If you’re getting married in NSW, there are two different marriage certificates you may come across: the ceremonial certificate you receive from your celebrant on your wedding day, and the official marriage certificate issued by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

They serve different purposes, and it’s the official certificate that you’ll generally need when you need to prove that you are legally married — for example, when changing your surname.

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Before you can legally marry in Australia, you and your partner need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).

Your celebrant will guide you through the legal paperwork and make sure everything that needs to be completed before your ceremony is taken care of.

The NOIM must generally be given to your celebrant at least one month before your wedding.

If you’d like to understand how the legal side of the ceremony fits together, you can read more about the wedding ceremony process.

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On your wedding day, there are a few legal documents that need to be completed and signed.

You, your celebrant and your two witnesses will sign the relevant marriage documents as part of the ceremony.

Your celebrant then takes responsibility for lodging the required documents with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages so that your marriage can be officially registered.

There is also the ceremonial marriage certificate, which your celebrant will usually present to you as part of the wedding ceremony.

If you’re wondering who can act as your witnesses, you can read more about who can be a wedding witness in Australia.

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This is probably the part that causes the most confusion.

The certificate you receive on your wedding day is not the same as the official marriage certificate issued by the NSW Registry.

The ceremonial marriage certificate

Your celebrant gives you a ceremonial marriage certificate as part of your wedding ceremony.

It is a lovely keepsake and provides a record of the marriage ceremony, but it is not the official certificate issued by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

The official marriage certificate

The official marriage certificate is issued by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages once your marriage has been registered.

This is the certificate you generally need when you need formal proof that you are married. For example, if you want to change your surname after marriage, the NSW Government requires your official marriage certificate rather than a ceremonial or commemorative certificate.

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Yes. Your authorised marriage celebrant is responsible for lodging the required marriage documents with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

In NSW, a marriage celebrant has up to 14 days after the marriage to register it with the Registry.

Once the Registry has received and processed the paperwork, your marriage is officially registered.

Your celebrant may also be able to apply for your official marriage certificate on your behalf as part of the registration process.

Alternatively, once your marriage has been registered, you can apply for the official certificate yourself.

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Once your marriage has been registered, you can apply for an official marriage certificate through the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

You can apply online, by post or through Service NSW.

You’ll need to provide the required identification and information about the marriage when making your application.

If your celebrant has applied for the certificate for you, you won’t need to make a separate application.

The current standard fee for an official NSW marriage certificate is $70. A priority certificate is currently $105. These fees can change, so it’s worth checking the current information when you apply.

You can also find more information about Eliza’s celebrant fees and what’s included in your ceremony.

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The timing depends on how you apply and whether you choose standard or priority processing.

NSW Registry processing times currently indicate approximately:

• Online: up to 3 weeks standard or 2 weeks priority
• By post: up to 4 weeks standard or 3 weeks priority
• Service NSW: up to 4 weeks standard or 3 weeks priority

Delivery time is additional to the processing time and can take a further 5–7 days.

These processing times can change, so if you have a deadline, check the current NSW Registry information when you apply.

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Most couples don’t need their official marriage certificate on the wedding day itself.

You may need it afterwards when you are updating your details or proving your marital status to an organisation.

For example, you may need your official marriage certificate when:

• changing your surname after marriage
• updating your details with government organisations
• updating your details with banks or financial institutions
• changing your name on a passport or other identification
• providing formal proof of your marriage to another organisation.

The important thing to remember is that a ceremonial or commemorative certificate may not be accepted for these purposes. The official certificate issued by the NSW Registry is the document you should keep for situations where formal proof of your marriage is required.

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Do I automatically receive an official marriage certificate?

Not necessarily.

Your celebrant registers your marriage with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, but the official certificate is a separate document.

Your celebrant may apply for the official certificate on your behalf, or you can apply for it yourself once the marriage has been registered.

Is the certificate my celebrant gives me on the wedding day official?

It is an important part of your wedding ceremony, but it is different from the official marriage certificate issued by the NSW Registry.

If an organisation asks you for your official marriage certificate, you should provide the certificate issued by the Registry rather than your ceremonial certificate.

Can I get my official marriage certificate before the wedding?

No. Your official marriage certificate can only be issued after your marriage has taken place and has been registered with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

Does my celebrant send the marriage certificate to me?

Your celebrant is responsible for lodging the required marriage documents with the Registry. They may also apply for your official certificate on your behalf.

If you apply for the certificate yourself, the Registry will issue and deliver it to you according to the application method and processing option you choose.

Do I need my official marriage certificate to change my surname?

Generally, yes. In NSW, the official marriage certificate issued by the Registry is the document required for changing your surname after marriage. A ceremonial or commemorative certificate is not accepted for this purpose.

How long does my celebrant have to register my marriage?

In NSW, a marriage celebrant has up to 14 days after the marriage to register it with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

What if I need help with the legal paperwork?

That’s one of the reasons for having a celebrant. I’ll guide you through the legal paperwork before your wedding and make sure you understand what needs to be completed and when.

You can read more about how the wedding ceremony process works, or get in touch with me if you’d like to talk through your plans.