My most recent wedding was what’s called a “legals only” ceremony. It’s the basic 5 minute deal, no fluff, no banter. Do you, Do you, You do? Say this, sign here. The legally required words with the legally required number of people and all very legal. No mention of love, no mention of love being patient and/or kind and no members of family or friends present. In fact, the couple had no immediate intention of telling anyone that they were legally married at all.
But is this ok?
In short, it’s totally fine. The requirements of getting married are very much down to the arrangement between the couple and not around the approval or consent of other parties. The only one exception to this rule is where one of the parties is under the age of 18.
But let’s happily assume both parties are over 18, wanting to get married and not wanting to tell anyone. Is that ok?
Yes.
Does it mean that their parents, relatives, friends are going to get sh*tty with them when they find out.
I don’t know.
But rest assured if you are thinking about getting married, and not making a huge deal of it, in fact not telling anyone at all you are totally within your rights to do so.
To get married in Australia you are required:
To complete a notice of intended marriage and lodge it with your celebrant at least 1 month prior to the date of marriage.
- To complete a notice of intended marriage and lodge it with your celebrant at least 1 month prior to the date of marriage.
- Show appropriate Identifying documents to the celebrant (ie Passport, Drivers License, Divorced Papers)
- Sign a Declaration of No Legal Impediment (The celebrant will have this done for you.)
- Have a marriage ceremony, a celebrant, the legal wording and sign the required paperwork.
Let’s be clear about the difference between “getting married” and “having a wedding.”
Getting Married is the legal changing of your status to that of a married person. It is what happens under the conditions and requirements of The Marriage Act 1961 and Marriage Regulations 2017. These are big, long, legal documents. These are not fun to read but to summarise the documents dictate what legally needs to happen for you to get married.
A Wedding is the way we traditionally and historically celebrate the act of getting married. A wedding is not legally required to get married. That means that you are not obligated in any way to have a white dress, suit, photographer, musician, car hire, videographer, dj, venue etc etc and or any of the fancy things you would see at an expo or on a wedding directory. These things are optional.
Did you keep your marriage a secret? What was the reason?
Are you in a job that requires you to declare your marital status? What’s the job, I’d love to know?
When would have to declare a marriage and in what circumstances? If you’ve had experience with this comment below:
