Tamsin Whaley Authorised Celebrant

Tamsin Whaley Authorised Celebrant

Dear Bride,

The celebrant can't be a witness, I'm afraid. You'll need two people over 18 (or whom the celebrant reckons look at least 18!) to be your witnesses. You can't double up and be a witness for yourself, either! Your witnesses don't necessarily need to know you personally, but they do need to be able to see, hear, and understand everything that is going on, so that if they were ever called upon legally to give an account of the circumstances of your marriage, they would know exactly what had happened at the ceremony. They really are 'witnesses'.

'The Guideliness on the Marriage Act 1961' which we celebrants consult anytime we need to check something, states:

'5.8 WITNESSES
Under section 44 of the Marriage Act, a marriage may not be solemnised unless at least two persons are present at the ceremony who are, or appear to the person solemnising the marriage to be, over the age of 18 years. These are the people who will sign the marriage certificates in their capacity as the witnesses to the marriage. When completing the marriage certificates the witnesses to the marriage should record their names in full, including any middle names.
The object of requiring the attendance of witnesses is that their evidence will be available to establish the identity of the parties or to testify as to the circumstances in which the ceremony was performed. It is therefore best practice (but not a requirement of the Marriage Act) that the witnesses know the parties to the marriage. Arranging for the attendance of witnesses at the marriage ceremony is the responsibility of the parties to the marriage. The celebrant is not responsible for providing witnesses.'

Good on you trying to keep numbers down in these strange days, but you really will need those two 'extra' people!

Tamsin Whaley Authorised Celebrant,

Castlemaine.