- I am not certain where to marry and so what are the differences between a Marriage Celebrant, Registry Wedding and getting married in a Church?
There are many differences, and some similarities (as may be required by law) and so I have made a list of around 70 direct comparisons to simplify distinction.
It is a personal decision dependant on what your dream wedding consists of.
Choose a Civil Marriage Celebrant you want a unique personalised Ceremony with guidance through lots of easy choices.
If you are content to stand in a queue for an hour for a 10-minute service using a set script with essentially no choice of location other than a small room, than a Registry ceremony might be acceptable.
If you are devoutly religious, then a religious ceremony might suit you.
Here is my ‘generalised’ ready reckoner listing my interpretation of differences but if you have any questions, disagree with me on any point, or find an error, just let me know and I will explain the basis of my reasoning and/or make any corrections.
The choices from left to right are Celebrant, Registry, Church.
| Item/Activity | Celebrant | Registry | Church |
| Requires one month’s notice under the law | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You must provide proof of identity as well date/place of birth | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You will be given a pamphlet to inform/remind you of what it means to be married. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Only 2 witnesses required for the signing of your Certificates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Only 2 witnesses required for the signing of your Certificates, but you can have any number sign another non-legal certificate | Yes | No | Maybe |
| The Ceremony is designed/written especially for you | Yes | No | No |
| The Celebrant will come to you for the NOIM | Yes | No | No |
| The Celebrant will come to you to plan your Ceremony | Yes | No | No |
| You can call the Celebrant any time of day | Yes | No | No |
| You will be offered variety in your Ceremony | Yes | No | No |
| You can choose your Ceremony content (beyond legals)? | Yes | No | Limited |
| Is entirely about your marriage | Yes | Yes | No |
| Can take place anywhere within Australia | Yes | No | No |
| Can take place anytime | Yes | No | No |
| Held at any venue/location of your choice such as in a garden, hall, restaurant, backyard, loungeroom etc.. | Yes | No | Limited |
| The ceremony can be at the same location as the reception | Yes | No | No |
| The ceremony can be a part of a reception or even a full day Celebration | Yes | No | No |
| Can include a variety of rituals from different cultures or religions | Yes | No | No |
| You must ‘say’ your legal Vows to each other | Yes | Yes | No |
| You can add your own personal Vows. | Yes | Maybe | Maybe |
| Will welcome Ministers of other denominations, or friends & family, to perform parts of the Ceremony | Yes | No | Unlikely |
| Can have lots of friends of all denominations as guests. | Yes | Small Space | Limited |
| The denomination of guests is irrelevant | Yes | Yes | No |
| Everyone can have a role in the ceremony regardless of numbers | Yes | No | Maybe |
| Can take place anywhere within Australian borders | Yes | No | No |
| You will be given the Celebrant’s mobile number and email for direct & personal contact | Yes | No | Maybe |
| Only one or two ceremonies performed in a single day | Yes | No | No |
| By choice, the couple usually face each other or the guests that they have invited. | Yes | Yes | No |
| Can marry regardless of age (but over 18), sex or sexual orientation, gender, religious belief, culture, race etc, | Yes | Yes | Maybe |
| Will permit marriage if you are unable to have children | Yes | Yes | Maybe |
| Will permit marriage if you are of the same sex /gender | Yes | Yes | Probably No |
| Will permit marriage if you are LGBTQI | Yes | Yes | No |
| Can have LGBTQI bridal party | Yes | Yes | Probably No |
| Conducts same sex marriage | Yes | Yes | Maybe |
| Can have almost any content, completely non-religious, religious, agnostic, pagan, or just be limited to basic legal words | Yes | No | No |
| Will provide freebie extras such as photos, video etc.. | Yes | No | No |
| Will work to your schedule, not theirs | Yes | No | No |
| Has almost no restrictions as long as laws are not broken | Yes | No | No |
| You choose your Celebrant | Yes | No | Maybe |
| The same Celebrant will be able to perform other ceremonies for family members when needed e.g. Anniversaries, Memorials, Namings and Funerals | Yes | No | Yes |
| You get a free copy of the Ceremony booklet | Yes | No | No |
| Allows you the option of including any music of choice | Yes | No | No |
| Can have any size Bridal Party whatsoever | Yes | No | No |
| Your ceremony will commonly run for 20-40 minutes depending on inclusions of your choice | Yes | No | Maybe |
| Will I be in a queue behind others waiting for an identical Ceremony? | No | Yes | Maybe |
| Your ceremony will take only around 10 minutes | Optional | Yes | No |
| Follows a church doctrine | Your Choice | No | Yes |
| Will include the reading of religious or Biblical text | Your Choice | Maybe | Yes |
| Will include the reading of non-religious text | Your Choice | Maybe | Maybe |
| Couples face the altar/front | Your Choice | Maybe | Yes |
| Couple and guests join in prayer | Your Choice | No | Yes |
| Holy blessing | Your Choice | No | Yes |
| Family blessing | Your Choice | No | Maybe by Choice |
| Will not contradict or impinge upon religious context | Your Choice | Maybe | Yes |
| Will include religious context or content | Your Choice | No | Yes |
| Will have no religious content whatsoever. | Your Choice | Yes | No |
| Must include members of the religious congregation | Your Choice | No | Yes |
| The celebrant will wear vestments | Maybe | No | Yes |
| You are limited as to how many can attend | No | Yes | No |
| Can only take place within the state in which the Celebrant is registered. | No | Yes | Yes |
| Is a specifically a religious service/Sacrament | No | No | Yes |
| You can only call the Celebrant during business hours at an office | No | Yes | Maybe |
| May perform up to 30 ceremonies in a single day | No | Yes | Maybe |
| A specific common script is used | No | Yes | Yes |
| Is restricted to specific times of the day | No | Yes | Yes |
| You announce your vows by questions and answer only | No | No | Yes |
| Is conducted by a Minster of Religion (Clergy member) | No | No | Yes |
| You must be Baptised into the church (or similar ritual) | No | No | Yes |
| One or both in the couple must join the religion or Church | No | No | Yes |
| You wait in a queue at an appointed time | No | Yes | Maybe |
| Must take place inside their Church building | No | No | Yes |
| Must take place at a specific location/building | No | Yes | Yes |
| Must attend Marriage Preparation courses. | No | No | Yes |
| Must be of the same religious faith | No | No | Usually |
| Must attend religious service and/or classes | No | No | Yes |
| Requires your children to join a particular religion | No | No | Yes |
| Restricts what you can wear | No | Maybe | Yes |
