| Every year, hundreds of couples from the UK travel to | | | | British Commonwealth country. |
| the other side of the world, or as many refer to it - | | | | What can we have for our ceremony? |
| 'Down-Under' to get married. Perhaps it has always | | | | Often asked questions are, 'what can we have for our |
| been your dream to visit Australia, to see the | | | | ceremony' and 'how long will it take?' |
| spectacular Sydney Opera House right on Sydney | | | | Most celebrants will send you a comprehensive |
| Harbour, to dive through the beautiful blue waves on | | | | Ceremony Guide from which to choose your own |
| Bondi Beach or to travel into the red centre and visit | | | | very special wording. There are selections of verses |
| Uluru - the true Aboriginal name for Ayres Rock and | | | | and vows - again the choice is yours. |
| see the sun rising over its massive height, turning the | | | | Alternatively, you may wish to write your own vows |
| rock into a huge red and golden spectacular? | | | | and exchange of ring words. |
| Perhaps your honeymoon dream has been to cruise | | | | You can either opt for a traditionally worded |
| the Whitsunday Passage calling in at all the islands | | | | ceremony or a contemporary one - you may like to |
| along the way or to bask in the warm tropical sunshine | | | | include some of your own traditions and practices and |
| up at Cairns and Port Douglas in North Queensland? | | | | can even include spiritual or religious wording. |
| Perhaps the attraction for you are the famous | | | | A Celebrant can perform any type of ceremony you |
| vineyards of the Margaret River south of Perth in | | | | want, from Rose, Candle & Sand ceremonies to |
| Western Australia or the stark white sands of Broome | | | | either a religious or non-religious ceremony, this is |
| on the north west reaches of this vast and wonderful | | | | entirely up to you what you choose to have. Many |
| land? | | | | couples from the UK wish to incorporate Celtic Hand |
| Each year Civil Marriage Celebrant Wendy Bull marries | | | | Fasting into their ceremony, an age-old tradition where |
| hundreds and hundreds of couples who travel to | | | | a binding is tied and knotted around the couples hands |
| Sydney - to escape the Winter ills and chills of the UK, | | | | - this is where the words 'tying of the knot' comes |
| and to escape the enormous costs of the large full on, | | | | from.Many choose to have this and often, with the |
| family wedding. Instead couples choose to combine | | | | sounds of a professional bagpiper playing in the |
| their romantic wedding day with a wonderful and | | | | background.Most ceremonies are not too long, around |
| memorable honeymoon to follow, Down-Under. | | | | 15-25 minutes but again, this decision is yours....it can be |
| So where can you get married? | | | | as short or as long as you wish. |
| That's an easy one to answer - you can get married | | | | What needs to be organised in advance? |
| absolutely anywhere in Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 | | | | The Celebrant will book the place of marriage of your |
| days a week there are no restrictions as to where or | | | | choice for you, for the date and time you wish to get |
| when you can get married. You don't have to get | | | | married. Most couples arrive a couple of days prior to |
| married in a certain registered venue - there's no such | | | | the ceremony, to recover from jet-lag, get their |
| thing in Australia. | | | | bearings and meet with the Celebrant to finalise any |
| Two firm favourites to get married in Sydney are both | | | | paperwork. |
| on Bondi Beach with the water lapping at your feet, or | | | | There is generally a fee which must be paid to local |
| in the beautiful and picturesque Sydney Royal Botanic | | | | councils for getting married in a park, garden or on a |
| Gardens which overlook the Opera House on Sydney | | | | beach, but there are also a few wonderful free spots |
| Harbour with the Harbour Bridge as your backdrop in | | | | which don't cost a cent. The Celebrant will also |
| the west and city skyline to the south - these are | | | | organise a photographer if you wish to have one. |
| easy choices to make. The gardens are right in the | | | | Small 1-2 hours packages are usually the idea here, |
| city only 5-10 minutes by taxi from most hotels. | | | | shots taken throughout the ceremony and then |
| Perhaps you might like to choose getting married while | | | | afterward, in and around the place of marriage.Photos |
| sailing around Sydney Harbour on a yacht or standing | | | | and CDs can be delivered to the couple prior to |
| on the headlands of North Head overlooking the | | | | leaving, if spending a few extra days in Sydney after |
| sparkling Tasman Sea, looking out towards New | | | | the wedding.The Celebrant can also arrange for a |
| Zealand. If you have your heart set on a chapel | | | | bouquet and button hole, make-up and hair, a bridal car, |
| wedding, there's one right in the city. Alternatively | | | | champagne, a wedding cake, a live trio, bagpipes and |
| weddings are performed in the Celebrant's apartment | | | | so on.Of course all these are totally optional but for |
| or in the couple's hotel suite or hotel function room. | | | | most and the absolutely budget conscious, you don't |
| There are lots of lovely spots along the foreshores of | | | | need any of the trimmings whatsoever - just be here! |
| Sydney Harbour looking across at the Opera House | | | | The Celebrant, the 2 witnesses (arranged for you), and |
| and Harbour Bridge, or perhaps you might like to hire a | | | | yourselves, under the Australian sun. |
| small pavilion in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship at | | | | Of course there is no need to bring or buy a wedding |
| Darling Harbour then wander along afterwards to | | | | gown or suit, most couples who come to Australia |
| sample one of the many restaurants, cafes or trendy | | | | from the UK just get married in casual dress, |
| bars to celebrate! Some choose to do it 'their way' | | | | something which is easy to pack and something which |
| and take a helicopter flight whilst zooming over | | | | you can wear along the way. Some have even just |
| Sydney city skyline with its Harbour and beaches | | | | worn their shorts and T. shirts - it's your day so wear |
| down below. For the whole family I have even hired a | | | | whatever you wish. And there are no restrictions in |
| DC3. Sydney Harbour Bridge is another option and a | | | | Australia, of what time you can get married as you |
| great attraction, or on the steps of the Opera House. | | | | can marry any time day or night 24/7. And there is no |
| Perhaps you prefer to be up at the top of the Sydney | | | | waiting period - providing you have completed all the |
| Tower with its amazing views stretching right out | | | | necessary paperwork with the Celebrant you can get |
| across the western side of Sydney towards the Blue | | | | married the minute you put foot on Australian soil. |
| Mountains.Any venue option can be organised and | | | | Once I married a couple in the Arrival Lounge at |
| hired for you by the Celebrant - whatever your budget | | | | Sydney's International Airport as they were getting a |
| there is always something for you in Sydney to make | | | | connecting flight straight out west to Uluru and they |
| your day a very special one indeed. | | | | wanted to arrive there 'married'. |
| So many honeymoon options... | | | | Another couple chose right on midnight with flickering |
| Do you wish to also spend most of your honeymoon | | | | candles under the southern stars as this signified the |
| time in Sydney? | | | | time of their marriage proposal.Another favourite is |
| A huge hint of advice here - do not hire a car in | | | | under an Australian Gum tree with kookaburras - you'll |
| Sydney or in any large city, unless you are familiar with | | | | get this in the Royal Botanic Gardens even, and |
| the usual city CBD road complex (they're very busy | | | | another favourite is sailing across Sydney Harbour. |
| places, as you find in all large cities world-wide). Public | | | | An intimate wedding or a 'family & friends' |
| transport by bus, train or ferry are the way to go, and | | | | occasion? |
| daily or weekly passes are easily obtainable and very | | | | Often whole families come along - many couples from |
| economical. Just jump off any bus, train or ferry and | | | | the UK bring families and their children with them. |
| hop on another by simply showing your pass. And | | | | Parents often come too (they're great baby-sitters) |
| while you're having that once in a life-time honeymoon, | | | | and sometimes even the grandparents fly in as well |
| visit the world famous Aquarium at Darling Harbour | | | | (also great baby-sitters). There are some good |
| within walking distance from the city, sample from the | | | | apartment style accommodation available right in the |
| many trendy cafes and bars in and around the city | | | | heart of the city which makes it an easy idea and |
| and Darling Harbour, or visit the Taronga Park Zoo | | | | base for families. It is often a wonderful reason (or is it |
| right beside Sydney Harbour - just take a ferry. Take | | | | an excuse?) for parents and family members to fulfil |
| a train (the 8.23am from Central Station) or a guided | | | | their dream of travelling to Australia and to combine it |
| bus tour (highly recommended) to the Blue Mountains | | | | with a beautiful, cost-effective family wedding. |
| to see the 3 Sisters, the famous rock formations at | | | | If you have friends already living here who are |
| Katoomba - there is so much to see and do in and out | | | | attending the ceremony, they can act as the |
| of Sydney while visiting. A piece of advice here - | | | | witnesses, however witnesses can be arranged for |
| never 'book' a taxi in the city - just wave one down | | | | you by the Celebrant. Some couples have even |
| and hop in. No point in getting lost on your wedding day | | | | decided to immigrate after experiencing Australia - |
| or when sight-seeing! | | | | they can't resist the friendliness, the warm sunshine |
| For something a little different, why not experience an | | | | and their future prospects. |
| outback trip to a sheep & cattle station or join a | | | | One most memorable wedding I officiated in the Royal |
| National Park tour? | | | | Botanic Gardens, the bride and groom from Sussex |
| So many choices! | | | | had no guests - just the 2 legal witnesses which had |
| Your wedding dream can be very easily turned into | | | | been arranged for them. We were about to start the |
| reality as it's also a very easy process to get married | | | | ceremony when suddenly 4 people came running |
| in Australia. What are the legal procedures? | | | | across the lawn. You guessed it, both parents had |
| Again, very easy. The Civil Marriage Celebrant will | | | | travelled to Australia and sprung the big surprise! There |
| send you the 'Notice of Intended Marriage' which you | | | | were tears and laughter, intermingled with happiness |
| must complete and have witnessed no less than a | | | | and the wedding proceeded as planned. We popped a |
| calendar month prior to the marriage but obviously | | | | few champagne corks afterward just as the sun was |
| most couples do this many months, sometimes years | | | | setting in the west behind the Opera House - what a |
| before they travel, generally as soon as they have | | | | day to remember! |
| decided to get married Down-Under. | | | | The majority of couples though who come to Australia |
| You then simply get your signatures witnessed on this | | | | to get married just prefer an intimate wedding |
| form, either at Australia House in The Strand, London | | | | ceremony on their own, to escape the often huge |
| or by a Notary which can be located through any | | | | wedding drama and generally, no-one back home |
| lawyers or solicitors firm in all area of the UK. You then | | | | knows. After the ceremony and photo shoot, the |
| send this form to the Celebrant for lodgement. The | | | | couple go to the restaurant of their choice and spend |
| other legal requirements are quite straight forward, you | | | | a romantic evening wining and dining in one of the |
| must be over the age of 18 years and either single | | | | many 5 star restaurants overlooking Sydney Harbour, |
| divorced/widowed. (Divorce and death documents or | | | | and upon their return to the UK they have a surprise |
| your former spouse must be shown to the celebrant | | | | and relaxed party to celebrate with their family and |
| prior to marriage). | | | | friends. |
| Two witnesses must attend the ceremony - the | | | | What's the first step? |
| photographer can even be a witness! | | | | Convinced to travel Down-Under and get married? |
| After your wedding the Celebrant will register your | | | | Well, it's now time to organise your airline bookings and |
| marriage and will arrange for your Registered Marriage | | | | hotel accommodation. Your local travel agent will help |
| Certificate from the Government to be mailed to you | | | | with some great deals available or go on-line for |
| or if time permits, you can collect it yourselves the | | | | cheaper options. |
| next working day and take it home with you, as legal | | | | And then of course, most importantly, contact the |
| proof of marriage. And in case you're wondering - | | | | Celebrant to book in your day and time for the |
| your marriage in Australia is 100% legal and is legally | | | | ceremony and then, start packing your bags. C'mon |
| recognised world-wide, and you do not even have to | | | | we're waiting for you, Down-Under. Under the lazy, |
| notify the UK authorities of your marriage upon return, | | | | warm, blue Australian Summer skies. |
| as you will be legally registered here in Australia, a | | | | |