Your family and friends may participate in your marriage ceremony in a number of ways. However, their participation does not extend to the legal requirements which can only be fulfilled by your Marriage Celebrant and which are set out in the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants and in the relevant legislative requirements. The legal requirements include your Marriage Celebrant:
- taking a public role in your ceremony
- identifying him/herself at your ceremony as the celebrant authorised to solemnise
- your marriage
- being responsible for ensuring the validity of your marriage according to law
- insofar as saying the mandatory words contained in the Marriage Act 1961
- being able to hear clearly and see you exchange your vows in the manner
- prescribed in the Marriage Act 1961
- being available to intervene (and exercise the responsibility to intervene) if events
- demonstrate such a need within your ceremony
- being a part of the ceremonial group or in close proximity to it
- signing the papers as required by the Marriage Act 1961
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and should you wish to obtain more detailed information on the full extent of the legal requirements, your Marriage Celebrant can advise you further.
All witnesses who are signing documentation must be over 18 years of age, regardless of whether they are related to the couple or not.
