Looking for Marriage Celebrants is an important part of your marriage ceremony. There are so many choices available these days, and each wedding usually opts for something a little different.

One of the first things you will need to decide when choosing a marriage celebrant is whether you want a civil or religious one. While the "traditional" church priest is still what many view as the only "right" choice for a celebrant, not every couple follows a religious faith strongly enough to go down this path. Hence, civil celebrants are definitely much more popular now than in the past.

Another reason many couples are choosing to go with a civil marriage celebrant is because one or both of them are divorced and looking to remarry, and some religious denominations do not allow divorcees to remarry under their faith. If you fall into this category and still want a proper church wedding, you'll need to discuss this matter with your priest. While there are no guarantees of success, this is still the best place to start.

If you are planning on opting for the religious marriage, then it's usually a much simpler process in finding a marriage celebrant. It's usually your regular family priest. Of course, if you are not a regular church goer, but were baptised and are still considered 'one of the faithful', then you might need to visit some churches and meet the priests to find one you like AND one that has an opening for the wedding date you both want.

The following comments on Marriage celebrants come from the Attorney-General's Website

Marriage celebrants are encouraged to offer a choice of ceremonies, or assist the couple in writing their own. You should feel comfortable with your celebrant and feel confident that he/she suits your needs and will complement your special day. Ring and make an appointment to meet the celebrant if you are uncertain. It is also advisable to confirm your wedding arrangements in writing in plenty of time before the day.

You should ensure that your proposed celebrant is authorised as a marriage celebrant under the Marriage Act 1961. Click here to see if your celebrant is authorised. You will also find marriage celebrants from non-recognised denominations on this list.

You must give a completed Notice of Intended Marriage form to an authorised marriage celebrant within 18 months of your proposed marriage and no later than one month and one day prior. All marriage celebrants should have all the necessary paper work to perform your marriage.

When meeting with your celebrant, ensure that you have all your required documentation with you eg. birth certificates (original) and evidence that any prior marriage has been dissolved.

Marriage celebrants authorised by the Australian Government are entitled to charge for any services that they provide. Fees for weddings are not fixed and may vary from celebrant to celebrant. Ensure you reach an agreement on the fees before asking the celebrant to hold the date. You should also ensure that you understand what charges are non-refundable.

Search our Wedding Directory for a Marriage Celebrant that you both like and trust.

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