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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.
Legally, your two witnesses must:
There’s no requirement for them to show identification like a driver’s licence or passport on the day.
No—there’s no need to record or verify your witnesses’ ID as part of the official marriage paperwork. What is required is:
That’s all! It’s a simple process and easy for your chosen witnesses to participate in.
While ID isn’t required as a standard part of the process, as your celebrant, I do have a legal responsibility to ensure all requirements are met.
If I have reason to believe that a witness is under 18, or does not meet the legal criteria, I will kindly ask to sight identification to confirm their eligibility.
This helps protect the integrity of your marriage and ensures it’s legally valid.
Your witnesses must also be able to understand the ceremony in English. If they don’t, an interpreter must be present. I speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, so if your witnesses are fluent in any of those languages, there’s no need for a separate interpreter.
If another language is needed, the interpreter must complete a statutory declaration to confirm accurate and complete translation.
Choosing witnesses for your ceremony should be a meaningful and easy process. In most cases, they won’t need to bring ID—but if there’s any uncertainty about their age or eligibility, I may ask to check, simply to make sure everything proceeds smoothly and legally.
If you have questions about witnesses or any part of the legal marriage process, feel free to get in touch—I’m here to make the process simple, respectful, and stress-free.
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.
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.
