What is a Legals Only Wedding?
A legals only wedding is a very small and simplified version of a traditional wedding, usually with very few guests, often just the 2 witnesses that are required to be present. A legals only wedding includes the minimal required wording, or it may include a little more than the bare minimum if couples choose.
As Celebrants, we offer ‘legals only’ weddings to couples that simply want to be married without having a traditional wedding ceremony or a big wedding, or would like to get married privately, or secretly without a group of guests present.
With only 2 guests or so present, the normal guest coordination and formalities aren’t required, and given that this service includes a short, simple ceremony with minimal wording, instead of a fully tailored personalised ceremony, we are able to offer legals only weddings at a reduced rate.
Legals only weddings are perfect for:
- Anyone that would like to simply be married in a relaxed and stress-free way, without all the bells and whistles of a full wedding or a traditional ceremony.
- Couples that are having their ‘wedding celebration’ overseas but would like the legalities of their marriage to take place in Australia to simplify the process of their overseas ‘wedding’ (the overseas wedding being a non-legal commitment ceremony) and to also simplify the process of having their marriage recognised in Australia, with the ‘change of last name through marriage’ being a much more straight forward process when the marriage has taken place within Australia.
- Couples on prospective marriage visa’s, fiancé visa applicants and partner visas who intend to marry, often within a specified timeframe to comply with their visa eligibility criteria, without having a big wedding.
- Couples who would like to be married in secret at this stage, in a relaxed stress-free ceremony, sometimes choosing to announce the news to their friends and family at a later time. At With Love Elopements, we absolutely respect your privacy, so if you’re planning on having a secret ceremony, you don’t need to worry about us being a ‘selfie Celebrant’ or posting your personal info to social media.
- Couples who are expecting a baby together and would like to be married before the baby arrives.
- Couples who are bringing their planned marriage date forward as they have a terminally ill parent or family member who they dearly wish to have present at their marriage ceremony.
- Couples who are bringing their planned marriage date forward as they need to be married for overseas visa purposes, e.g. applying for an overseas visa that requires you to be married, therefore would like to be married as soon as possible, and as quickly (and cost effectively).
- Couples that would love to simply be married and are in need of a budget wedding or cheaper marriage option now, perhaps with the intent to throw a vow renewal party at a later date or on an anniversary.
Please Note: Your marriage can take place anytime from 1 month after the date we receive your signed and witnessed NOIM form (Notice of Intended Marriage form).
How do we lodge our NOIM form with you?
Your NOIM form can be signed during an in-person meeting with us, OR via a video call meeting, with you signing your completed, printed NOIM form during our video call meeting, then scanning and emailing this to us, to be lodged.
Once we’ve made a time and date to meet, we’ll send you a link where you can complete your details in the NOIM form prior to your meeting. This link also completes your other marriage paperwork and forms, so please don’t use other templates to complete this as they can be out of date versions.
It is a government requirement for marriage in Australia, that the official pre-marriage paperwork known as the NOIM form must be completed and lodged with us (your Celebrant) no less than 1 calendar month before the date of your marriage.
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How much is a Legals only wedding?
We understand that the requirements of couples choosing our ‘Legals only’ option can vary, such as the location of the marriage, the number of guests attending or other additional services may be required.
View our simple legals only wedding pricing
What’s included in a legals only wedding?
The information outlined below, outlines our most simple (and cost effective) legals only marriage inclusions. Additional services not outlined here, may include
A non-ceremony ‘legals only’ style marriage, taking place within the next 3 months typically includes:
- All legal marriage paperwork (all pre-marriage paperwork and lodging of NOIM form, sighting the required ID and documents.
- Your marriage can generally take place at a location of your choice, within the areas we service, however alternative locations to our suggested ‘elopement locations’ may incur an additional fee which will be quoted on request.
- 2 witnesses are required to be present, in person to officially witness your marriage and sign your marriage certificates. You can invite 2 people (age 18 or over) along to attend and witness your marriage. If you require one of is to be a second witness, an additional fee is payable.
- Witness Tip: Often our eloping and ‘legals only marriage’ couples hire a professional photographer for 1-2 hours, who can also be their witness.
- A legals only wedding usually includes a very short legal ceremony, plus you have the option of writing your own vows to each other and exchanging wedding rings if you wish.
- Upon confirmation of your booking, we can provide you with a vow writing worksheet to assist you if you choose to write your own vows to each other. You will also be provided with a copy of your legals only wedding wording, so you know exactly how short and sweet your ceremony will be, and what to expect on the day.
- Prior to your wedding taking place, we will send you a confirmation email, if applicable, requesting any remaining documents or information that is still outstanding. This email will also confirm the finer details of your marriage and typically includes helpful information such as directions for your guests.
- After your marriage has taken place, we will provide you with emailed confirmation that your marriage documents have been lodged with BDM QLD (the department that registers your marriage) and we will provide you with information on receiving your registry issued marriage certificate and access to a check list for changing your last name through marriage.
What isn’t included in a legals only wedding?
Please be advised that ceremony music, microphone, on the day ceremony coordination and a personalised ceremony is not included in our basic ‘legals only’ package. If you are intending on inviting more than 6 guests or would like your marriage to take place elsewhere additional costs apply. If you require any of these services, please let us know and we will happily provide a quote.
Or if you envisage having a full wedding experience, you can view the inclusions and fee for a wedding ceremony with these services and more with Jamie or Cara of With Love – Brisbane City Celebrants here.
Where can my ‘Legals Only’ wedding take place?
Your marriage can take place at a location of your choice within the areas we service. Our elopement pricing guide above outlines the fees for elopements and legals only weddings at our suggested elopement locations. An additional fee applies for alternative locations outside of these areas.
How soon can I get married in Queensland?
If you’re looking for the quickest way to get married, you’re in the right place! Your marriage can take place 1 calendar month from the date the form known as the NOIM form (notice of intended marriage form) is lodged with your Celebrant Jamie or Cara.
As full-time elopement Celebrants, we offer NOIM lodgement meetings almost every day of the week, including early mornings, early evening and weekend mornings. if you would like to get married ASAP, we can even meet at short notice; to assist you with lodging the pre-marriage paperwork (NOIM form) so everything is in order for your marriage to take place 1 month later.
Choosing to be legally married by With Love Elopements, allows you to get married sooner.
If you’re looking at getting married ASAP forget the QLD registry office, for a number of reasons, firstly they have a wait time for your marriage date, and pre-marriage meetings, which is often quite a few months away and more during peak wedding seasons. They also require more than 1 pre-marriage meeting (while we get everything actioned during the 1 meeting), this also extends their timeframe and lengthens your wait time to get married. |
