Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
regarding getting married on the Gold Coast

Celebrant Sue services the Gold Coast and surrounding areas in QLD and NSW.

“This woman!! Wow.. I don’t know where to start. After the first time we met, Liz and I got in the car looked at each other smiled and went yep she’s a keeper!! Planning our wedding was stress free with Sue always checking in, funny phone calls and txt going above and beyond our expectations...
Read more of this testimonial from February 2019.

1. When do I need to book a celebrant? As soon as you have set a date for your wedding ceremony, you should book your celebrant.
   This allows time to meet your celebrant and begin to work together to plan your perfect ceremony.
   Please check my availability calendar to make sure I am not already booked.
   
   
2. When is the quickest time I can get married in Australia? It is a legal requirement in Australia that you must lodge the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with your authorised marriage celebrant at least one calendar month prior to your wedding day.
   The calendar month is a range from 28 to 31 days depending on the month the NOIM is lodged.
   For a shortening of time see the Attorney General's website for the 5 exceptions to get married quicker than a calendar month in Australia.
   In my experience a shortening is only granted in extreme circumstances such as when one person has a terminal illness.
   
   
3. What are the costs and fees for a celebrant's services? Click to see my wedding celebrant prices and what the price includes. Also see commitment ceremony price and baby naming ceremony price . I believe my services are priced very competitively.
   
   
4. What will happen at the initial meeting? This is when you decide whether to choose me as your celebrant. If the meeting goes badly then no fee is payable.
   If it goes well and you decide that I am the person for the job (which is much more likely in my experience!) then we will then proceed to the following necessary tasks which need to be completed prior to the wedding ceremony:
   • Complete and lodge the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).
     To do this successfully, I will need you both to bring proof of identity i.e. birth certificate, birth extract (original not copies) and a form of photo ID such as a driver's licence or passport (completing the NOIM part of your legal obligation when getting married). If either of you have been married before, I will need to see confirmation of the dissolution of the previous marriage. If widowed, I will need to see a copy of the deceased spouse's death certificate OR if divorced, a copy of the dissolution (divorce) certificate.
   • Confirm ceremony details (including date, place and time of wedding)
   • I will ask you some important questions (that I will email prior to our meeting) that are all about your ceremony. Typically I like to know who will be in your wedding party, What music choices you have made, How did you meet? (very important!.
     
     So basically I interrogate you for all the juice and write down what you say so I can write a highly personalised ceremony just for you. You and your fiancé will get the opportunity to see the draft prior to your wedding day and make any edits you like, or I can keep it as a surprise, it is up to you.
   • Pay the deposit

Signing the all-important marriage certificate.

4. Are we allowed to write our own vows? Yes certainly! There are a few things that I must say in order to make your wedding legally binding (such as the monitum) however, you can write as much or as little of it as you like.
   It is my job to work with you to personalise the ceremony to suit your individual requirements. I will provide you with a ‘Ceremony Information Pack’ which will contain some great ideas / resources for your ceremony. The ceremony is the one thing you should be 100% happy with and I know I can make sure that happens.
   Click if you need some ideas and sample vows which I have compiled.
   
   
5. We would like our ceremony to be fun – can you help us with that? Of course! It’s your day and the ceremony can be as fun or as formal as you want it to be (or it can be a little bit of both). The ceremony should be a true reflection of your personalities and love for each other, so if flash mobs are your thing then it will be.
   
   
6. Are you willing to travel? I am willing to travel anywhere to be your celebrant. (Hawaii would be nice thank-you!).
   I am happy to travel between Ormeau – Cabarita for the price quoted. If you are getting married outside this area this will incur an extra travel fee which will be agreed upon when we meet.
   
   
7. What equipment do you provide? I will bring a high quality PA system with cordless microphone so all of your guests will be able to hear the ceremony. I also can bring a signing table if required. I am able to play the wedding ceremony songs through the speaker via bluetooth and I can download your songs to my iPod if it is needed.
   
   
8. Do we need permission if we want to get married at the beach? Yes, public areas – such as the beach or a park - require you to seek permission from either the chief lifeguard (beach) or local council (parks or other public areas). More information on this and links to download application forms can be found on my Gold Coast outdoor wedding location page found in this website.
   
   
9. What happens if it rains? You need to have a back-up plan. If you are getting married at your reception venue, often there will be an area where the ceremony can be moved to if the weather is wet. If you are planning a beach/park ceremony, you need to ensure that you have a wet weather plan and your guests are informed of it prior to the ceremony commencing.
   
   
10. How many guests will you allow at the ceremony? It's your day, so you can have as few or many guests as you like. It is important though that there are at least 2 people at your wedding (who are over 18 years of age), as we need them to be witnesses to your ceremony and this ensures your wedding complies with the legal requirements as outlined in the Marriage Act 1961. (amended 8th Nov 2018)
    
    
11. How to apply for your official Marriage Certificate
    The bride may or may not choose to change her surname but it has to wait until after the marriage ceremony because you cannot change your name until you are legally married.
    It is less common but bridegrooms sometimes also change their names after marriage.
    
     In Qld the marriage certificate I give you on the day of your ceremony is called the "ceremonial marriage certificate" and it is not the official marriage certificate.  You will need to apply for an official "standard marriage certificate" after the wedding to enable you to legally change your name and if you ever need to officially "prove" your relationship status.
    
    Click for information regarding how to get your official marriage certificate after the ceremony (QLD) which is required to prove you are married.
    
    Click for information regarding getting an official marriage certificate after the wedding ceremony as proof of marriage (NSW).
    
    
12. How to Change Your Name After Marriage
    This page has moved - click the link above to go to a dedicated page about changing your name after getting married in Australia.

If you have any further questions about anything related to getting married in Australia or would like to find out more about how I can help you to have a dream wedding, please do not hesitate to contact me for an obligation free chat.

Please either call me on my mobile on 0403 605 057 or email me using