Can a Friend or Family Member Marry Us?

Only an authorised marriage celebrant (or a minister of religion or registry officer) can legally marry you in Australia. A friend or family member cannot do the legal part unless they are registered, and becoming a celebrant for one wedding is not realistic.

The good news: you can still have your friend lead the day.

The simple way to do it

1. do the legal marriage with an authorised celebrant first, for example our paperwork-only marriage for $820
2. let your friend or family member lead a separate personal celebration, on the same day or later

Why couples do this

• the legal part is handled properly
• your friend does not need celebrant qualifications
• the celebration can be as personal, funny, or informal as you like
• nobody has to worry about the legal wording being wrong on the day

Want the celebrant and your friend in one ceremony?

That works too. With our wedding ceremony ($2,200) we can build your friend or family member into the ceremony with a reading, a welcome, or the story of how you met, while we take care of the legal wording and signing. For a smaller day, the elopement ceremony ($1,800) can include a few words from someone close to you.

Best next steps

• Paperwork-only marriage guide
• Compare all packages
• Get married quickly