A legals only ceremony is a ceremony offered that covers the legal elements required only. The ceremony is typically done in private with just the two of you and myself. However, two witnesses are also required to sign. This is typically a couple of friends, however any Australian citizen over the age of 18 is allowed to be the witness. This could even be a couple of strangers in the area that are happy to sign.
For a legals only ceremony, the Notice of Intent to marry must still be filled in a minimum of 30 days prior to the marriage date. We then decide on a place to meet. This can be your home, a park, the beach, a café, an airport … pretty much anywhere!
We meet, and I am legally required to say the monitum, which is “My name is Nik Reeds. I am duly authorized by law to conduct marriages according to the law. Before you are joined in my presence and the presence of the witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and biding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. The law in Australia states that a marriage is the union of two people, to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life.”
That is a legal requirement and can’t be altered. The only other legal requirement is that I say your names in full at some point during the ceremony. This is typically when I ask you to repeat after me … for example:
“Please repeat after me … I Johnathan Fredrick Smith take you Jane Sarah Doe to be my lawfully wedded wife”, then repeated with the other person.
We then sign the paperwork along with the witnesses and you are married!
These are the only legal elements required and often all that is done during a legals only ceremony. I am always happy to allow my couples to add a little more if they wish, such as reading of vows to each other and a ring exchange.
The legals only ceremony is the perfect solution for a couple that want to get married without all the fan fare and cost of a big wedding.
If you are interested in a legals only ceremony, or even a full ceremony, please contact me so we can chat about how I can help.
Warmly,
Nik Reeds