The Ceremony
You have made the decision to
get married but now you need to make
another very important decision on
where you will get married.
Do you go with the tradition
of a church ceremony with a
religious minister or other
church leader, the versatility
of a civil ceremony in the place
of your choice with an
authorised civil celebrant or
the simplicity of a registry
office?
Your wedding should reflect your
own personality and style.
Remember that under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Australia, a
couple must lodge a Notice of
Intended Marriage with an
authorised religious or civil
marriage celebrant. This
document may be lodged 18 months
before the ceremony date but no
later than one calendar month
before the wedding day. Prior to
the wedding you will also need
to provide birth certificates if
you were born in Australia and,
where applicable, evidence of
termination of previous
marriage. If born outside
Australia, an overseas passport
or birth certificate is
acceptable for identification.
For further information, see the
Attorney General website
www.ag.gov.au/celebrants
. Remember, if you do not have a
good understanding of English,
then a translator must be
present at the wedding. To
contact the Translating and
Interpreting Service (TIS) phone
their toll free number: 131 450.
Your vows are considered to be
some of the most important words
that you will ever say to each
other.
There are traditional vows
applicable to every religion but
many couples choose to write
their own as an original and
personal expression of the love
they have for each other. Always
keep the vows simple and honest,
as they are a commitment of your
life together. For more
suggestions and ideas for
wedding vows talk to your
wedding celebrant or check the
internet, but the most
traditional and well known vow
goes as following:
I call upon the persons here
present to witness that I
,__________do take you,_________
to be my lawful wife/husband;
To have and to hold from this
day forward,
For better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness
and in health;
To love and to cherish as long
as we both shall live.
This is my solemn vow and
promise.
The civil marriage celebrant
program provides a flexible approach
to your wedding ceremony allowing
you to have your wedding anywhere,
anytime you desire, in Australia. If
a beach or garden ceremony is to be
part of your wedding celebrations,
then this is the perfect option.
Since the inception of the
Civil Marriage Celebrant Program
in 1973, many couples have been
married in a variety of
locations, themes and styles.
Some couples like to face their
guests while exchanging vows,
and using a civil celebrant
allows this flexibility.
Choose your civil celebrant
wisely and your wedding ceremony
will be perfect. He or she will
personalise the ceremony to your
individual taste and be able to
advise you on so many other
aspects of your wedding. Set up
an obligation free meeting with
your choice of civil celebrant
so you may be sure that she or
he will collaborate with you and
observe the Attorney General's
Code of Practice before you
contract them. Do this as soon
as you are clear on your wedding
date. Don't leave it too late to
contract with an authorised
celebrant as they are usually
booked well in advance and
having the right celebrant for
you will contribute to the
beauty and enjoyment of your
special day.
Finally, do not be tempted to
organise a surprise wedding.
This is when one member of the
couple wants to surprise the
other party by organising and
then presenting them with the
complete ceremony as a romantic
gesture but without their
knowledge. As the consent of the
surprised person cannot be
assumed and the Notice of
Intended Marriage, signed by
both parties has not been
satisfied, the validity of these
marriages may be challenged.
The traditional way to be
married is in a church service. Most
couples get married in the church
for religious reasons. At least one
partner, but usually both, are
expected to follow the beliefs of
the church. The church leader will
be interested in your marriage from
a religious perspective, as their
church is a place of worship. Most
church leaders advise pre-marital
counselling sessions and some will
require you to complete
questionnaires and surveys. It is
important you both like and feel
comfortable with the church leader
as he or she plays a very important
role in the wedding. They will
organise aspects such as the
organist and the choir, as well as
the timing of the music, songs and
bells.
Often you can select vows and
sentiments that you have written
yourself or that have special
meaning for you as a couple. Discuss
with your partner what you would
like included in the ceremony such
as readings, music, prayers and the
content of your order of service
booklet. Some church leaders
will also consent to marry you on a
non-religious site such as in a
garden.
The beauty of the natural
environment appeals to many
couples. The choice to have an
outdoor wedding offers a less
formal environment than a
traditional church wedding for
many couples looking for peace
and tranquility.
If you are lucky, you may
have your own beautiful garden
or know someone with one who is
willing to host your wedding.
Otherwise there are a large
number of public parks and
gardens, many close to the city
centre and each with their own
special character, to choose
from. If you have chosen a
public garden, you will need to
advise the local council up to
three months in advance to avoid
conflicting venue arrangements
and arrange for any permits
which may be necessary.
The Council parks have
designated sites that may be
booked (sometimes for a fee). To
marry in any of the parks, you
must talk to your relevant City
Council. When choosing a garden,
whether it is private or public,
make inquiries as to any
restrictions. All commercial
venues have some state
government restrictions imposed
on them. You should also inspect
the grounds, taking particular
note of the following points.
-
Access and parking:
Check that parking is adequate
for a large number of guests.
While off street parking and on
street parking is legal, ensure
you are not encroaching on
neighbor's privacy by blocking
their driveways or parking on
their land. Also ensure that the
wedding party's transport,
whether it be bridal cars or a
horse and carriage can manoeuvre
safely inside the grounds. Also
check for parking and meter time
restrictions.
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-
Friendly
for children and the disabled:
Ensure the gardens are
wheelchair, pram and disability
friendly. Wedding guests often
include the very young and the
elderly so this is an important
point. Consider whether guests
will be able to disembark close
to the ceremony site. It can
also prove worthwhile to ask for
a mud map of the area to send
with your invitations.
- Noise:
Passing traffic noise has spoilt
many a wedding. Ensure the
ceremony site is well away from
the road and if possible not
able to be seen from the road.
Some motorists have been known
to show their appreciation by
tooting their horn or shouting
their congratulations! While
these are lovely thoughts, they
may not be appropriate during
your ceremony. Ask whether the
public will be allowed on the
grounds while your service is in
progress; ensure any noise from
waterfalls or fountains is not
overpowering; enquire whether
your celebrant or church leader
has a public address system
(especially useful in large
gardens).
-
-
Power: Is a
power point available for stereo
systems or any other electrical
appliance required for your
ceremony?
-
-
Chairs and tables:
These are required for both the
signing of the registry as well
as for your guests. It's a good
idea to ask how many are
available and ensure you can use
them on the day.
-
-
Cigarette disposal:
Cigarette butts on the lawn are
a nightmare for both garden
lovers and photographers.
Strategically placed pots and
planters filled with sand can
help curb this problem. New
council laws may restrict
smoking altogether so remember
to check them.
-
-
Confetti: Ask
whether confetti is allowed in
the garden - often, rose petals
or genuine pot pouri, colourless
bubbles or other more
appropriate biodegradable
material can be substituted for
traditional confetti. The use of
traditional or cheap pot pouri
confetti is widely discouraged
because the dyes run. Similarly,
metallic confetti is dangerous
as it is sharp and reflective.
Silk petals get into mowers and
rice can hurt so check these as
well.
-
-
Dogs: For
couples wanting their dog in
their ceremony or simply
attending, a garden wedding can
be the only option. However,
remember to ask whether your dog
will be welcome, as some gardens
may have strict prohibitions.
-
-
Water hazards:
If ponds, fountains, lakes or
other water hazards are located
within the grounds, it's a good
idea to advise parents before
the wedding and ask them to take
responsibility for their
children's supervision. Also,
remember that garden owners will
appreciate children not running
through, stepping on or hiding
in garden beds.
-
-
Public Liability:
Check the garden owner has
public liability insurance.
- Cover:
Enquire about alternate
facilities with cover in the
case of rain. Also, check for
shade cover, especially if the
ceremony will be held at a time
when there is no natural shade.
-
-
Photography:
Is the garden a photographer's
paradise? Ask the garden owner
about unique features and
request that your photographer
visit the site before the day.
-
-
Lighting: Is
floodlighting available for
night use?
-
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Music: Remember
that musicians must have a
shaded or covered area that
protects both them and their
instruments from the elements.
Also check accepted noise levels
and council approvals that are
needed. Restrictions such as a
75-decibel noise level, time
restrictions such as a 10pm
curfew and the number or type of
musicians and use of amplifiers
may also apply at your venue.
-
-
Water: Enquire
if garden owner will supply
drinking water and glasses as an
extra service. Otherwise
purchase bottled water for
guests. This is particularly
important for summer weddings.
-
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Reception/catering:
Some gardens provide a
reception or catering service,
others allow reception and
catering on their grounds and
others are merely service venues
with no reception or catering
facilities.
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Marquee:
Ensure grounds are sufficiently
large for a marquee, if it is
required, to be erected and
facilities available for
caterers. Most importantly,
ensure the garden and facilities
can remain open for the length
of time you require, so any
midnight reveller's can party on
even private gardens have to
abide by government regulations.
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-
Garden
walks: Inquire
whether guests may explore the
gardens. Many people enjoy the
tranquillity and beauty of well
cared for gardens, and your
guests may appreciate the
opportunity to explore at their
leisure. This is a perfect
activity while the photography
session is in progress or to
fill any spare time before
leaving for the reception.
-
Living in a country that
boasts one of the most beautiful
coastlines in the world, it's no
wonder many Perth couples choose
to get married on the beach.
Like garden weddings, beach
weddings are much less formal
than traditional church
weddings. For many couples,
marrying on the beach is a
natural choice as it reflects an
important part of their lives
together. A beach wedding is
also bound by restrictions and
considerations. As well as the
points relating to garden
weddings , couples choosing to
marry on the beach should
remember the following:
- People wanting to get
married on the beach must
consult their local council for
permission.
- Consider the tides! A
particularly high or low tide
may not be desirable for both
practical and photographic
reasons so consider where you'd
like the water to be during the
wedding and plan around it. If
you haven't already set the
wedding date in concrete, you
can probably choose your
ceremony time and find a date
where the tides will coincide.
Your photographer and
videographer can help you decide
what tide will work best. Tide
books are available at
bookstores, sports and fishing
outlets. Ask your photographer
and videographer if they are
willing to go onto the beach.
Some will not as sand blowing
into cameras will damage their
gear.
- A fantastic feature of the
beach is the sand. Unfortunately
for most marriages on the beach,
the only good thing about sand
is that it is usually white and
not likely to do much material
damage. But remember, sand will
get into everything and if
there's a breeze, or a definite
wind, it will whip around your
ankles and sting your eyes. If
it is raining, there can be
puddles or even small rivers
running down the beach. Always
plan alternative arrangements
and have a way of telling
everyone at short notice.
- Sand is particularly hard to
walk on while wearing heels.
You've probably already
accounted for this in your
choice of bridal wear but it's a
good idea to also mention it to
your guests.
- Sand can also be a problem
for prams and wheelchairs so
consider this when choosing the
particular beach and where on
the beach you will be married.
- Remember that for the
duration of the ceremony you and
your guests will be standing in
the sun. You could suggest on
the invitations that your guests
bring umbrellas.
- Children should be well
supervised around all water
areas. Unlike the church, the
beach provides children with
plenty of reason to run away to
something more interesting. If
children are attending and if
you don't want your guests
chasing their children down the
beach during the ceremony, you
should ensure all parents are
aware of the dangers and
distractions and will mind their
children. If many children are
attending, you may choose to
organise a child minder.
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Not everyone wants a large
wedding. For some couples, their
wedding is a private moment they
want to share with only their
closest friends and relatives.
For others their friends and
family are a long way away.
Being small expands your choice
of locations. There are lots of
wonderful restaurant venues with
their own personality and
atmosphere that have delightful
settings where you can hold the
ceremony, enjoy pre dinner
drinks and then sit down to a
high quality contemporary style
dinner. Some restaurants even
offer private dining rooms or
secluded outdoor areas such as
gazebos which can be
individually decorated to suit
your theme. Remember to match
the size of your party to the
size of the restaurant.
Many couples are looking for a
low-key wedding or it is their
second marriage so they are not
limited to a time or day of the
week. This gives them the
versatility to take advantage of
mid-week specials and minimum
numbers and costs do not
restrict them. In fact, not only
are restaurants more flexible,
but all wedding specialists are
fairly negotiable on mid week
packages. Availability is also
not so much of an issue as it is
on weekends. There is no need to
book as far in advance and you
are more likely to get the date
you want. Brunch or lunch
following a simple registry
office ceremony is a lovely idea
or even consider your dates and
book a mid-week night prior to a
public holiday.
It is a good idea to trial the
restaurant before the wedding.
You must visit the restaurant to
discuss your requirements and
the menu with the chef. Check
the restaurant is experienced in
catering for weddings. All meals
will be required to be served at
the same time and so they must
be able to handle your
requirements. It is wise to
check references from couples
who have had their wedding
there.
A wedding on the water is
another truly romantic and
relaxing way to celebrate your
big day. Whether it be a day on
the bay or a river cruise, it
makes for a lovely scenic
atmosphere and unforgettable
memories. Things to consider:
-
What type
of wedding are you looking for?
For a more formal wedding start
with a church ceremony and
reception cruise with formal sit
down style dining. If so, you
must choose a boat large enough
to be set up in a restaurant
style which will accommodate
your numbers comfortably with
room to move. Alternatively,
choose an on-board ceremony or a
riverside park ceremony with
jetty access. Both options would
be lovely. Your reception cruise
is a little more relaxed with
cocktail finger food or a fork
food style menu. You and your
guests can socialise and enjoy
the atmosphere and scenery while
being served refreshments.
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Weather:
Australia's glorious winter days
provide the perfect setting for
morning ceremonies and lunch or
brunch style receptions. Spring
is lovely for early afternoon
ceremonies and a sunset
reception cruise. Summer is
getting hotter and perfect for a
balmy sunset ceremony and a
moonlit reception cruise. City
lights make a beautiful backdrop
to the river or bay.
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Logistics:
Departure points, some are free
to use and others are privately
owned and have a separate charge
for their usage. City Cat
terminals cannot be used.
-
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Parking:
Check parking availability and
proximity to the jetty. If you
are having a church ceremony,
you may consider hiring a bus to
transport guests to and from the
boat if parking is a problem.
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Music:
A very important part of any
wedding. A DJ or live band is a
must if you want to structure
your wedding with a party
atmosphere.
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Photography:
Photography can be a
challenge on a boat. Make sure
your photographer has experience
on boats and has viewed the
particular boat you have chosen.
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Consider
the help of a specialist:
To make a river wedding come
together perfectly, you may need
someone behind the scenes. This
person can be there to guide and
greet your guests, set-up
ceremony locations in riverside
parks and generally do all the
things you require. They need to
know the river or bay well to
plan out and structure your day
so it all flows smoothly and
nothing is rushed. After all,
you only get one chance on the
day. There are a few companies
specialising in weddings on the
water that will ensure your
wedding cruise runs smoothly and
is everything you dreamed of.
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Delightful waterfront venues
give your wedding an extra
dimension and peaceful ambience.
Water has always been a symbol
of peace and romance so why not
continue the water theme through
to the table decorations.
Fishbowls with live goldfish,
float bowls filled with sand and
shells or using food dye in the
water of clear vases are a
lovely alternative to
traditional table centre pieces.
In many cases, the link to water
is a continuation of the bridal
couples lifestyle or profession,
a love of sailing, swimming or
diving. Perhaps the marriage
proposal was made at the beach
or on the water somewhere
special.
Whatever your reason, choosing a
waterfront venue gives you an
opportunity to get close to the
water that is not usually
available. It provides an ideal
aspect for photographs so you
may be able to save time after
the ceremony by not having to go
to another location. Often
venues also have a pontoon so
you can actively participate
with the water. It would be
delightful to arrive by boat or
even to seal the union with a
display of fireworks on the
river or bay.
Alternatively, to fill the gap
between the ceremony and the
wedding, why not send the guests
on a cruise to arrive back in
time to coincide with the
arrival of the bride and groom.
As a brilliant finale, time your
wedding perfectly so you can
sail off into the sunset!
If you are looking for
something a little different to
a function centre, think about a
winery where guests will feel a
million miles away from
anywhere. Wineries can provide
privacy and create a sense of
seclusion for guests to totally
relax and enjoy fine wine, food
and service. Many offer on-site
facilities for an exclusive
wedding ceremony, with the
vineyard as a backdrop or a
water feature as just some of
the options available. Arrange a
wine tasting for your guests as
a themed alternative to
traditional pre-dinner drinks.
Alternatively, arrange for a
brunch or lunch reception to
take full advantage of the
picturesque views and
surroundings..
Restaurant styles within
wineries range from classic fine
dining to modern Australian,
Mediterranean or authentic
rustic cooking. Talk to your
wedding coordinator about
arranging boutique-style quality
wines to match the menu or even
a degustation menu. The ability
to arrange all of this at
wineries is ideal for couples
wanting a one-stop wedding venue
where there is no need to travel
from the ceremony to a
photographic location and then
on to the reception. Although
great all year round for
weddings, the vines are at their
best October to April so booking
well in advance is recommended.
Also, check with the individual
winery as some wineries do offer
off-season ceremony locations
such as a lakeside setting.
The Australian bush offers a
natural beauty perfect for a country
wedding. Historical homes or
romantic inns, country hospitality
and home-style cooking complete the
picture for a relaxed wedding. Many
traditional style homesteads have
been renovated, restoring them to
their original grandeur to
accommodate wedding receptions and
reflect the romance and elegance of
a bygone era. Admire views from wide
wrap around verandah's unique to
Australian colonial architecture, or
enjoy a quiet drink gathered around
a cosy fireplace. Accommodation is
usually available for the bridal
couple and their guests offering the
perfect opportunity to stay on alone
for your honeymoon or spend some
quality time with your family and
friends.
Receptions can usually be
accommodated internally in formal
dining rooms or externally.
Magnificent grounds, garden settings
or lakeside areas are perfect for
marquee weddings; the perfect place
to host children's activities; or on
a quieter note, to serve pre-dinner
drinks or an alfresco lunch under
the shade of a huge old gum tree
under the eyes of inquisitive local
wildlife. Musical entertainment from
a classical string quartet strumming
in the shade to a rollicking country
and western band can easily be
arranged to suit your theme. Lovely
additions in theme with a country
wedding include old-fashioned horse
and carriage rides and for a touch
of adventure, hot air balloons
rides. Most homesteads will arrange
additional recreational activities
ranging from fly-fishing and trail
rides to archery and hiking.
If
you contact the law courts or City
Council in Perth, they will be able
to provide you with information as
to how it works for that particular
city. To be married in any state or
territory, you must follow all the
protocol expected of any marriage by
completing and lodging the required
forms and information within the
required timeframe.
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