Marriage Law in Australia
This page is a practical summary, not the law itself.
For the official text, always use the Commonwealth sources:
- Marriage Act 1961
- Marriage Regulations 2017
- Marriage Celebrant Guidelines
- Marriage Celebrant Code of Practice
The key rules most couples care about
- you need a NOIM at least one month before the marriage
- both people must be physically present for the marriage
- you need two witnesses who are 18 or older
- the marriage must be solemnised by an authorised celebrant
- both people must freely consent and be legally able to marry
If you want the simple version of how that works in real life, read requirements and paperwork-only marriage.
Ready to get married?
Click the Get Married link to get started. You book and pay first, then prepare your NOIM, have it witnessed, and send it to us. Once we receive the paperwork, we confirm the date, time, and place based on availability. We are private celebrants, not a government registry. Need a full ceremony? Josh Withers. Need an elopement? Elopement Collective.