Can My Family Member Be My Witness for My Marriage Registration?

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.

Who Can Be a Witness to a Marriage?

To be a valid witness in Australia, the person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Understand the nature of the ceremony and what they are witnessing
• Be mentally capable of observing and signing the marriage documents
• Have sufficient understanding of the English language, or have an interpreter present

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.

Language Requirements

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.

How Many Witnesses Do We Need?

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:

• Hear both of you say the legal vows
• Sign the official marriage documents on the day

Their signatures confirm that the marriage has been solemnised legally and correctly.

What If We Don’t Have Witnesses?

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.

Final Thoughts

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.

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