How Many Words Are Required for a Legal Wedding in Melbourne, Australia?
If you’re planning a wedding in Melbourne, you might be surprised to learn that only a small portion of your ceremony is required to make it legally binding. While most of your wedding can be personalised, there are a few key legal elements that must be included.
Legal words to be said by the celebrant:
“I am duly authorized by law to solemnize marriages according to law.
“Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.
“Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”
or words to that effect.
Legal words to be said by the marrying couple:
There are specific words that must be communicated by the couple to ensure the marriage is legal.
The following words must be used in a civil marriage:
“I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, A.B. (or C.D.), take thee, C.D. (or A.B.), to be my lawful wedded wife/husband/spouse.”
or words to that effect.
You may add your own personal words before or after these words, but the act of saying these words is a major component of the ceremony conducted by Commonwealth authorised marriage celebrants who conduct civil ceremonies, or Registry Office celebrants.
There are some slight changes that are permissible. For example:
One may leave out 'lawful' or 'wedded', but not both.
One may use a First and Middle or First and Last name for A or B, but provided the couples full names (AB) are used, (including middle names) sometime before the Vows, preferably early in the ceremony
The first phrase may become 'I ask everyone here to witness', but not 'I ask family and friends here to witness', etc.
Witness Signatures
After the ceremony, the couple, two witnesses, and the celebrant must sign the marriage certificates to finalise the legal process.
Personalising the Rest
While these elements are required for your marriage to be legal, the rest of the ceremony is entirely up to you. You can add readings, personal vows, rituals, or anything else that reflects your relationship. The flexibility allows couples to create a ceremony that’s both meaningful and legally valid, no matter how big or small the wedding.
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