Are you getting married?
A wedding is one of life’s great moments.
Marriage is one of the most important commitments a couple can make. “Marriage is a gift of God… a life-long partnership uniting a woman and a man in heart, mind and body” A Prayer Book for Australia. When choosing to be married in the church you add a God dimension to your future.
What happens at
a wedding
The priest welcomes everyone present and reminds them of God’s purposes in instituting marriage. There is a reading from Scripture and a short address is given.
The officiant’s presence is a reminder and sign that Marriage Vows are made in the presence of Christ, in the church, and are not merely self-serving, but made as an act of service to the God who has called the couple to be joint heirs of divine grace. The bride and the groom promise to give themselves to one another with these words:
I, N, in the presence of God, take you, N, to be my (wife/husband): to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live. All this I vow and promise.
Wedding rings are blessed and exchanged as a sign of the vows that have been taken, and that the commitment is unending. The priest blesses the married couple. Prayers are offered by everyone present for the couple and their future together.
Planning the Service
We know that planning a wedding is a huge undertaking, no matter how big or small. In the midst of booking venues for the service and reception, negotiating the guest list, meeting with caterers, finding the right photographer and trying on suits and dresses one thing that can often get overlooked is the service itself.
At the Anglican Parish of Broken Hill and the Far West we use the services authorised by the Anglican Church of Australia. This includes options that allow you to personalise the service for your special day, through the choice of readings, music, prayers, etc. Weddings can generally be held at times to suit you. A rehearsal (in the church) is held a day or two before, when members of the wedding party are available.
This is an information booklet can help you plan your day.
This is your day and we are here to help you along the way.
Wedding Checklist
The first step is to check availability of your preferred date.
At the first meeting, you will complete the Notice of Intended Marriage [https://www.ag.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/notice-of-intended-marriage.PDF] (or complete it and bring to the meeting).
Paperwork required - Bring your documents:
Proof of birth by either Birth Certificate or a passport. If you cannot find your original birth certificate and were born in Australia, you can obtain a duplicate by applying the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages in your state.
You can also provide your Australian passport.
If you were born overseas, you can provide either your original birth certificate or passport, both of which must be legible in the English language.
Previous marriage: If you are divorced you must provide an original Certificate of Divorce from the Family Court. If you are widowed, an original Death Certificate will be required.
Notice of Intended Marriage (at least one month prior to the wedding). As a legal requirement, you must complete the Notice of Intended Marriage form and submit it the Rector at least one month prior to your wedding day. If you need help with completing the form, our Rector will assist you. You can download the form from here https://www.ag.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/notice-of-intended-marriage.PDF
Immigration / Couples from overseas. To be married in Australia, the Notice of Intended Marriage (Form 13) must be completed – see above. If you need documents translated, please arrange this with NAATI services (link: https://www.naati.com.au)
Witnesses: Your wedding ceremony must be witnessed by at least two people who speak and understand English, and who are at least 18 years of age. They will be required to witness the ceremony and sign the certificates.
Closer to the day: A final meeting will be arranged to check all the paperwork, run through the final draft of the ceremony, including any music or readings, etc to be included and sign the necessary declarations.
Wedding Fees
Weddings are expensive as you will probably already have found out! The good news is that the actual wedding itself will probably be one of the cheaper items. The fee is $300 (Nuptial Mass which includes communion) or $275 for Wedding Service.
For more information, contact Rev Helen Ferguson on 0429 874 402
