Marriage is a public declaration of your commitment to share your lives together. I offer a personalized ceremony which reflects your values and your hopes for your future together.
Some things we will talk about during the planning process are:
• The story of your relationship
• Why you have chosen to have a marriage ceremony
• What commitment means to you
• What you value and love in each other
• Your hopes and dreams
• Whether there are any traditions, spiritual or cultural practices you want to incorporate
• Any particular actions or symbols you’d like to include
Guidelines to formalities for Marriage
No marriage celebrant may solemnise a marriage until they have received a marriage licence authorising the particular marriage.
Decide on the time and place of Marriage
You can get married at any place and at any time of any day that you and the celebrant agree on. The Christchurch City Council offers a number of wedding locations and halls. The charge for most outdoor locations is $40. Phone the Council on 03… to check availability and cost. If you are planning an outdoor marriage it is recommended that you select an alternative indoor venue (in case of bad weather) and nominate both on your Notice of Intended Marriage.
Marriage Licence
Either the bride or the bridegroom must go to the office of the Registrar of Marriages (Dept of Internal Affairs, NZI House, 96 Hereford Street) and fill in a Notice of Intended Marriage. For this you will need to have the full names of the parents of both bride and groom. You will be required to sign a statutory declaration that you are legally free to marry. If you are under eighteen years of age you will need the written consent of your parents or guardian. If you have been married before you will need to produce documentary evidence of the dissolution of any previous marriage. No one under the age of sixteen years can be married. The fee for a marriage licence is $120.00.
It takes three days for a licence to be issued. The marriage licence and other records must then be collected so that the marriage celebrant named on the licence has the documentation in adequate time before the marriage. The licence is valid for three months.
Place of Marriage
A marriage can be conducted only at the place described on the marriage licence. When for some reason it is desired to change the venue after the licence is issued, the person who made the declaration on the Notice of Intended Marriage must inform the Registrar who issued the licence, in person, and have the licence amended prior to the ceremony. This will generally attract a fee for the new documentation to be issued.
Where the nominated celebrant cannot officiate at a marriage, any other celebrant may officiate.
Marriage Ceremony
The marriage must be performed in the presence of the celebrant and at least two witnesses who must be old enough to understand the importance of the part they are taking.
The marriage ceremony may take such form as is agreed between the Celebrant and the Parties to the Marriage. During the ceremony the bride and groom must say the following or similar words to each other: “I ………(full name) take you ……… (full name) to be my legal wife/husband.”
If you have questions about the formalities of marriage you can phone Births, Deaths and Marriages on 0800 225 252.
After your wedding if you’d like a photo from your special day published in the “Christchurch Mail” e-mail it to Sarah.jarvis@press.co.nz
You’re welcome to contact me at ruthg@clear.net.nz
