- Documents you will need to bring
- Venue
- Classic ceremony – what to expect
- Legal-only package – what to expect
- Witnesses
- Interpreters
- Marriage certificates
On this page
Can I get married online?
No. A marriage must be solemnised in the physical presence of a celebrant and two witnesses.
Documents you will need to bring
On your wedding day, you’ll both need to bring the following documents:
- The original Notice of Intended Marriage, signed and witnessed
- Your current Australian or foreign passport stating your place of birth
If you don’t have a passport, please bring both of the following:- Your original birth certificate, and
- Current government-issued photo identification. Acceptable photo ID includes driver licence or proof of age card
- If you’ve been married before, evidence that the marriage has ended:
- Divorce certificate, or
- Death certificate.
- If you need to use an interpreter, you must bring the original ‘Certificate of faithful performance by interpreter’ form. The interpreter must complete the first part (‘Statutory Declaration’) before the ceremony. The statutory declaration confirms that they speak both English and your language. (Refer to Interpreters, below)
If your documents are not in English, you will need to provide:
- NAATI-certified translated copies (External link), and
- The original documents.
Venue
Old Treasury Building
20 Spring St
East Melbourne VIC 3002.
Getting there
Public transport
The Victorian Marriage Registry is well served by public transport.
Tram
Tram routes 11, 12, 109 and 48 all stop on the corner of Collins and Spring Street.
Train
The closest train station is Parliament Station – use the Collins Street exit.
Parking
There is no car parking at the Victorian Marriage Registry.
The nearest commercial car parks are on Little Collins Street, Flinders Lane and St Andrew’s Place.
There is limited on-street parking nearby on:
- Spring Street
- St Andrew’s Place
- Lansdowne Street
- Albert Street
- Gisborne Street.
Disabled access
A wheelchair-accessible ramp is available at the rear of the Old Treasury Building.
Please email marriageregistry@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) at least two weeks before your ceremony if you or your guests need access.
Animals
Assistance animals such as guide dogs are welcome. However, domestic pets may not enter the building.
Food, drinks, confetti and rose petals
Food and drink are not permitted on the premises.
You and your guests may not:
- Throw confetti, rice or rose petals
- Use balloons or bubble blowers.
Personal items
Ensure that you take all personal items with you after your ceremony. The Registry will not be responsible for any items that are damaged or lost.
Classic ceremony – what to expect
We offer two different civil ceremonies:
- The standard marriage service includes extended vows and the option of one reading.
- The alternative marriage service is designed for couples who want a simple and basic ceremony. It is also for couples who need an interpreter.
We do not provide religious ceremonies. However, you are welcome to have a religious reading by one of your guests during your ceremony.
Learn more about:
Guests
For information about capacity, see:
- Classic ceremony in the Margaret Craig Room
- Classic ceremony in the Thomas Hyde Room
On the day of the ceremony
Meet your celebrant
Your celebrant will:
- Check your proof of identity and Notice of Intended Marriage documents
- Ask for the full names of your two witnesses.
You will both:
- Sign a declaration stating that you are legally free to marry.
Discuss your marriage ceremony
You will:
- Choose from our standard classic or short alternative script
- Let your celebrant know if you will be using your own music and Bluetooth speaker.
Discuss preferences you’ve already advised us about, such as:
- A guest doing a reading or poem
- Personalising your vows.
The ceremony
Your celebrant will guide and support you through your chosen marriage ceremony.
The ceremony takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes.
During the ceremony, you and your witnesses will sign a Commonwealth marriage certificate. This is also known as a party certificate. Afterward, your celebrant will present you this certificate to take away with you. It is not the registered marriage certificate.
Please note, we are unable to accommodate party unseen entry (also known as bride unseen).
After the ceremony
You are welcome to celebrate and take photos with your guests during your allocated ceremony time before moving on to your next venue.
Photography
You may organise your own professional photographer. Your guests can also take photographs and videos. They may take photographs at any time during the ceremony.
Photo opportunities are available on the steps outside the Old Treasury Building and next door in Treasury Gardens.
For health and safety reasons, keep doorways clear at all times.
Legal-only package – what to expect
Legal-only weddings fulfil the legal requirements of marriage in front of two witnesses.
Learn more about the Legal-only package.
Guests
Our legal-only ceremonies are limited to:
- The couple, and
- Your 2 witnesses.
The four-person limit does not include:
- Our celebrant
- A professional photographer, and
- An interpreter (if required).
Babies under 12 months are not included in the limit.
On the day of the ceremony
Meet your celebrant
Your celebrant will:
- Check your proof of identity and Notice of Intended Marriage documents
- Ask for the full names of your two witnesses.
You will both:
- Sign a declaration stating that you are legally free to marry.
Make your marriage official
Your celebrant will take you through the legal declarations and vows in front of your witnesses.
The ceremony takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
During the ceremony, you and your witnesses will sign a Commonwealth marriage certificate. This is also known as a party certificate. Afterward, your celebrant will present you this certificate to take away with you. It is not the registered marriage certificate.
Photography
You may organise your own professional photographer. Your two witnesses can also take photographs and videos. They may take photographs at any time during the wedding.
Photo opportunities are available on the steps outside the Old Treasury Building and next door in Treasury Gardens.
For health and safety reasons, keep doorways clear at all times.
Witnesses
The law requires you to bring two witnesses. They need to witness your ceremony and sign the marriage certificate.
Witnesses:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Can be a friend or family member
- Don't need to be Australian citizens
- Don't have to provide proof of identity documents.
The Victorian Marriage Registry doesn't provide witnesses.
If you do not provide witnesses, your ceremony will not go ahead. No refund will be provided.
Interpreters
Please email marriageregistry@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) at least two weeks before your ceremony if you will be using an interpreter.
All ceremonies are in English. If either of the couple or witnesses do not speak or understand English, you must provide your own interpreter.
The interpreter:
- Can't be one of the people getting married
- Can't be a family member of the couple
- Must be arranged before the ceremony.
The interpreter will need to complete a statutory declaration that they speak both English and the foreign language. Our celebrant will witness the statutory declaration on the day.
We recommend using an accredited interpreter. You can contact the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) (External link) (External link).
Statutory declaration signed by the interpreter
The interpreter will need to complete a statutory declaration that they speak and understand both English and your language. They must do this before the ceremony.
To do this, please:
- Download ‘Certificate of faithful performance by interpreter (External link)’ from the Attorney-General’s website.
- Ask your interpreter to complete the first part (‘Statutory Declaration’) and sign in the presence of an authorised witness
- Email the completed statutory declaration to marriageregistry@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) at least two weeks before your ceremony
- Bring the original form on your wedding day. Your interpreter must complete the second part (‘Certificate of Faithful Performance by Interpreter’) in front of our celebrant.
You can also contact the Translating and Interpreter Service (TIS) (External link) if you need help finding an interpreter.
If an interpreter is required but not present on the day, the ceremony will not go ahead. No refund will be provided.
Marriage certificates
Commonwealth marriage certificate (party certificate)
During the wedding ceremony, you and your witnesses will sign a Commonwealth marriage certificate. This is also known as the 'party certificate'. This certificate is a memento for your own records. Your celebrant will present it to you, after the ceremony.
It is not the registered marriage certificate. Most organisations will not accept it as official proof of marriage.
Legal marriage certificate from BDM
The certificate used for official purposes is known as the ‘official’ (or legal) marriage certificate. It is included in your fee but is not available on your wedding day.
After your ceremony, your celebrant will register your marriage with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM).
When registered, BDM will send the official marriage certificate to you by express post.
See our certificate turnaround times.