A fun activity for bridal couples is go on the internet to get ideas for vows and ceremonies. I am always in favour of couples being proactive and taking ownership of their wedding ceremonies. But having said that, I’ve also seen how the internet can confuse Bridal Couples when searching for ideas. However, it is the actual responsibility of Marriage Celebrants to ensure that the required wording is included in the ceremony. This makes the marriage legal.
The 3 things to be included in the ceremony are:
- The full names of the Bride and Groom – To be stated at least once during the ceremony.
- The Monitum – Said by the celebrant as a statement of their authority to solemnise marriages and to explain marriage under Australian law.
- The Minimum Vow as said to each other by the Bride and Groom – For example, “I call on everyone present here today, to witness that I John Smith, take you Anne White to be my lawful wedded wife”. They are the minimum words which must be exchanged to ensure that they fully understand the nature of the ceremony and that they are marrying each other.
So why could the internet cause such confusion? The answer is that most bridal couples don’t realise that much of the information is consistent with laws of other countries. A lot of times it’s a bit Hollywood like what we see in the movies. With one or more of the above 3 requirements missing, the marriage ceremony is not legal according to Australian law. I don’t like bursting the bubble of a young couple who have spent time working on their ceremony. But it will avoid tears after the event.
So by all means, use the internet to help with ideas. But then allow me, your celebrant, to do my job and proof read your work to ensure that everything legal has been included in the ceremony.
Happy Wedding Day,
Peter Blades – Your Gold Coast Marriage Celebrant