Paperwork Only Wedding Ceremony
Legals Only · No Performance Required · 96 Words · 3 Signatures · From $400 · Australia-Wide
To get legally married in Australia the celebrant must say 68 words. You must each say 14 words. Then you sign three pieces of paper. That is the entire legal requirement — 96 words and three signatures. No standing in a special spot. No ring exchange unless you want one. No personalised vows unless you want them. No getting dressed up. No performance. Just the law, done in 2 minutes, and a legal marriage certificate.
Australia-wide · Any location · Witnesses supplied · From $400 · 7 Days a week
The Entire Legal Requirement Is 96 Words.
Under the Marriage Act 1961, here is everything that must legally be said and done for a valid Australian marriage. Not one word more is required.
The celebrant says (68 words):
"I am duly authorised by law to solemnise marriages according to law. Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of 2 people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life."
Each partner says (14 words each):
"I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, [name], take thee, [name], to be my lawful wedded spouse."
Then:
Three pieces of marriage paperwork are signed — by both partners, the celebrant, and two witnesses. That is it. You are legally married in Australia.
Everything else — vows, rings, music, readings, speeches, a special location, guests, getting dressed up — is entirely optional. Some couples want all of it. Some couples want none of it. A paperwork only ceremony is for the ones who want none of it, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Who Has a Paperwork Only Ceremony?
Not everyone wants to stand in front of people and be looked at. A paperwork ceremony removes every element that requires performance. You say 14 words quietly to your partner. You sign. You leave. Done.
Some people genuinely do not care about the ceremony at all. They care about the marriage. The legal act of commitment. Getting it done cleanly so they can get on with being married. This is entirely valid and we respect it completely.
You are getting married overseas, having a big party later, or planning an engagement-party-that-is-actually-a-reveal. You just need the paperwork sorted first, quietly, without any fuss. We are very good at this.
When health is a factor — yours or a partner's — getting legally married quickly and without fuss becomes urgent. We can come to a hospital, a care facility, or a home. We have done this and we handle it with complete discretion and care.
Sometimes a marriage certificate is needed quickly for visa applications, immigration purposes, or other legal requirements. A paperwork only ceremony is the fastest legal path to a valid Australian marriage certificate.
A paperwork ceremony at your own home with witnesses we supply means nobody else is involved, nobody else needs to know, and the whole thing is over in 2 minutes. As private as it gets.
Pricing — Same as Our Elopement Package
A paperwork only ceremony is priced the same as our Vegas elopement package. The celebrant still comes to you, still handles the NOIM, still provides the legal framework, and still registers your marriage. The only difference is that the ceremony contains only what the law requires — nothing more.
Witnesses supplied at $120 each. NOIM lodgement included. Travel fees may apply beyond 20km from a capital city CBD.
How a Paperwork Only Ceremony Works
Your home, a park, a car park, a hospital, anywhere in Australia. Tell us where and when. If you need witnesses supplied just let us know — we include both at $120 each. Ange assigns your local celebrant within one business day.
We send you the Notice of Intended Marriage form and lodge it on your behalf. This must happen at least one month before the ceremony — Australian law requires it regardless of ceremony type. Lodge it as early as possible. NOIM lodgement is included in your package.
A short call to confirm the location, any specific requirements — medical, urgency, witness arrangements — and the plan for the day. Your celebrant arrives prepared and keeps the whole thing as smooth and quick as you want it.
Your celebrant says 68 words. You each say 14 words. Three pieces of paperwork are signed. You are legally married in Australia. Certificate on the day. Marriage registered with your state's BDM within 14 days. That is it.
Can We Add Personal Vows or a Ring Exchange?
Yes — absolutely. A paperwork only ceremony is simply the legal minimum. If you want to add personal vows, exchange rings, have music playing, or include any personal touches on top of the legal requirement you can. Many couples start with "just paperwork" and end up adding a few words of their own. There is no right or wrong version — it is completely your choice. Talk to your celebrant about what you want included and they will make it happen.
Not Wanting a Ceremony Is a Completely Valid Choice.
There is a persistent idea that a wedding ceremony should be a big emotional production and that choosing the minimum is somehow less meaningful. We disagree completely. Some of the most committed, loving couples we have ever married chose a paperwork only ceremony. They knew exactly what they wanted — the marriage, not the performance — and they got it. The certificate is just as legal. The marriage is just as real.
All love. All choices. All of Australia. From $400.
🗺️ Paperwork Only Ceremonies Across Australia
We have local celebrants in every major Australian city. Wherever you are, we can come to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A paperwork only ceremony is the legal minimum required to get married in Australia — the mandatory words under the Marriage Act 1961, and three signatures. The celebrant says 68 words, each partner says 14 words, and three pieces of paperwork are signed. No vows, no rings, no special location, no dressing up unless you choose to add them. The result is a completely legal Australian marriage certificate.
Yes — completely. As long as the mandatory monitum (the legal words) are spoken, the vows are exchanged, and the paperwork is correctly signed and witnessed by a registered Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant, the marriage is fully legal and valid under Australian law. The marriage certificate is identical to that of any other legal ceremony.
Approximately 2 minutes. The celebrant speaks 68 words, each partner speaks 14 words, and three documents are signed. Including the celebrant arriving, settling in, and completing all paperwork — expect 10 to 15 minutes total from arrival to departure.
Yes — and we have done many. When health is a factor we come to wherever the couple is — a hospital room, a palliative care suite, a rehab facility, a private home. We handle the ceremony with complete discretion and care. Contact us directly and we will work with your circumstances. There is no situation too difficult.
You need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month before the ceremony. On the day you need valid photo ID — passport or driver's licence. If you have been previously married you need your divorce certificate or death certificate of a former spouse. Your celebrant guides you through every document requirement when you book.
Yes — any time. A paperwork only ceremony is simply the starting point. You can add personal vows, a ring exchange, music, or any personal element at any time. Many couples start with "just paperwork" and choose to add a few words of their own. Talk to your celebrant and they will include whatever feels right for you.
96 words. 3 signatures. Legally married. Wherever you are in Australia — from $400, any day, we will come to you.
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