You might be a sucker for a good rom-com but don’t trust your eyes and ears and use what you see as a guide to getting married.
1. You can’t just get married overnight.
The Movies: In What Happens In Vegas Joy (Cameron Diaz) and Jack (Ashton Kutcher) meet by chance when they are given the same hotel room because of a computer error. After clearing up the misunderstanding and receiving upgraded rooms and coupons to various clubs they party and drink together and end up getting married.
In Real Life: In Australia you have to lodge paperwork with your celebrant one full calendar month before the marriage ceremony. Whilst there are some applications that can be made, in very special circumstances, you would still need to book in to see a Registrar at the local courthouse, book a celebrant and show the right ID. Also, Joy and Jack get married while hammered. An Australian celebrant cannot marry people under the influence.
2. No one gets to object.
The Movies: In Four Weddings and a Funeral (and countless other movies) the priest asks “if anyone knows any reason why these two may not be married speak now, or forever hold your peace” and invariably someone pipes up with some reason why Person A shouldn’t marry Person C and should marry Person B instead.
In Reality: This question is not a legal requirement nor does it get asked in an Australian marriage ceremony. Ever. Unless the couple are planning something silly or fun. There are a whole bunch of documents and questions that you have to answer and sign to say that you are legally able to get married, and these are completed months, weeks and days before the day you say “I do.” If there was any reason you could not get married, it would have been discovered long before this. Sidenote: If you are legally able to get married, and other people object. Too bad. They have no rights or say in that instance.
3 . You don’t legally have to say “I do”.
The Movies: In every.single.movie you see two people get asked a question by the Minister/Priest/Celebrant to which they each respond “I do” and blam. You are married.
In Reality: There are words you DO have to say to get married in Australia in a civil ceremony, but saying “I do” isn’t two of them. As long as you cover the legal parts, (here) everything else is optional. Which means it can be put in, or chucked in the bin. Your choice.
4. Your Dad does not have to walk you down the aisle
In Movies: The Dad sees his beautiful girl moments before she is about to enter the chapel, wipes a tear from his eye and realises how much his “little girl” is now a woman and then has the honour of walking her down the aisle.
In Reality: I am not saying you can’t do that. You can do whatever you want BUT you don’t have to be walked down the aisle by anyone. Or you could both walk in together. Or also, why can’t Dad walk his Son down the aisle.. or both Mum and Dad. Or your pet pooch. You get what I am saying right, you don’t have to stand on tradition. In fact, if you relationship with any parent is strained, you would be best to take a different approach rather than do anything because “it’s how it’s supposed to be done” according to family or a wedding magazine.
5. Having a Bucks/Hens the night before the wedding.
In Movies: Well, one particular movie springs to mind. The Hangover. In this comedy the Groom’s friends take him out for one last night out before he becomes a married man. Chaos ensues involving Mike Tyson, tigers, a baby and missing teeth as the friends have to find the groom (who has mysteriously disappeared) and get him to the wedding on time.
In Reality: No one. Not on person is having a big wild party or p*ss up the night before their wedding. NO ONE. Most couples have a quiet family dinner and go to their respective hotels/ houses for the night. The wedding day is one big long exhausted, fun day. You want a good night’s sleep.
What else have you seen in wedding movies that made you go “That would never happen?!” Share in the comments below:
