- Home
-
About Lin
-
Wedding Services
- Chinese Tea Ceremony
- Master of Ceremonies
- 婚礼与主持服务
- Contact
Unlike some countries where you can get married the next day, our law requires a minimum 1-month notice period before your wedding. If you're planning to get married, you need to engage a celebrant to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). This period is often called a “cooling-off” period, giving couples time to seriously consider their decision and avoid rushing into marriage.
Many people think the 1-month notice period starts once they have found authorised witnesses (excluding authorised celebrants) to sign their NOIM form (i.e., police officer, doctor, JP, lawyer). This isn’t quite right. The notice period starts only after the notice and relevant documents are presented to the celebrant and they acknowledge receipt. For example, if the notice is lodged with the celebrant on 12 April, the earliest possible wedding date is 12 May. For months with fewer days, such as lodging a notice on 31 March, the valid date becomes 1 May since April has no 31st day.
Yes, it's possible to shorten the minimum notice period through a 'Shortening of Time' application. However, this is only allowed under rare circumstances and must be approved by prescribed authorities, typically Local Courts or Registry Offices. Authorised celebrants cannot approve a shortening of time, but they can advise on the process and help you lodge the notice with the correct documents.
The five categories of circumstances that allow for shortening the time are:
Shortening of time is not automatic, and the process is very strict. During my time as a celebrant, I have assisted very few couples in successfully shortening their notice period. One case involved travel commitments due to the unexpected death of a parent, requiring the marriage to be brought forward to accommodate travel plans for the funeral. Another instance was due to wedding celebration arrangements made months in advance without realising the need to meet the celebrant at least 1 month prior. Their genuine mistake, supported by adequate proof, led to the approval of their request.
Unfortunately, visa expiry does not qualify for shortening of time, as it does not fit any of the five categories listed above. Many couples have had their requests turned down for this reason.
If your ceremony cannot be postponed, consider having a ceremonial ceremony (with no legal effect) on your chosen date and then signing the legal documents and certificate with me after the 1-month period has passed, with just two witnesses. This way, the second part is purely legal, and there's no need to host another large ceremony.
Reach out to me, and I can guide you through this process.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
One of the great things about getting married in Australia is how flexible it can be. You’re not limited to a courthouse or a traditional venue—you’ve got options. Lots of them!
But couples often ask: “Are there any legal limits on where we can get married?” Let’s clear that up together.
在澳大利亚结婚的一个很大优势是——选择非常灵活。你并不局限于法院或传统场地，你可以选择很多特别又有意义的地方。
那新人们常问的一个问题是：“结婚有没有场地方面的法律限制？” 我来为你解答！
Not all wedding ceremonies are created equal—some are legal, and some are symbolic. So, what’s the difference? And how do you know which one is right for you?
并不是所有婚礼都具有法律效力——有些是法律婚礼，有些则是象征性的仪式婚礼。那么它们之间到底有什么不同？你又该如何选择最适合你们的方式呢？
It’s one of the most common questions couples ask me—“Do we really need to do a rehearsal?”
The short answer is: you don’t have to, but it can make a huge difference—especially if you’re the type of person who likes to feel prepared, calm, and confident walking into your big day.
很多新人都会问我：“我们真的需要彩排吗？”
简单来说：不是必须的，但如果你希望在婚礼当天能够从容自如、心里有底，那彩排婚礼绝对是值得考虑的一项服务。
