Legal Authority to Solemnise Marriages in Australia
Melbourne Marriage Registry operates as an independent private marriage registry service delivered exclusively by Commonwealth-authorised Marriage Celebrants. Each celebrant is individually registered under the Australian Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) and authorised by the Attorney-General’s Department – Marriage Law and Celebrants Section (Canberra).
Every celebrant who conducts registry or location ceremonies through Marriage Victoria has been formally trained, assessed and appointed by the Commonwealth Government.
Local Authority
Legal Authority to Solemnise Marriages in Australia
Only celebrants who hold this official federal authorisation are legally permitted to:
- Solemnise marriages in Australia
- Prepare and lodge all compulsory marriage documents
- Register marriages through the authorised online portal
- Ensure couples meet all legal requirements under the Marriage Act
Authorised celebrants are responsible for conducting legal wedding ceremonies, preparing and lodging the required marriage documentation, and registering each marriage through the official government registration portal used by celebrants across Australia. They also ensure that all couples meet the legal requirements of the Marriage Act before a ceremony can take place.
Following the ceremony, the celebrant submits the completed marriage documents directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) using the authorised Commonwealth celebrant registration system.
Marriage Victoria and Melbourne Marriage Registry operate as independent providers of lawful marriage services. We are not part of BDM and do not represent any government agency, however we operate within the same federal legislation and legal framework that governs all authorised marriage celebrants and government registry offices in Australia.
Copies of authorisation documents for the celebrant conducting your ceremony can be provided upon request.