Where can we be married in Cairns and the Tropical North Region?

Under Australian law, you may be married at any place at any time, providing you have fulfilled all the legal requirements. (See the Legal Requirements page.)  We have many beautiful locations in the Cairns area, including reef, islands, beach and rainforest settings. It is limited only by your imagination!          

Do We Have To Attend Any Courses Before Our Marriage?

No. However I would strongly suggest you consider one of the relationship courses on offer. These can be very valuable in assessing the strong points in your partnership, as well as raising questions you may not have thought of. Some contacts in the Cairns area:

Centacare: 195 Abbott St Cairns - Phone 40440130
Spectrum: 68 Abbott St Cairns - Phone 0414 329 466
Life Explored (Interactive CD). Please ask for an order form.
Relationships Australia: 182 Gatton St Manunda - Phone 40412822

If you are outside the Cairns area, please consult your local phone directory or internet for services.

Your attention is also drawn to the pamphlet ‘Happily Ever… Before & After’ which I will give you before your ceremony. It can advise you on some aspects of marriage which may not have occurred to you, for example, changes to taxation or your will.

The government also has a relationship website which you may find useful: www.familyrelationships.gov.au or you may contact the Advice Line on 1800 050 321

Do I Have To Get A Licence?

Under Australian law you do not need to have a licence, however you do need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage form with your celebrant at least one clear calendar month before the date of the wedding. See the Legal Requirements page for more details.

Where Do I Get The Notice Of Intended Marriage Form?

I can provide the form at our first meeting, I can email it to you, it is available from any court registry in Australia or you can download it from here:

Notice of Intended Marriage Form

How Long Will The Ceremony Last?

I am often asked ‘What is the shortest ceremony I can have?’
The shortest ceremony consists of the Monitum, plus the clear declaration from each party ‘I AB take you CD to be my wife/husband/spouse’. Not very romantic, I‘m sure you will agree! Most Civil Marriage Ceremonies last about twenty minutes. If you wish to have a number of readings, prayers or musical items in your ceremony, it will be longer.

Can We Have Music During The Ceremony?

My recommendation is that you choose three pieces for use during your ceremony:

1. A piece for the Bride’s entry (The Processional). This can be anything at all that appeals to you, from classical to contemporary.
2. A longer piece, or two short pieces, to be played during the signing of the register, which can take up to ten minutes.
3. Another piece will be required should you wish to make an exit (The Recessional).

Many outdoor or casual weddings do not require that the bride and groom walk down the aisle, instead the guests often move forward to greet them. In this instance I would recommend some background music.

To prevent mistakes on the day, I suggest that your chosen pieces be copied on to one CD, in the order required.

It is also helpful if you can appoint a guest to be responsible for playing the correct piece at the correct time.  You can of course use live musicians and singers, which can add a special atmosphere to your day.

What If I Am Late For My Wedding?

You have an obligation to your guests and wedding professionals to keep to the agreed starting time for the ceremony.  If the ceremony is more than 20 minutes late, I reserve the right to proceed to my next commitment.  I will allow plenty of time between bookings to allow for mishaps with time and travel.

What About Fees?

When you book me for your wedding in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, you are getting:

• Local knowledge and experience. I know the pitfalls and advantages of most local locations. I can also help locate many of the varied service providers that make a wedding day, from coordinators to musicians, photographers and florists. As I work with them all the time, I know who is reliable and who may suit the style you have in mind. I will always give you a range of providers, the final choice is always yours.
  
  Please Note: I do not have any arrangements with any of these businesses – I simply base my recommendations on my clients’ comments and my own observations.

• State of the art compact sound and music equipment. It has taken me four years and a lot of trial and (expensive!) error to get just the right combination of reliability, portability and sound reproduction.  Marriage celebrants have an obligation under the Code of Practice to ensure that a marriage ceremony is heard by all invited guests, yet this is the most common complaint against celebrants.

• Unlimited consultation to construct your unique ceremony. Once you have lodged your Notice of Intended Marriage with me, I will give you access to a comprehensive workbook to guide you step-by-step through the ceremony planning process.  My library is at your disposal to ensure we get just the right style of ceremony with the most appropriate wording for you.

• Rehearsal if required. Sometimes it helps soothe those wedding day jitters if everyone in the bridal party knows where he or she needs to be, particularly if the party is large, where there are young children involved, or a complex ritual is part of the ceremony.

• The official copy of your Certificate of Marriage issued by the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages in Brisbane. This will be posted directly to your home address after the wedding.  This is the official record of your marriage that you will need to present should you wish to change your name on documents such as your passport or driver’s licence. I can also arrange an Apostille where necessary; fees apply.

• Full public liability and professional indemnity insurance. Of course, I will be doing my utmost to ensure that nothing does go wrong!

• My personal attention at all times. I undertake to respond to emails and phone calls within 24 hours, usually much less. If there is any reason I will be out of contact, for example on holiday, at a conference or a ceremony in a remote area, clients will be informed of my absence.

• Those of you eloping will appreciate the little extra attention to detail – the ice bucket, crystal champagne flutes, and damask tablecloth. I do go that extra distance to ensure everything is perfect for you. The choice of tipple for your toast is up to you!

Contact me at any time to discuss your individual ceremony requirements, and I will do my utmost to fulfill your needs and exceed your expectations.