Overseas couples

Australia is a popular destination for overseas couples who want a wedding with a difference.  Australia’s civil celebrants have much more freedom in designing and performing wedding ceremonies and are able to marry couples who are here on holiday.  Many couples choose to marry on one of our gorgeous beaches, or perhaps while cruising on the river, or even in the grounds of one of our premier hotels or restaurants.

I can marry couples from all around the world and I provide help in organising everything for you, including all the relevant legal paperwork to ensure that your marriage in Australia is recognised by your home country.  Naturally, you will also have a personally designed ceremony that reflects the real you.

If you live overseas and plan to marry in Brisbane or the southeast, what is the procedure?

You will need to:
· Book a time and date with me as soon as you can.  You will need to pay a $100 deposit to ensure a firm booking.
· Complete and have witnessed the Notice of Intended Marriage, at least one month and one day prior to the scheduled wedding.  I can email this form to you and it is also available from either the Australian Consulate or High Commission in your home country.  As soon as it is completed, you need to forward it to me for lodgement.
· Satisfy all legal requirements, including:
ü providing evidence that you are both over the age of 18,
ü providing a certified copy of the Final Dissolution of Marriage if you have been married before, or a certified copy of a Death Certificate if you have been widowed.
ü arranging for 2 witnesses to attend your ceremony (I can help with this if you are travelling alone)
ü providing evidence of your identity, which is easily done by producing your passport to me.

After your marriage, all couples will need to obtain a registered copy of their Marriage Certificate from the relevant state Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.  I am happy to help with this process.

As well, residents from countries other than the British Commonwealth will need to obtain an Apostille stamp from the Department of Foreign Affairs.  You will need this to register your marriage in your country of residence.

This website hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will give you all the information you need – http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/authen.html

Are you in the process of migrating to Australia?

If you are a citizen from another country who wishes to marry an Australian, and remain in Australia after the wedding, you will need to obtain a Fiancé visa.  Please email me for more details if you are unsure of the procedure.  If a firm booking has been made with me, I can provide supporting evidence to the Department of Immigration to support your application.