By having a Civil Marriage Ceremony, you have the option to choose any place you wish for your ceremony.

• a wonderfully grand affair in a formal garden
• on a cliff top or on the beach
• in a non-denominational chapel
• at a function centre
• on a luxury yacht on the harbour
• an intimate affair in a hot air balloon.

Your ceremony can be at any time of the day; dawn to dusk, sunrise to sunset. The choices can be overwhelming and a list of suggested venues has been provided for you to consider.

I strongly recommend that you book your Authorised Marriage Celebrant as soon as you have set your wedding date (even if you haven't made a decision on the venue for the ceremony). Many couples book months in advance to secure a day. I will then arrange to meet with you and review the necessary paperwork, answer any questions you may have and discuss with you the format of your ceremony.

Together, we will need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (a copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage form can be downloaded from the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department website). This form must be lodged with me at least 1 month and 1 day prior to your ceremony taking place.

If you were born in Australia, you must provide an original birth certificate for identification purposes. If you do not have your original birth certificate or have misplaced it, an official copy can be obtained from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state where you were born. Contact details for the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in all Australian states and territories can be found on the resources page.

If you were born outside of Australia, your original birth certificate is the preferred document for identification purposes, but an overseas passport is also acceptable.

If you have been married previously, you will need to provide documentation showing how the marriage was terminated.

A deposit is required at the time of activating the Notice of Intended Marriage and to secure your booking with me. I will then provide you with a selection of ceremonies that I have crafted. After you have had time to review the ceremonies, you may choose to use one in its entirety or a mix of the various ceremonies. You may also use them to gain inspiration to design your own ceremony (which I am happy to assist you with).

Your ceremony is special to you and your guests and should be heard by all attending your wedding. I can supply a state-of-the-art portable cordless PA system with wireless microphones. The PA system also includes an in-built CD player which I am happy for you to utilise during your ceremony. I will conduct a sincere and professional ceremony and will ensure that I dress to fit in with the style of your wedding - it is your day, not mine!

You are required to sign three documents during the ceremony; the Certificate of Marriage, the Marriage Register and the presentation Marriage Certificate. You will need two witnesses over the age of 18 to sign these documents.

At the end of your ceremony you will receive your presentation Marriage Certificate, a bound copy of your ceremony as a keepsake, and a gift for you both to enjoy.

I will attend to the lodgement and registration of your marriage with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in a professional and timely manner.