Weddings are a great celebration of love and Australia can be a beautiful setting for this special day.
Getting married to the person we love can be one of the greatest and most celebrated days in our lives, and what place could be better than beautiful Australia?
But what happens when one of you or neither of you are residents of Australia?
How can I get married in Australia?
The first thing you need to take into consideration is that Australia does not allow for shotgun marriages. It takes time to get the licensing and permission to wed. You first need to choose your marriage celebrant or minister and then complete a Notice of Intended Marriage form. This form must be completed and given to the celebrant or minister at a minimum of one month and a day before the wedding date and no more than 18 months in advance.
In what cases can the Notice of Intended Marriage period be shortened?
There are five possible cases in which the ‘one month and a day’ may be waived, but it is important to note that the shortening of time is not an immediate process either. A prescribed authority must first take all factors into consideration and will then decide whether or not to shorten the time.
Shortening the notice time
The five cases are:
- Employment–related or other travel commitments
- Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations
- Medical reasons
- Legal proceedings
- An error in giving notice
The reasons cannot fall outside of these five or the time will not be shortened.
What else will I need to get married in Australia?
A birth certificate or, if born outside of Australia, a foreign passport is acceptable. If a previous marriage has occurred, a decree of absolute divorce, and if widowed, a death certificate.
The best way to get married in Australia is with planning. Even those from outside the country must adhere to the Australian time frames and thus it is best to give yourself at least two months to plan the wedding.