Having A Friend Marry You

Your friend cannot legally marry you in Australia unless they are an authorised marriage celebrant.

For most couples, the easiest answer is not to turn the friend into a celebrant. It is to separate the legal marriage from the personal celebration.

The simple option

We do the legal marriage with our paperwork-only service.

Then your friend can lead a symbolic celebration:

• later that day
• on another day
• overseas
• in whatever style you want

Why couples choose this

• it is faster
• it is cheaper
• it avoids celebrant training and registration
• your friend can focus on the personal part
• we keep the legal part simple

Important clarification

If your friend leads a ceremony before the legal marriage, that ceremony is symbolic only. You are not legally married until the authorised celebrant solemnises the marriage.

If you want a full wedding with a friend involved

If you want help structuring a bigger ceremony around a friend’s involvement, a full-service celebrant is the better fit. See Josh Withers.

Best next step

If you just want the legal marriage handled simply, use Get Married.