How to Get Legally Married in Australia: A Simple Guide
© Leah McLean Photography
Let's be honest — "the legal paperwork" isn't the part anyone daydreams about. But here's the reassuring truth: getting legally married in Australia is far simpler than most couples expect, and when you elope with us, we take care of nearly all of it for you.
Here's everything you actually need to know, in plain English.
The four requirements to marry in Australia
To marry legally, both of you must:
Be 18 or older. (In rare cases a 16- or 17-year-old can marry with court approval, but two people under 18 can never marry each other.)
Freely consent — you both understand what marriage means and are entering into it willingly.
Not be closely related — you can't marry a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling.
Not already be married to someone else.
Marriage has been equally available to all couples in Australia since December 2017, and the legal process is exactly the same for everyone.
The one rule worth knowing early: the one-month notice
This is the big one, so we'll say it clearly. Before you can legally marry, you need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with your celebrant. Under the Marriage Act 1961, it must be lodged at least one full calendar month before your wedding date — and no more than 18 months before.
A quick example: if you'd like to marry on 20 October, your completed notice needs to be in your celebrant's hands by 20 September at the latest.
You'll sometimes see "30 days" or "a month and a day" floating around online — neither is right. It's one calendar month. Miss it, and the ceremony can still go ahead beautifully as a commitment ceremony, but it won't be legally binding until the notice period is met.
© Leah McLean Photography
The takeaway: the moment you have a date in mind, get in touch. Lodging the notice early means everything else can relax around it. (Good news for travellers — once it's lodged correctly, you can fly in and marry, even from interstate or overseas.)
What documents you'll need
To complete your notice, each of you simply shows your celebrant either:
A current passport, or
An original birth certificate together with a photo ID (like a driver licence).
If either of you has been married before, you'll also need evidence that the previous marriage ended — a divorce order or, if you've been widowed, a death certificate.
One small but important tip: the names on your notice must match your official documents exactly, full middle names and all. It saves any fiddly corrections later.
You'll need two witnesses
Australian law requires two witnesses aged 18 or over to be present at your ceremony. Eloping just the two of you? No problem at all — we can provide your witnesses, so a private ceremony for two is absolutely possible.
What happens on the day
Your celebrant takes the lead, so there's nothing to memorise. Legally, the ceremony includes:
A few set words from your celebrant about the meaning of marriage (these are required by law),
Your vows — which can be as traditional or as personal as you like, and
The signing of your marriage certificates, witnessed by your two witnesses.
And that's the legal moment done. From there, it's all yours.
© Coffee+Hops Photography
After the day
Once you're married, your celebrant submits the paperwork to Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages, who officially register your marriage. The pretty certificate you sign on the day is a keepsake — if you need the official certificate for changing your name, a passport or other admin, you can order that from the registry afterwards (we'll point you in the right direction).
A quick word for interstate and overseas couples
Planning your elopement from somewhere else? You're in good company — many of our couples travel in. As long as your notice is correctly lodged with your celebrant in time, the distance is no barrier, and we'll guide you through every step remotely.
Your questions, answered
How far in advance do you have to give notice? At least one full calendar month before your wedding, and no more than 18 months before. We help you lodge it on time.
Do you need witnesses to elope? Yes — two, aged 18 or over. If it's just the two of you, we can provide them.
Can you get legally married with just the two of you? Absolutely. You, your partner, your celebrant and two witnesses are all that's required — which is exactly what our Just Us Two package is built for.
What if we live interstate or overseas? No problem. With your notice lodged in time, you can travel in and marry. We support distance couples through the whole process.
We know the legal side can feel like the least romantic part of getting married — so we've made it the easiest. You focus on each other; we'll quietly handle the forms, the timing and the registration.
Have a date in mind?
The best first step is simply to say hello. Tell us when and where you're dreaming of, and we'll take care of the paperwork from there.
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. Your celebrant will confirm exactly what's needed for your situation — and we're always happy to talk it through.
