On the day of your Registry wedding

After you have booked your ceremony, check your confirmation email for a list of any documents you will need to provide on the day. 

Your marriage celebrant cannot perform your ceremony if they have not seen your original identity documents, and if applicable, documents relating to previous marriage.

These documents may include:

• your original Notice of Intended Marriage application form
• original identity documents such as birth certificate or passport
• if you were previously married, evidence to prove your most recent marriage has ended (such as a divorce certificate or death certificate)
• if your documents are not in English, you must provide copies translated by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters

The Registry has strict capacity limits, depending on your chosen ceremony package. Please see your confirmation email for details. 

Please make sure all your guests arrive before your scheduled time, listed on your confirmation email. This email will also have important information about using an interpreter, if required. 

You will need two witnesses present throughout the ceremony. They will also need to sign your marriage certificate. Your nominated witnesses must be aged 18 or over and able to speak and understand English.

Witnesses do not need to be Australian citizens, and can be family members, friends or colleagues. 

Please ask your nominated witnesses to bring ID with them, if possible, so their names can be accurately recorded on your certificate.

You and your partner, your guests, witnesses and an interpreter if required, should arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before your allocated ceremony time.

It is important to plan ahead and ensure you are on time, as late ceremonies may be cancelled and rescheduled at your cost.  

You will be greeted by our friendly team and introduced to your marriage celebrant.

The celebrant will chat with you about your ceremony, sight your documents if you have not already provided them in person, and you will be required to sign a declaration stating there are no legal reasons preventing you from getting married.

The ceremony itself will take between 10 and 20 minutes.  

During the service:  

• the celebrant will say certain words which are required by law to make the marriage legal
• following your celebrant, you will repeat your legal vows out loud to your partner
• you may exchange rings and personal vows with your partner (not included in Legal-only ceremonies)
• if you opted for a Premium ceremony, a loved one can perform a reading
• you and your partner, along with your celebrant and witnesses, will sign the marriage certificates.

Legal-only ceremonies are held at the Pyrmont Wedding Registry in a small, private room with only the couple and their two witnesses.  

Your celebrant will conduct only the legal requirements of a marriage ceremony and register your marriage.  

Your standard marriage certificate will be available for collection on the day following your ceremony if you have chosen the collect option. Otherwise, it will be posted to you and arrive within two weeks, Your commemorative certificate will arrive separately. 

View our fees and processing times page for current timeframes. 

You will take home a ceremonial marriage certificate on the day, and following the ceremony, your celebrant will register your marriage and order your official marriage certificate. 

Your official marriage certificate, which can be used as proof of your legal marriage, will be sent by registered post within two weeks of your marriage date. If you receive a collection slip in the mail, please collect your certificate from the Post Office listed within one week. 

Commemorative marriage certificates are sent separately. View our fees and processing times page for current timeframes.