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Legal-only ceremony at the Brisbane registry

Legal only ceremonies

You should know

Our legal-only ceremonies are simple and straightforward. Perfect for couples who want to focus on the legal side of marriage.

Details:

  • Cost: $397.20
  • When: Weekdays only (Monday to Friday)
  • Time: 15 minutes
  • Number of people: 4 people—you, your partner, and 2 witnesses. We can’t provide your witnesses.

If you’d like to invite guests, our registry wedding option may be better suited to you.

The ceremony package includes:

  • Your celebrant
  • An intimate ceremony space at the Brisbane registry in the heart of the Brisbane CBD
  • A ceremonial marriage certificate
  • Your official marriage certificate—given to you on the day shortly after your ceremony.
Book your legal-only ceremony date now

Step 2: Fill in the notice of intended marriage

To finalise your ceremony booking, follow the instructions in the email we send you.

You’ll receive a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with a list of authorised witnesses.

Before submitting it to us, both of you must sign it in the presence of an authorised witness.

Step 3: Gather your documents

You must provide current ID for both of you:

  • passport, or
  • birth certificate and current photo ID.

If either of you were married before, you also need proof of divorce or your former spouse’s death.

Step 4: Submit your Notice of Intended Marriage

Once we review your request, we’ll email you a link to our secure portal.

Use your mobile device or scanner to take clear photos or scans of your documents.

Save them as a PDF, JPEG, TIFF or PNG files—each under 20MB. Don’t use special characters in file names.

You need to upload:

  • your completed and signed NOIM (at least 1 month before your ceremony)
  • proof of ID for both of you, and
  • any supporting documents (if you were married before).

Step 5: Pay the ceremony fee

After we receive your NOIM and documents you will receive an email with a notice to pay the fee.

Step 6: Confirmation of your ceremony

You will receive an email confirming your ceremony.

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Original documents

You must bring the original documents uploaded to our secure portal:

  • signed and witnessed NOIM
  • proof of ID for both partners, and
  • any supporting documents—if you were married before or provided translated documents.

If you don’t bring them, your ceremony may be cancelled or moved to another date.

Witnesses

You need 2 witnesses to sign the marriage certificate. They can be family or friends and don't need to be Australian citizens.

Witnesses must:

  • be 18 or older
  • understand and speak English
  • be at the entire ceremony.

We can't supply witnesses for you.

If you or your partner do not understand or speak English, you need to bring an interpreter to the ceremony.

In this case, there is an exception to the number of people to allow an interpreter to be at your ceremony.

Your celebrant will have them sign a statutory declaration of their ability to interpret.

An interpreter can be either:

or

  • someone who understands and speaks both languages, and is not
    • one of the people getting married
    • one of the witnesses.

On arrival, you’ll meet your celebrant.

They will check your original documents and NOIM to make sure the legal requirements are met, and that details are correct.

Before your ceremony your celebrant will:

  • meet with you both separately to sign the declaration of no legal impediment
  • confirm your witnesses details.

During the ceremony:

  • your celebrant will say and ask you both to say certain words which are required by law to make your marriage legal
  • both of you, along with your celebrant and 2 witnesses will sign the ceremonial certificate and official certificate of marriage. You will receive your ceremonial certificate on the day.

After the ceremony:

  • your celebrant will print your official marriage certificate.

Planning your ceremony

Last updated:
9 July 2025
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