Courthouse Weddings in Australia 2026: Why They Don't Exist (And What to Do Instead)
If you have watched enough American movies you know the scene — two people rush to a courthouse, stand before a judge, say their vows, and walk out married. Romantic. Spontaneous. And completely how it works in the United States.
In Australia it works differently. There are no judges performing weddings. There are no courthouse weddings. What Australians call a courthouse wedding — or a registry wedding, or a registry office wedding — is a government-run ceremony conducted at a Births, Deaths and Marriages registry office. Different name, different building, different system entirely.
Here is what you need to know about registry office weddings in Australia in 2026 — the real fees, the real wait times, what is included and what is not — and the alternatives that start at the same price, are available sooner, and happen at locations you actually want to be.
Courthouse weddings do not exist in Australia. Registry office weddings do — but they book out weeks in advance, do not supply witnesses, and happen indoors in a government building. An elopement with I Do Drive Thru starts from $400, is available now, supplies witnesses, and happens wherever you want to be. Same legal outcome.
Can You Get Married at a Courthouse in Australia?
No — courthouse weddings do not exist in Australia. Courthouses are legal institutions for criminal and civil matters. You cannot walk into an Australian courthouse and get married by a judge or clerk. That is an American system.
What most Australians mean when they search for a courthouse wedding is one of three things:
All three are completely legal. All three produce the same marriage certificate. The difference is the experience, the availability, and what is included.
What Is a Registry Office Wedding in Australia?
A registry office wedding is a government-run ceremony performed by a government-employed celebrant in a government building. In Australia the main registry offices that conduct wedding ceremonies are in Melbourne (Victorian Marriage Registry at the Old Treasury Building) and Brisbane (Queensland Registry of BDM at 180 Ann Street).
Registry offices are sometimes called registry weddings, registry marriages, or courthouse weddings — they are all the same thing. The legal outcome is identical to any other Australian marriage.
Here is what registry office weddings actually involve — the parts most websites do not tell you:
| Melbourne Registry | Brisbane Registry | I Do Drive Thru ✓ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday from | $390 (Mon–Thu only) | $384 (weekday) | $400 Tuesday |
| Weekend from | $590 | $499 | $650 |
| Non-refundable fee | $190 always | Varies | None |
| Witnesses supplied | No | No | Yes — $120 each |
| Wait time | 8–12 weeks | 8 weeks | Available now |
| Location | Their building only | Their building only | Anywhere in Australia |
| Photography included | No | No | Add from $400 |
Sources: bdm.vic.gov.au, qld.gov.au. Fees current as of 2026.
What Nobody Tells You About Registry Office Weddings
We go into registry offices regularly as witnesses. Here is what we see every time:
Registry Office Weddings by State — 2026
Why an Elopement With I Do Drive Thru Is the Better Alternative
Think about what you actually want from a courthouse or registry wedding — a simple, legal, low-fuss ceremony without the drama of a traditional wedding. That is exactly what we do. The only difference is we do it at a location you actually love, on a day that suits you, with a celebrant who is there just for you.
A quiet local park. A breathtaking beach. Your favourite lookout. Your own backyard. A café table. The Great Ocean Road. We have married couples in all of these places — and hundreds more. Your wedding, your location, your way.
And unlike the registry office, we have never once missed a ceremony. Not in over 2,000 ceremonies since 2020.
Skip the Registry. Get Married Your Way.
From $400. Any location. Available now. Witnesses supplied. 7 days a week. Australia-wide.
Book Your Ceremony →
Frequently Asked Questions
No — courthouse weddings do not exist in Australia. Courthouses are for legal proceedings, not marriages. The Australian equivalent is a registry office wedding at a Births, Deaths and Marriages registry — available in Melbourne and Brisbane. In all other states and territories, a private registered celebrant is the only option for a legal marriage ceremony.
A registry office wedding is a government-run ceremony conducted by a government-employed celebrant at a Births, Deaths and Marriages office. In Australia the main options are the Victorian Marriage Registry in Melbourne and the Brisbane Registry. The legal outcome is identical to any other Australian marriage. Registry, registry office, and courthouse wedding all refer to the same type of ceremony in an Australian context.
In Melbourne the Victorian Marriage Registry charges from $390 Monday to Thursday, $490 Friday, and $590 on weekends — plus a $190 non-refundable administrative fee on all packages. In Brisbane the registry charges from $384 on weekdays and $499 on Saturdays. Neither registry includes witnesses or photography. An elopement with I Do Drive Thru starts from $400 on Tuesdays with NOIM lodgement included and witnesses available at $120 each.
No — neither the Melbourne nor Brisbane registry supplies witnesses. You must bring your own two witnesses. Both must be over 18, understand English, and be sober enough to view the ceremony and sign their names. I Do Drive Thru supplies witnesses at $120 each — meaning you can get legally married with nobody present except your celebrant and two discreet witnesses we provide.
The Melbourne registry typically books 8 to 12 weeks in advance. The Brisbane registry books approximately 8 weeks in advance. Popular dates — particularly weekends — often book further ahead. I Do Drive Thru is available with as little as one month's notice (the legal minimum for the NOIM) and in most cases can confirm a celebrant within one business day.
Yes — completely identical. A ceremony conducted by a registered Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant at any location is legally identical to a registry office ceremony in every respect. Same NOIM, same legal vows, same marriage certificate, same registration with the relevant state BDM. The only difference is where the ceremony happens and who performs it.
The legal minimum notice period is one month from NOIM lodgement — this applies to both registry offices and private celebrants. A private celebrant through I Do Drive Thru can typically be confirmed within one business day, meaning you can be married exactly one month from today. The registry offices have additional wait times on top of the legal minimum due to booking demand.
