How to get married in WA

And other great questions!

Where do we start?

Wedding VS Eloping, what's the difference?

I've written a cheeky little cheat sheet just for YOU!

How do we get married in Australia? What paperwork do we need?

There are a few legal steps to getting legally married in Australia, and a number of forms your celebrant can and will take you through.

These include:

Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) - must be lodged no more than 18 months and no less than one month prior to your wedding
Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage (DONLIM) - To be signed as close to your ceremony as possible
Official Marriage Certificates - to be signed at or immediately after the ceremony

What are the rules/requirements for marriage?

There are legal rules and requirements for getting hitched in WA. Head over to the Attorney-General's website for all your information on getting married in Australia

Find it here!

Can we have a surprise wedding?

Fuck YES!

However, the surprise must be for your guests, not for your partner. Want further info? Hit me up!

Where can we get married?

Literally anywhere in Australian territory (minus an Antarctic Reserve..)

For more information visit the Attorney-General's website

Do we need witnesses?

Yes, you need two witnesses. They can be anyone over the age of 18 years old, who can comprehend (and have witnessed the entire) marriage ceremony. For those eloping, that can be your photographer and/or other vendor!

How do we choose a celebrant?

When should we book our celebrant?

Most celebrants in Perth will open their books one to two wedding seasons in advance as couples often want to know they have secured their dream vendors for their big day. I find a lot of couples tend to go through a number of iterations of what kind of vibe they're wanting for their big event and usually have the best Idea of that 6 to 12 months prior to the wedding. I have chosen to only lock in bookings 12 months in advance (usually 6 to 9 months) to ensure you are getting a celebrant that you KNOW will suit the final vibe for the day. It also means I have availability for for those last-minute-Lanii's out there.

Do you do rehearsals?

MIRCO-WEDDINGS AND ELOPEMENTS: Generally no. Though we can discuss your needs.

FULL SERVICE: Practice make (almost) perfect. I prefer to do a rehearsal for full-service weddings to ensure everyone is clear on your expectations of them during the ceremony. This is especially useful for nervous wedding crew who have to walk down the aisle, and to help familiarise any littles on their role for the ceremony. That said, its entirely up to you.

Are you inclusive?

it makes me sad that this is still question people need to ask! I aim to be as inclusive and sensitive to all needs, backgrounds and walks of life! But I am always learning - if you see anything I can improve on, let me know!

What happens if you are sick?

I refuse to leave you high and dry! If I think there is even an inkling that I can't do your ceremony, I'll put a call out to the awesome crew at WA Hitchers to see who's available and give you the options to pick with as much advance warning as possible.

What areas do you service? Do you travel?

I service the Perth Metro Area. Perth CBD and The Perth Hills are my fave spots (I used to run Core Cider's Wedding and Events, and Pickering Brook will always hold a place in my heart!)

I will travel, but only for couples I truly connect with. My travel fees cover the cost of transport and accommodation (if required).

Unless its 40 deg and I'm going for a refreshing swim, I'm unfortunately not a beach person, however I can help you find some beach loving cele's.

How often do we meet?

I know planning a wedding is hectic and will try to keep meetings to a minimum. My typical schedule is:

Initial call over WhatsApp (or other suitable App)
NOIM and Relationship Deep Dive - 3 to 6 months from Wedding date.
Final paperwork and individual consent meetings - 24 - 72 hours prior to the ceremony

Individual consent meetings are a legal requirement, however these can be kept low-key. It is to ensure there is no coersion or duress. We can discuss this if you have any concerns, or hit up the Attorney-General's website

What happens during the ceremony?

How long is the ceremony?

I like to keep ceremonies short and sharp, usually 15 to 30 minutes depending on your needs. Enough to personalise the hell out of it, but no so much you're guests are itching to get to the bar.

Can we include family/cultural traditions? Can we make our own traditions?

I LOVE including cultural/family traditions. I also love modernising them or making entirely new ones!

I have a friend who's family serve the wedding cake at the ceremony - the couple cut it while the witnesses are signing the paper work. I think this is such a great little tradition of theirs, and it means no one it waiting at the reception for cake!

Can we do personal vows?

Personal vows are the best! If you don't want to do a lot of talking, we can organise private vows before the ceremony, and either short, "public" vows, or just your legal ones! There are NO RULES!

Can you help us write our vows?

Absolutely I can! But only If we get started with enough time. If we are less than 4 weeks out, I can absolutely help edit.

Can you coordinate the ceremony music?

Of course, though depending on your needs, we may need to organise a roadie for myself or have one of your guests assist.

We have a dress code, can you adhere to it?

The vibe for the day is not just set by what happens at the ceremony - I gotta look the part too! I will ask you for your dress code and if you have any colour/style preferences (or things to avoid!)

What happens after the ceremony?

Do you lodge our paperwork? How long does it take?

I will logde your paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages within 24 hours of your ceremony. The registration usually takes 2 weeks.

How/when do we get our marriage certifiacte?

Once your registration has been processes, you can apply for your official certificate online at the WA Registry

How do I change my name?

To be honest, I never changed my name - Lanii Say just has a great ring to it!

Your official marriage certificate should be enough evidence for most document changes (ATO, passport, bank etc). More information can be found at the WA Registry