Marriage Certificates in Australia
Most people think that their official Australian Marriage Certificate is the one they receive on their wedding day. Actually, the number of Marriage Certificates that are signed at an Australian wedding varies depending on who officiates at the wedding ceremony:
- At State Registry Office weddings, there are two Marriage Certificates that are signed on the wedding day. A designated Registry Officer officiates at these wedding ceremonies.
- At civil and religious weddings, there are three Marriage Certificates that are signed on the wedding day. A Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of a religious organisation, approved by the Australian government officiates at these wedding ceremonies.
As a Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant, I officiate at civil (secular) wedding ceremonies according to the Marriage Act 1961. This means that two people who meet the legal requirements for marriages performed in Australia (and recognised internationally), regardless of nationality or gender, may marry.
The three Marriage Certificates
- The first Marriage Certificate is in the Marriage Register which I keep securely as the authorised Celebrant. This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates.
- The second Marriage Certificate is the Presentation or Ceremonial Marriage Certificate. I present this certificate to the Bride and Groom on their wedding day at the end of the ceremony. Although this certificate is a legal document, however it does not prove identity as it does not show birth dates. This certificate proves that the persons named were married at a given place on a given date. Keep this document safe!
- The third Marriage Certificate is the Official Marriage Certificate. This certificate contains all the personal identity details of the Bride and Groom, including their birth dates. The Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrant (CMC), or a designated person of an Australian government approved religious organisation, submits this third certificate to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State/Territory where you marry.
How many Marriage Certificates do you need or want?
So, how many certificates do you need or want? That is up to you! If you want a certificate that you can use to change your name for example, then you need to purchase a copy of your Official Marriage Certificate. This is available from the Registry of the State/Territory where the marriage takes place. This certificate is the ‘legal document’ that not only establishes your identity but also shows the details of your marriage.
Finally, State Registries offer a decorative, Commemorative Certificate for a fee. This certificate is for display purposes only and is neither a legal document nor a proof of identity document.
How do you know the right questions to ask?
Do you want clear and correct information about getting married? Do you want to know more about marriage documents? Ask the right questions and get the correct information!