Robyn Pattison Civil Marriage Celebrant

You certainly don’t have to change your name. You don’t have to make the decision straight away. There’s no time limit on it.

But, maybe you just can’t wait to be Mr and Mrs – but you have no idea how to change your name? I wish I could tell you that there was just one form to fill in, or that it miraculously changes as I register the marriage, but that’s not true.

It’s a bit fiddly. Not difficult – but fiddly.

To change your name legally, you will first need an official Marriage Certificate from Births Deaths and Marriages.

This is not the certificate you signed on the day. This one comes later – directly from Births Deaths and Marriages.

When you have the official certificate, you will need to change your name for all your legal identification. That means Medicare, passport, the ATO, services like RTA etc.

I can give you the forms for these basic offices. You will have to fill them in, and go in, with your official certificate, tell them that you want to change your name, because you got married.

The Australian Passport Office will reissue you a new passport – for name change once in a ten year period – for free - if you apply within 6 months of your marriage!

When you have changed these basic legal identifies over, you can sign your new name on your legal documents. Don’t do that until you have.

You can call yourself Mr & Mrs Brand New Name, as soon as you are married. Just don’t sign Brand New Name on anything legal, until you have made the legal changeover.

PS Absolutely, positively, definitely don’t book your honeymoon tickets in your married surname. They won’t let you on the plane if the name on your passport is different to the name on your tickets!

Just because you aren’t in Sydney for all the preparations, doesn’t mean that your wedding can’t be fabulous!

Eloping in Sydney is easy – and I  can make it amazing, beautiful, wonderful, romantic…..

The world is much smaller than it used to be. There’s nothing we can’t do using email and facebook, facetime and Skype (but I think I’m better looking on facetime).

Almost everything is the same.

BUT you will need to fill in a form, called the Notice of Intent to Marry – and get your signatures witnessed in the Australian Embassy or Consulate, in the country you live in – and then scan it and send it to me. At least a month prior to the ceremony.

You should also check to make sure that an Australian marriage is automatically valid in your country. If it isn’t, you will need to get an Apostille Stamp. Talk to your consulate about how to get one of those.

Everything else can be done when you get here. It’s really, really easy.

Even if it’s only a small wedding, it’s still your wedding, so we need to make sure it is absolutely right for you. Some of the most memorable ceremonies I have ever done have been under ten people.

Ask me about my amazing secret ceremonies for elopers. So romantic – you will love it.

I can help you with suggestions of where to hold the ceremony – and point you in the direction of all sorts of suppliers, who can also help if you need them.

Go on!  Let's elope!