OVERVIEW
If you’re on the hunt for a professional, engaging marriage celebrant committed to authentically sharing your unique love story, you’ll love working with Angie — the founder of The Mindful Sanctuary. She is heavily focused on her couple’s unique narratives — ensuring their ceremony is designed to suit their individual style and personality as a couple. She offers modern, innovative ideas, expert advice and tips, and plenty of thoughtful, personal touches for a vibrant, memorable experience. Angie is all about embracing and celebrating life. She will do everything in her power to facilitate a magical, unforgettable space for you to exchange vows in front of your loved ones.
What you’ll love about working with The Mindful Sanctuary for your Melbourne wedding:
Highlights of working with The Mindful Sanctuary Melbourne:
About
My name is Angie Zerella, I am the founder of The Mindful Sanctuary. I began my career as a celebrant as I love people and I love celebrating life's milestones. It is such an honor to assist people to celebrate the special moments in their life in the many diverse ways in which this can be done. I also have a love of public speaking. I have a fun, relaxed and professional approach to my work and love making my couples dreams a reality in whatever way they want to celebrate their love.
Angie Zerella
Business Owner
Location
Service Area Melbourne, Yarra Valley & Surrounding Areas
FAQ
Choosing your celebrant is one of the most important aspects of your day as your celebrant is responsible for bringing your ceremony to life and announcing your marriage to the world. It is advisable to book the celebrant of your choice as early as you can prior to your day so you can be sure to get the one that you want. If you have a preferred celebrant try to check in with them before you book venues etc to be sure they have your date available.
A celebrant must be given a minimum of one month’s notice of intention to marry and no more than 18 months notice prior to the intended ceremony date.
A person must be 18 years of age to legally marry in Australia. A person who is 16 or 17 years of age who wishes to marry can seek parental permission and a legally issued court order to legally marry. At least one party must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Prior to your wedding you will be required to sign the Notice of Intended Marriage form and No Legal Impediment to Marriage form as well as any Statutory Declarations if they are required. I will also provide a service agreement that clearly outlines everything we have agreed to after our meeting to ensure transparency.
On the day of your ceremony once you have been legally married you will be required to sign the official marriage certificate and the marriage certificate (Form 15).
All couples who are planning to marry are required to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage form (NIOM). This must be given to your celebrant at least one month and not more than 18 months prior to the intended wedding date. It is available on the Attorney General Departments website at the link here:
https://www.ag.gov.au/FamiliesAndMarriage/Marriage/Documents
I will also provide you with a copy of the NOIM which we can fill out together when we meet.
PLEASE NOTE: A NIOM that is provided to me later than one month prior to the date of the ceremony cannot be accepted by me by law unless there are special circumstances and an application for shortening of time which has been endorsed by a prescribed authority (prescribed authority list is available on the Attorney General Departments website)
- Evidence of date and place of birth – one of the following documents
An Australian or International issued Passport: issued by the Australian government or a government of an overseas country showing the date and place of birth of the party: this evidence covers both the age and identity requirements.
- Original birth certificate: an official (original) certificate of birth
- Extract of birth in an official register: an official extract of an entry in an official register showing the date and place of birth of the party: you will then need to provide photo evidence for identity
- Commonwealth Statutory declaration stating it is impracticable (this does not mean not practical or convenient; it means practically impossible) to obtain an official birth certificate or extract, and the reasons why, and - to the best of the declarant’s knowledge and belief and as accurately as the declarant has been able to ascertain, when and where the party was born. If born in Australia, in most cases, it is possible to gain this evidence so a statutory declaration would not be accepted unless in extreme cases. I can discuss this further at our meeting if you are having difficulty with this.
PLEASE NOTE: Language other than English: If the document a party provides as evidence of their date and place of birth is written in another language or alphabet, the couple should seek a translation of the document by an accredited translator. The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters website – has a list of translators.
- Establishing identity– Photographic evidence – one of the following documents
An Australian or International issued Passport: issued by the Australian government or a government of an overseas country showing the date and place of birth of the party: this evidence covers both the age and identity requirements.
Driver’s license
Proof of age card/photocard
A Certificate of Australian Citizenship along with another form of photographic evidence (such as a student card or other photo identification not listed above).
- Eligibility to Marry - Marital Status
Never Validly Married (no evidence required – you will sign a Declaration stating this)
If you have had a prior marriage annulled, you will require a court issued annulment
Widowed: (Evidence of death of spouse)
Divorced: (Evidence of divorce)
PLEASE NOTE: A Statutory declaration cannot be used for evidence OF MARITAL STATUS
If from overseas and you have not got this evidence then you must go to your embassy or to the family court to get evidence
- Proof of Age
Couples must provide evidence that both parties are over 16 or marriage cannot occur
If both parties have proof, they are over 18 by date of marriage no other evidence is required, as long as the party will be 18 on the day of wedding then the NOIM can be signed.
If one party will be under 18 at the time of intended marriage then the following evidence is required. Both parties cannot be under 18:
- Magistrates Court Order
PLUS
- Letter from parents giving permission
A court issued court order for underage marriage is only eligible for 3 months any court order older than 3 months is no longer valid.
Under age forms are available from the Attorney General Department’s website.
I can receive a NOIM if a divorce is pending. A NOIM can be received by a celebrant even though a party is, or both parties are, still married to another person at the date of receipt of the NOIM. In such cases it is sufficient that the married party or parties note when filling in the NOIM that they are still married, that a divorce order is being sought/or pending and the date upon which the divorce is expected to be finalised. However, the marriage cannot be solemnised unless evidence of the divorce is given to the celebrant prior to the solemnisation of the marriage.
It is the responsibility of the celebrant to submit all of the legal paperwork to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages 14 days after the marriage is solemnised. The legal marriage certificate can be purchased from Births, Deaths and Marriages after the marriage has been registered by the BDM. Most of my packages cover this cost so please discuss at time of booking.
That is fine we can organise an interpreter and I will work closely with them to ensure that we follow the legal requirements and get the appropriate paperwork signed. Any cost of the interpreter will be required to be paid by the couple getting married, As your celebrant I do not cover this cost.
Yes pets are most welcome and embraced as long as they pose no threat to the guests and will be calm throughout the ceremony. We will discuss how your pet can be included and put strategies in place to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly and the safety of everyone is maintained.
Of course weddings are a wonderful way of celebrating your loved ones. There are many ways that we can bring people into the ceremony we will discuss this when we meet.
There are two aspects of the ceremony that must be included and must be said by law.
These are the monitum - spoken by the celebrant and the legal vows spoken by the couple. These components are what ensures the marriage is legal. I will talk you through this when we meet. Apart from these components however, the rest of the ceremony is all about you and you can have as little or as many additions to make your ceremony exactly as you want it.
Of course the signing of the paperwork is also a legal requirement to make the marriage official.
I will discuss the style of your wedding with you throughout the planning and will be sure to dress to match your style and to blend in with your colour scheme. I have attire for a wide range of weddings from formal to informal, casual, indoor, outdoor or special themes. If you choose a themed wedding, I am happy to dress accordingly – even if this means dressing as Donald Duck, Elvis Presley or any other character that suits your theme!
It will be dependent on the type and location of the wedding and the ceremony you choose. I have standard rates and work from there. I like to meet clients and get a full understanding of your day and what is required before I quote my services. My fees are very competitive and there are also many additions and high-quality touches you get as added extras. You will know the exact charge for my services during the first meeting, and this will be signed from the start under a service agreement to ensure transparency and no surprises after the agreement has been signed.
January 2023
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