The Process To Get You Married..
Getting married in Australia is simpler than trying to fold a fitted sheet or untangling the Christmas tree lights or unravelling the extension lead — I promise!
Below are the steps to get your hitched….
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I usually like to catch up with you and your fiancé over a coffee (tea, juice or whatever tickles your fancy!)—it's a great way to get to know each other and ensure I'm the perfect Celebrant for your big day. If you're interstate, have little people running about or life's just a bit too hectic, no problem! We can easily arrange a chat over FaceTime or Skype instead.
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If we’ve hit it off and I’m available on your date, let’s make it official!
I’ll provide a contract of services (I’m not a fan of the legal stuff either, but it’s there to protect you and clearly outline what I’ll deliver for the agreed fee) and an invoice for your non-refundable booking fee of $250. Once that’s taken care of, we can dive straight into creating your one-of-a-kind ceremony together.
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We can tackle this together during our first catch-up if you're ready to dive in! The Notice of Intended Marriage (aka NOIM) form needs to be completed at least one month before your big day—but trust me, ticking it off early is always a win. Think of it as the RSVP to your wedding, but for the government. Just don’t procrastinate too much, because unlike your favorite yoga instructor, the law isn’t great with flexibility!.
To complete the form, I'll need to see your birth certificate or passport (this validates where you were born). I will also need to see a photo ID. This can be your passport, driver licence or proof of age card.
Your signatures on the NOIM must be witnessed, and as a Commonwealth Registered Marriage Celebrant and a Justice of the Peace (Qual), I can handle that for you.
Once the form is signed, it stays with me, and I'll take care of lodging all the required paperwork with the relevant Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) office in the state you are married, to ensure your marriage is legally recognised.
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Now comes the fun part—planning and chatting all things weddings!
Whether you want to chat endlessly or keep it to just what you need, I’m here for you. We can meet up as often as you’d like and email at any hour (yes, even for those late-night Pinterest panics).
Consider me your wedding planning sidekick, armed with a fabulous little black book of trusted vendors and suppliers. Plus, let’s be real—I’ve been to a shed load of weddings, so I’ve got plenty of ideas, suggestions, and clever tips to share.
Let’s dive in and make this wedding journey as fun and stress-free as possible!
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I'll coordinate with your wedding planner or venue coordinator in the lead-up to your big day to ensure I'm across all the details. If it's a venue I'm familiar with, this step might not be necessary, as we'll already know how each other operates. Either way, I'll confirm that I'll arrive at least 60 minutes before the guest arrival time noted on your invitation.
When I arrive at your venue, I'll say hello to both of you (no need to be together at this stage) so we can take care of the pre-ceremony paperwork. You'll each sign the Declaration of No Legal Impediment (which I'll send to you beforehand to review).
After the ceremony, we'll complete the signing of the Official Marriage Certificate and your Commemorative Marriage Certificate.
I'll bring along my speaker/s and handheld microphone (if needed). After getting changed and doing a quick sound check, I'll be ready to greet your guests as they arrive.
You'll need two witnesses to sign your official documents—they can be anyone, as long as they're over 18. And a quick note on the serious side: we all need to be under the legal driving limit for alcohol while signing these important legal documents.
After that, it's time to celebrate and get the party started!
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Once the ceremony is wrapped up, your guests are off celebrating, and you’re busy with your photographer/videographer capturing all those incredible moments, I’ll quietly slip away into the dark of night/sunset and head home to lodge your paperwork. Once Births, Deaths and Marriages processes everything, you’ll be officially registered and 100% legally married—congratulations!
I’ll send you an email to confirm that your marriage has been registered. From there, I’ll guide you through arranging payment for your official marriage certificate (the legal proof that you’re officially married). You can expect to receive this certificate within 1–2 weeks after your wedding day.
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Thinking of changing your name? Once your official marriage certificate arrives (usually a week or two post wedding and via the post), you can kick off the name change process right away!
Services like Easy Name Change can make this simple by helping you avoid the hassle of navigating forms and ID checks on your own. All you need to do is present your certificate to the companies you’re updating, and you’re good to go.
Each company has its own forms, processes, and proof requirements, which can be a bit of a maze. If paperwork and research aren’t your thing, a name change kit is a great option. Just select the companies you need to notify, and Easy Name Change will create a custom pack of forms for you. Attach your marriage certificate or any required proof, send them off, and voilà—your name change is sorted with minimal effort!
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Now is the time to bask in that post-wedding glow! Whether you’re jetting off on a honeymoon or enjoying a cozy mini-moon, take this moment to relax, reflect, and relive the magic as you scroll through your photos and videos. Celebrate the start of this exciting new chapter together!
Why Choose Me As Your?
What My Couples Say
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What My Couples Say •
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Charlotte & Matthew | Hillstone St Lucia
Melissa is hands down the best wedding Celebrant/Master of Ceremonies anyone could ask for. She has a huge amount of experience in weddings and event management, she provided a level of professionalism and care that made our special day effortless and unforgettable.
From the moment we met her, we could see that Melissa was not only highly skilled but also incredibly personable. She is down-to-earth, approachable, and genuinely invested in making our wedding as perfect as possible.
Throughout the planning process, Melissa was highly professional, providing us with a comprehensive guide for both the ceremony and reception (I am terrible at planning, so this helped me plan for things I would never have thought of). She made sure every aspect was covered, leaving us with one less thing to worry about on our big day.
The wedding day was so easy and effortless, she wrote a beautiful ceremony and helped coordinate the family photos, ensuring we stuck to schedule and didn't lose any valuable light. Melissa went above and beyond in so many different ways. When the mother of the groom was having a hay fever flare-up, Melissa was prepared with antihistamines. She even helped with last-minute adjustments, like pinning my veil back into my hair when I needed it.
Her ability to handle everything with grace and efficiency was remarkable. In all honesty, I can't think of anything she could have done better.
Melissa exceeded all our expectations, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a celebrant and/or MC. She truly is the best in the business.
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Renee & Lachy | Fins at Plantation House
We couldn't have asked for a better celebrant for our wedding than Melissa. Melissa's warmth, friendliness, and professionalism is admirable. She has a quick wit and a fun, confident demeanour that immediately put us at ease and made our ceremony the absolute best! Melissa was amazing when it started raining during the ceremony, she handled the situation with such grace and efficiency, seamlessly guiding us to a new location and making sure all our guests felt comfortable and included.
In the lead-up to the wedding, Melissa made the entire process so easy for us. She was always available to answer questions and provide guidance, making sure every detail was perfect.
We couldn't recommend Melissa more highly. She truly went above and beyond to make our special day unforgettable. Thank you, Melissa, for everything!
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Isla & Richard | Hillstone St Lucia
Melissa was superb!
She is an expert at what she does and this definitely shines through on the day!
From the get-go she was organised, calm, and helpful. Her attention to detail really made us feel like we were in safe hands, and her style at our ceremony felt authentic and heartfelt.
We couldn’t recommend her enough!
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Emma & Matt | Preston Peak Winery
Melissa was an incredible celebrant. From the initial catchup meeting to the big day and after, she was friendly, informative and very easy to work with.
Melissa made the whole getting married process so easy; we're so glad we picked her to help us with our big day! We just loved our story that Melissa put together, she captured my husband and I in such a unique way that set the tone for the rest of day. After the ceremony so many of our guests raved about how great she was.
We can't recommend Melissa enough! 10++ stars!
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Holly & Liam | The Rocks at Yandina
Melissa from day one has been the most relaxed, bubbly and supportive celebrant. For the first 6 months of wedding planning we were living remote.
From every phone call to finally meeting her in person 6 months later we were made to feel so important and heard.
She understood exactly what we wanted and was so helpful and full of tips.
If you want a fun, loving and relaxed celebrant then I couldn’t recommend melissa enough. Plus her organisation is next level
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Adam & Sharnagh | Albert River Wines
Absolutely thrilled with our choice of Melissa for our April 2023 wedding at Albert River Wines! We cannot sing her praises enough! Melissa proved to be nothing short of extraordinary. Her dedication to getting to know us was evident, and she flawlessly captured our unique love story on our special day.
What truly set her apart was her unwavering commitment even after the ceremony, orchestrating family photos with efficiency and precision, giving us more time to savour every moment. To anyone considering Melissa as their celebrant, don't hesitate - just book her! She truly is extraordinary.
"In real life, shouldn't a wedding be an awesome party you throw with your great pal, in the presence of a bunch of your other friends? A great day, for sure, but not the beginning and certainly not the end of your friendship with a person you can't wait to talk about gardening with for the next forty years."
— Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?