Frequently Asked Questions
How long should the Wedding Ceremony take?
Ideally 20 - 25 minutes in total. It should be long enough for people to be immersed in the ceremony itself, but not too long to be too taxing.
Can overseas visitors get married in Australia?
Absolutely - Australia has many beautiful places where you can be married, but you are only permitted to stay if you have gone through the correct visa requirements with the Department of Immigration. We can only help you with the legal requirements for the marriage itself.
Find out more about getting married in Australia for non-residents or visit the Australian Consulate site on getting married in Australia.
If you have decided to get married in Australia - congratulations! Anyone can get married in Australia. You can enjoy a wedding ceremony on the beautiful beaches of Sydney, in the majestic Blue Mountains or amongst the grapevines in the Hunter Valley.
The only thing that you have to do to get married legally in Australia is complete a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month and one day before your wedding date which needs to be signed by at least one of you at this time. If your fiance is out of the country he/she can sign this document on the day of the wedding if needs be.
If you are both from overseas the Notice of Intended Marriage can be completed and posted to you and witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (or relevant signatory) in the country that you are in. This can then be forwarded back to me and I will do the necessary paperwork this end.
If one partner is Australian and the other wishes to come to this country I can also provide you with a letter that can be given to your Consultate that will assist with spousal visas.
If you would like to retain some of the traditions from your own culture, Ceremonies with Soul can incorporate whatever you would like into your wedding ceremony, to make it as meaningful, formal or casual, contemporary or classic as you would like.
Of course, your marriage certificate will be recognised in other countries, but your ability to stay in Australia is dependent on your visa. Please refer to the Department of Immigration for more information about this.
I can also provide translation services for you and your guests. Simply Contact me!
How much do you charge? What does it include?
I charge a nominal flat rate which covers the following:
- All costs of providing you with a legally recognised wedding ceremony
- Meetings and telephone calls to help you build your wedding ceremony
- A package of wedding ceremony samples to pick and choose from
- Reliability, professionalism and sincerity. I want to help you and your fiance make this the most memorable day of your lives - a beautiful beginning to the rest of your life together
- A ribbon-tied scroll of your Wedding Ceremony
- A public address system so that your guests can clearly hear the service, as well as you both saying your vows to one another
- Printed speeches, pasted on cardboard on the day for your speakers, to avoid last minute stress
- Your marriage certificate
Will you travel to my ceremony if I want to have it in the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains or somewhere unusual?
I am happy to travel - anything to make your day just the way you would like it. Of course, there will be additional charge which we can discuss to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and time getting to your desired location. If you live locally and want to be in touch with me during the process of building your wedding ceremony, it would be my pleasure to go to a far flung or sentimental destination with you for your wedding day.
I'm not religious but my partner is, to an extent. Can you incorporate something religious into the ceremony?
If you would like to retain some of the traditions from your own culture, Ceremonies with Soul can incorporate whatever you would like into your wedding ceremony, to make it as meaningful, formal or casual, contemporary or classic as you would like. This is your special day, remember. I am here to make it as special as I can for you.
I am having a very small/very large wedding. Can you accommodate this?
Of course. Let's meet to discuss the logistics of your special day. I have plenty of experience in weddings of all shapes and sizes.
What does 'Ceremonies with Soul' mean?
Ceremonies with Soul recognises that religion doesn't always play a central role in modern society, although we appreciate that some customs remain important. By bringing traditional components from marriage to a modern day setting amongst nature, we can feel holistically and morally justified in celebrating a union of two lovers, souls entwined, with deep love for one another in a shared celebration.
What next? Where do I start?
Let's arrange to meet and talk everything over with a cup of tea.
