vows after me and I can lead you through them line upon line. This is the most intimate and cherished part of your ceremony.

The choice is yours.

Question 8:
Do we need to have a rehearsal?

In most cases, it is not essential.

However, you are entitled to have a rehearsal if you desire one.

It is recommended that you have a rehearsal if your wedding ceremony is quite detailed and includes rituals and involves the participation of other people.

Question 9:
We want to get married in Australia - will it be a legal wedding there and in our own country?

If you marry in Australia, there is no legal requirement that you stay in Australia. You can marry in Australia whilst you are on holidays providing your Notice of Intended Marriage has been lodged one month and one day prior to you wedding day.

You should check with the government of your own country what they require so that your marriage is officially recognised by them. Some may accept a certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Perth, WA.

Others may require that you have an apostille attached to your certificate before they will accept it as an authentic document.

The Smart Traveller web site has more information on apostilles and authentification.

Question 10:
Are there any extra charges?

There are no extra charges.

You will receive a presentation marriage certificate on the day of your wedding and this is included in the cost. If you wish to obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate, it may be obtained from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Perth.

The Registry charges a small fee to issue you with a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

NO HIDDEN CHARGES

There are no hidden costs that you will need to pay the celebrant later.

Question 11:
What if we need to postpone our ceremony?

Your ceremony may be postponed providing that it does not exceed the 18 month period stipulated on the Notice of Intended Marriage (form 13).

However, you may need to check with me about my availability when you set a new date for your ceremony.

Question 12:
We have children - can we include them in our marriage ceremony - how?

If you have children from a former relationship, it is wisdom to acknowledge their role and place in your changing relationship. You are encouraged to consider including them in the ceremony.

This can be done in a number of ways. They can play active or passive roles in your marriage ceremony.

They can be welcomed into the new family. They can be involved in the lighting of candles, readings, carrying the rings on a cushion, page boy, flower girl, witnesses (if over 18 years of age)  etc. There are a variety of ways they can be involved.

As one of Perth’s more experienced celebrants in demand, I have for a number of years, had the pleasure of marrying many overseas clients. There’s nothing better than the beautiful beaches and climate here in Perth, WA to attract loving couples.

My advice to overseas couples is:

Book Early
Professional Marriage Celebrants in Perth, WA are often booked up months (in some cases 12 -18 months in advance), so book in a time and date as soon as possible.

Exotic Wedding
Getting married in Perth, Western Australia is an exotic and memorable way to begin your married life together.

If you are bringing your partner into Australia on a prospective spouse or Fiancé(e) visa, I can provide you with the necessary letter for the Department of Immigration.

After Marriage
British Commonwealth Residents
All couples will need to obtain a registered copy of their marriage certificate.

All Other Countries
You will need a Registered Marriage Certificate, and an Apostille stamp from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Perth WA so that you can register your marriage in your country of residence.

I can arrange this for you, but if you would like to do it yourselves make certain that you leave a few days in Perth after your marriage to organize.

I hope the above is helpful and that you take advantage of my services as one of Perth, WA more experienced marriage celebrants.