ARRANGING YOUR WEDDING

When you first contact me, I will tentatively place your preferred wedding date in my diary.   A time will then be arranged for the initial meeting, usually but not necessarily at, my home. The Notice Of Intention To Marry Form (NIM) can be completed at this time.  This must be lodged at least one month and one day prior to the wedding. I will need to see both your birth certificates if born in Australia, or passports if born overseas for proof of identity.  If you have been married before, you will have to produce the divorce or death certificates to proceed.   The initial meeting is a great time to get all of this out of the way.

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required at this time, to secure the booking.  The balance is to paid no less than 2 weeks prior to the ceremony.

In return, I will:

• Provide you with a professional and personalized service.

• Guide you through the process of obtaining, the necessary legal requirements to ensure that your marriage will be valid under the laws of the Australia.
• Provide you with information regarding relationship counseling organizations, marriage education, changing your name, wills, joint ownership and other legal issues.

• Process and submit all the required legal paperwork to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Attorney General’s Office).
• Assist you to write your own ceremony, including the vows, or write your ceremony for you, incorporating any other symbolic rituals into the basic ceremony (eg hand-fasting) if desired.
• Provide you with my resources of suitable poems, readings and suggestions for vows.
• Provide you with a Wedding Ceremony that can be as traditional or as unique, as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be, limited only by your imagination.
• Travel to most areas in Victoria.
• Be available any reasonable time, to consult with you face to face, via phone, fax or e-mail.
• Be available for a rehearsal if required.
• Perform your ceremony anywhere, any day and any time (including mid-week).   At the beach, in the rainforest, park or even on board a boat.  The choice is yours.
• Provide you with a beautifully presented copy of your ceremony.
• Provide a state of the art PA system which will ensure your guests will hear the ceremony (at no extra cost).
• Endeavour to dress in accordance with your wedding theme/colour scheme and conduct myself in keeping with the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants.  

To Marry in Australia

• Decide on a date and time for your ceremony.
• Book your celebrant and venue.
• Complete a Notice of Intended Marriage for lodgement (NIM Form 13) with your celebrant (no later than one month and one day prior to your ceremony).   It is advisable to do this as soon as possible.  A copy of the NIM can be downloaded from: www.ag.gov.au/celebrants or obtained from your Celebrant.  This form is only valid for 18 months.
• Provide your birth certificates (original or extract) as identification. If you were born overseas, a valid passport will suffice. If previously married, provide evidence of the cessation of marriage (i.e. decree absolute / divorce certificate or death certificate).   The originals must be sighted by your Celebrant prior to the ceremony.
• If you have changed your name, the original Deed Poll papers will need to be sighted.
• You must be over 18 years old and have two witnesses also over 18 years old, present at the ceremony.   Witnesses may be supplied for a small fee (paid directly to the witnesses to cover time and travel expenses) in the event of an elopement. 

People from Overseas

The NIM Form is a legal document.  Once completed, it needs to be signed in front of, and witnessed by:

• An Australian Embassy Official
• An Australian Consular Official
• A Notary Public

The document must be stamped and dated by the Official.  One signature is sufficient if one of you is unable to travel to the Embassy or Notary Public.

If time is a problem, you may fax, or mail the signed and witnessed NIM, along with certified copies of all other relevant documents.  The originals will need to be viewed by the Celebrant before you can be married.

• Consent will be required if under the age of 18 yrs.

All the documents MUST be in English.

If not they will need to be officially translated and authorised by a legally recognised translator. The Celebrant will need to see both the Original Documents and the Translated Documents.

What Next?

• Book your venue/check the ceremony location is available for that time and date.  You may have to gain Council permission in some areas to be married in a park, Botanical Garden or beach.  Check your local Council’s by-laws.  A small fee may be required to secure the booking.
• Make a booking with your Celebrant.  Ideally, make sure you have all the required documents to take with you on that first visit.  This will ensure things move along in a timely manner.  Remember, the ceremony cannot take place until all the required documents and certificates have been sighted by the Celebrant.   Required documents are listed above.
• Popular dates, days and times become booked fairly quickly.  Book early to avoid disappointment.  Some couples book over a year in advance.
• Enjoy writing and developing your ceremony, but don’t lose sight of the importance and meaning of your vows.
• Start thinking about what you want to say, what you are going to say and where you will get your inspiration from (Your partner I hope). Utilize the resources offered to you by your Celebrant, and start reading.
• Although this is an important time in your life, don’t forget it is also joyous.  Have fun planning your ceremony.  Allow this time to bring you both closer in love and harmony.

Lynda Payne
Authorised Marriage Celebrant