can i ask my celebrant to mention marriage equality during the ceremony?

If you would like to contact me I am happy to chat off line.

Basically you cannot alter the words that are required to be said but in other places in the ceremony I do include a paragraph on the couple's thoughts on merriage equality

I am happy to send you a kit which will help you plan your wedding day

Mario - Treasured Ceremonies

Hi there, of course you can. A lot of Celebrants these days can guide you on the correct wording and placing regarding marriage equality.  It is mandatory that the legal wording is not changed but a phrase stating your own thoughts is allowed and your Celebrant should be able to help you with this.  Your ceremony should reflect your personalities and thoughts.

Yes! This is becoming more and more common, and it's probably unusual now to find a celebrant who won't be happy to say something. However, we can't really appear disrespectful to the law as it stands, so most celebrants link the wording to the couple and their thoughts, not the official wording of the Monitum.

So, there are lots of lovely ways to mention marriage equality - and let's hope it isn't long before the law changes!

You betcha we can - and most do! 

It is just that one line in the Monitum (the legal statement that the celebrant must, by law, make early in the ceremony) that has the phrase that causes the most angst, and has the wording that precludes loving and committed couples, of the same sex, to legally marry.

Most celebrants would have a variety of wording to use as a disclaimer - ranging from a simple sentence, to several sentences (without making it a political statement as this is your wedding, not a politlcial forum).

I'm sure all caring celebrants would have that option available for you, and would be happy discuss any variations you would prefer.

Yes, definitely.  You can add it after the legal part of the ceremony or Monitum - the celebrant can say that you and your partner hope that we will have marriage equality in Australia in the near future.  You will find that the majority of celebrants will be happy to do this.

Yes, yes, YES!  And I ask all my couples if they would like this mentioned during the ceremony.  Legally, as my peers have already mentioned, we are required to say the current Monitum exactly as it is.  But we can absolutely let your family and friends know that you hope marriage will soon be available to all loving couples in Australia, regardless of gender or sexuality.  I hope this is helpful and good luck with your search for a fabulous celebrant!  I hope you are in Melbourne. :-)

Hi there, as you can probably see from all of the previous responses, you can most definitely have whatever you wish conveyed in terms of your position regarding marriage equality included in the celebrant's words on thre day. Whilst there is (still) a legal requirement that binds celebrants to mention the "required wording", additional comments can be added.

Like you, I am so looking forward to a time in our beloved country where all people who are in love are free to marry whomever they choose as their life partner.

Most definitely!  And why not if that is what you believe (like the majority of Australians).  We are of course obliged to say the legal words (The Monitum) but I have for many years offered all my couples some ideas on how we can express their beliefs.  After all, the ceremony should reflect you and your partner.

Hopefully the laws will be changed very soon to eliminate the need to differentiate.

Absolutely we can!  We can't change the legal wording, required by law ( until they change this ridiculous law) but therae re all sorts of ways that we can make it perfectly clear that even though we did have to say THAT - what we really want to say is THIS. I  offer this option to every couple I meet as I  find that the vast majority of them, like myself - and so many, many other celebrants are passionate about the need for change. We are all crossing our fingers that marriage will be for everyone, very, very soon. 

Absolutely, after the legal requirement, you may add a few words such as "While they accept the previous statement as required by law, bride and groom  would like to acknowledge that they believe any strong, loving and healthy relationship deserves to be recognised and celebrated.