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Yes—your family member can be your witness at your wedding or legal marriage registration in Australia, as long as they meet a few simple requirements.
As a Commonwealth-registered celebrant, I often get asked this question—especially by couples planning a small, intimate ceremony or a legals-only marriage. The good news is that the rules around witnesses are flexible and inclusive.
To be a valid witness in Australia, the person must:
There is no restriction on witnesses being related to you, so yes—your parent, sibling, cousin, or even adult child can absolutely act as your witness, provided they meet the above criteria.
All parties involved—including the couple and their two witnesses—must understand the legal wording used in the ceremony. If English is not their first language and they do not feel confident understanding the ceremony, you must arrange for a qualified interpreter to be present.
The good news is: I speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, so if you and your witnesses are comfortable in any of those languages, there’s no need for a separate interpreter. I’m happy to conduct your legals-only ceremony or wedding in the language that feels most natural to you and your loved ones.
If an interpreter is required for a different language, they must be willing, competent, and able to sign a form confirming they’ve interpreted the ceremony accurately.
You’ll need two witnesses present at your legal marriage ceremony—whether it's a full wedding or a simple legals-only appointment. Their role is to:
Their signatures confirm that the marriage has been solemnised legally and correctly.
The couple’s responsible for arranging their own two adult witnesses for the ceremony. However, I understand that sometimes this can be a little tricky—especially for couples planning a private or legal-only registration.
If this is a concern, please feel free to speak with me . I’ll be happy to discuss your options.
Your wedding witnesses can absolutely be people who are close to you. In fact, having a family member beside you on such a meaningful day often adds an extra layer of connection and love to the moment.
If you're planning a simple legal marriage or have questions about witnesses, language requirements, or the legal-only process, I’m here to help—every step of the way.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
“Once we’ve chosen a celebrant, do we still need to submit paperwork to the government ourselves?”
The short answer is: No—you don’t.
Your Celebrant Takes Care of the Legal Lodgement
As an authorised celebrant in Australia, it’s my legal responsibility to manage and lodge all your marriage documentation with the relevant state registry.
Absolutely—you can get legally married without having a traditional wedding ceremony.
As a Commonwealth-registered celebrant based in Perth, I often work with couples who prefer a simpler, no-fuss approach to getting married. Whether you're planning a big celebration later, keeping things private, or just want to be legally married without the bells and whistles, you don’t need a wedding to make it official.
When it comes to getting legally married in Australia, there’s a lot of paperwork and formalities to cover—but luckily, some parts are more flexible than people expect.
One common question couples ask me is:
“Do our witnesses need to bring ID on the wedding day?”
The answer is: No, witnesses are not required to show ID for your marriage to be legal.
