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The cost of a celebrant can vary widely based on several factors, including the celebrant’s experience, location, the complexity of the ceremony, and any additional services offered. On average, you might expect to pay:

• Basic Range: $300 – $550 for standard ceremonies.
• Higher Range: $800 to $1,200 for more elaborate or personalized ceremonies, especially in larger cities or for celebrants with significant experience or credentials.

It’s a good idea to research different celebrants in your area, check reviews, and inquire about their packages to find one that fits your budget and needs. Always ensure to clarify what is included in their fee, such as pre-ceremony consultations, travel expenses, and any additional services they may provide.

The number of guests at your wedding and its location will determine whether a PA system is necessary. Having said this, Celebrants are obliged to ensure that all guests can adequately hear the ceremony. The majority of the Alliance Celebrants of Queensland members have their own PA systems to use where circumstances demand.

Some Celebrants may charge an additional fee for the use or hire of equipment whilst others include a PA system at no extra cost.

Please insure you ask your celebrant if they supply a PA.

Does a marriage certificate allow change of name on official Documents

Yes, a marriage certificate can serve as an official document to facilitate a name change after marriage. Once you have your marriage certificate, you can use it to update your name on various legal documents and identification, such as:

• Driver’s License: You will typically need to present your marriage certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or similar agency.
• Medicare: You’ll need to notify the Medicare to update your name in their records.
• Bank Accounts: Most banks will require a copy of your marriage certificate to update your name on your accounts.
• Passport: You can apply for a new passport with your updated name by submitting your marriage certificate with your application.

It’s important to check the specific requirements with each institution, as they may have different processes. Always keep a copy of your marriage certificate handy for these changes.

Your family and friends can participate in various ways during your wedding ceremony. However, their involvement does not include the legal obligations, which can only be fulfilled by your Marriage Celebrant, as outlined in the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants and applicable legal requirements.

The legal obligations include the following responsibilities of your Marriage Celebrant:

• Taking a public role in your ceremony
• Identifying themselves as the authorized celebrant to solemnize your marriage
• Ensuring the legal validity of your marriage
• Reciting the mandatory words specified in the Marriage Act 1961
• Being able to clearly see and hear you as you exchange your vows in accordance with the Marriage Act 1961
• Being prepared to intervene during the ceremony if necessary
• Being part of the ceremonial group or situated nearby to sign the documents as required by the Marriage Act 1961

Please be aware that this list is not comprehensive. If you would like more detailed information about the full range of legal requirements, your Marriage Celebrant can provide further guidance. Additionally, all witnesses signing the documentation must be at least 18 years old, irrespective of their relationship to the couple.

If for some reason, you need to change your Marriage Celebrant or if you decide to use a celebrant instead of the Registry office, for example.   You will need to obtain the original Notice of Intended Marriage Form (NOIM) that you lodged with the first Celebrant or BDM and have them transfer it to your new Celebrant or if time permits, you may both fill in a new form. You should note, however, that in the majority of cases if not all, you would have paid your original Celebrant a non-refundable fee so if you are completing a second NOIM, the new Celebrant, by right, may also charge you a non-refundable fee to repeat this process.  Should you find that you wish to change Celebrants, you should be advising the first Celebrant as soon as possible that you are no longer requiring his/her services.

This also applies if you lodge your original NOIM with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages and decide to use a Celebrant for a more personalised experience. The Registry will transfer the NOIM to your chosen Celebrant.

Please be aware that you will be required to provide your identity documentation to the new celebrant entrusted with your wedding.

Your Marriage Celebrant will charge you a booking fee, which is usually non-refundable, when you meet with the celebrant to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).

The booking fee covers the costs for the Celebrants time in meeting with the couple, completing the Notice of Intended Marriage Form, any other legal vested obligations and for making a number of his/her relevant resources available to you. Payment of this fee also secures your chosen date and time for your wedding.

Each Marriage Celebrant has different terms and conditions in regard to their fees and refund policy. These aspects should be outlined clearly in his/her Statement of Fees provided to you and you should be made aware of all possible costs at the outset of the engagement.

According to the Code of Practice for Celebrants, your Celebrant will conduct a rehearsal at a mutually agreed-upon date, time, and location if you request it. However, please note that your Celebrant may charge an additional fee for this service, which should be detailed in their “Statement of Fees” and discussed with you during your initial meeting.

In many instances, having a brief discussion or run-through of certain elements of your ceremony with your Celebrant—rather than a full rehearsal—at the Celebrant’s home or office may not incur an extra charge. This can also be clarified during your first meeting.

The number of meetings with your Celebrant is not fixed, and this can vary among Celebrants. However, it is generally reasonable to meet at least twice, unless circumstances make that impractical, such as living interstate or overseas from your Celebrant.

During the first meeting, you may sign the Notice of Intended Marriage form, exchange contact details, and discuss various topics, including your ideas for the ceremony and what your Celebrant can offer.

A second meeting should occur closer to your wedding date at a time that works for both of you. During this meeting, you will need to sign a document known as the No Legal Impediment to Marry, which is a statutory declaration confirming that there are no legal barriers to your marriage.  This form must be signed separately from each other.

In addition, the second meeting provides an opportunity to refine your ceremony details and staging, practice important elements such as the exchange of vows and rings, settle any outstanding balance for the Celebrant’s fee (if not already paid), and address any other remaining matters.

A celebrant conducts secular ceremonies for the general public in a variety of roles such as a Marriage Celebrant, Funeral Celebrant or at other family ceremonies such as a baby naming, which is similar to a christening, renewal of vows, commitment ceremony or milestone events such as retirement, 21st or 40th birthdays.

They meet with you to discuss your needs and expectations, write and facilitate a ceremony tailored to your requirements.  In some cases, certificates will be provided.

A Civil Marriage Celebrant, as a qualified trained and professional person, is authorised to conduct your marriage ceremony in a manner that meets the legal requirements.  This includes a range of matters such as ensuring that your ceremony contains certain mandatory words; the correct completion of your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) and all other marriage documents; and the lodging of your marriage documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is done in such a way that they comply with the Marriage Act 1961.

Apart from ensuring that your ceremony contains the necessary legal components, your Marriage Celebrant will also personalise your ceremony.  If requested to do so and will offer some choices as to what you may like to consider for inclusion in your ceremony.

Your Marriage Celebrant can also offer you a range of resources to assist you in this process.  This is not to say that you cannot write your own vows and indeed, if you would prefer to write your own ceremony There are a number of celebrants who would be pleased to help you in this endeavour.  Importantly they ensure that your ceremony complies with all the legal requirements.

The obligations placed on Marriage Celebrants are outlined in a Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants which is to be displayed by them.  Some Marriage Celebrants may even provide you with a copy of this document.

Marriage Ceremonies:

According to the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants, your Marriage Celebrant should arrive at the venue for your ceremony no later than 20 minutes prior to the wedding or a mutually agreed time. This ensures there is sufficient time to test any equipment that is to be used and  layout the required paperwork etc. and for setting-up.

However, where your Celebrant has been engaged to perform other ceremonies on the same day as yours, the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants stipulates very clearly that he/she must be available at the venue for your marriage ceremony at least 20 minutes before the agreed commencement time (unless, of course, the Marriage Celebrant in question will be conducting consecutive ceremonies at the same venue).

Baby Namings / Funerals / Other Ceremonies:

Your chosen celebrant will discuss a mutually agreed time with you as time will vary depending on location, circumstances and availability.

Your Marriage Celebrant can provide you with the required Notice of Intended Marriage form, (NOIM) and it is your Celebrant who is the authorised person with whom the original should be lodged.  Whilst it is possible to obtain a shortening of time, in extraordinary circumstances, your NOIM must be lodged with your Celebrant at least 30 days prior to the date of your marriage.  It may be lodged up to 18 months prior to your marriage date.

To complete this document, you must provide the originals of the following documents as evidence to your identity and previous marital status:

1. Your birth certificates or extracts are the primary source of identification.  If you do not have your original birth certificate/extract and were born in Australia, another authorised copy can be obtained from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) in the state in which you were born.If you were born overseas, it is also possible in most cases to apply for an authorised copy of your birth certificate (or the legal equivalent of your birth certificate) from your country of birth.  If your birth certificate (or legal equivalent) is in a language other than English, you also need to provide an authorised translation from NAATI.   Furthermore, you should note that some countries may take up to 6 months (e.g. South Africa) to provide the requested documentation.  Any other situations should be urgently discussed with your Marriage Celebrant.
2. An alternative, if you were born in Australia or overseas and cannot produce a birth certificate then a valid passport is sufficient for identification.
3. If you have been divorced, you are to provide the divorce document.   If you have misplaced or lost this document, you should be taking urgent action to obtain another from the Family Law Court in the State in which you were divorced.
4. If applicable, you are to provide a Certificate for a Change of Name.   If you have changed your name via another means (i.e. by deed poll), please discuss this situation urgently with your Celebrant.

For any other circumstances, please check with your Celebrant as to what additional documentation may be required.

Following your marriage, your Celebrant will forward the NOIM and all other requisite documents to BDM. Once all legal documentation has been lodged with the appropriate Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry and have applied for a registered Marriage Certificate.  If arrangements have been made with the celebrant to make payment for the Marriage Certificate this will be forwarded to you via post (time variations apply)

The Celebrant can ha

You do have obligations to your Marriage Celebrant once he/she has been engaged by you.  Most Celebrants will have you sign an Agreement which sets out these particulars. This Agreement is actually a contract between you and your chosen Celebrant. A typical  Agreement would include the following:

1. The payment/s of the full amount of his/her fee by the required date which will, in all situations, be prior to your wedding.
2. Advising your Celebrant prior to making any change to the time/place/date of your wedding as it is quite possible that your Celebrant may have another commitment and may therefore, be unable to perform your ceremony at the new time.
3. Advising your Celebrant of any change to the location of your marriage ceremony as soon as such a decision is made. The same applies if you are planning an outdoor wedding. In this case, however, your Celebrant during the planning stages will have enquired as to what contingency plans you have in place in the event of wet or inclement weather. Nevertheless, you should never assume that your Celebrant can read your mind so in the case of an 11th hour change of venue/time owing to bad weather conditions or if any other situation arises, you must always contact your Celebrant, or have someone contact him/her on your behalf as soon as you make the decision, as the responsibility for this rests with you.