Is it possible to sign for a marriage but not register it until 4 months later
We have booked our church wedding but it is not an auspicious date for marriage in the Chinese calendar. My parents say it's bad luck to be married then. So we are organising a Chinese tea ceremony 4 months earlier on a good date, but my parents now want a celebrant to officiate and for us to sign and register then, but my bride doesn't want that date on our certificate. Can we sign, but not register it, and just wait for the church wedding to be officially married?
Question Asked: 20/06/2023
Wedding Date: 21/06/2023
Most Helpful Response
Answered by: 13 Experts
Sort by:
(1) · Ballarat, Daylesford, Ballan, Warrnambool, Bacchus Marsh, Geelong & Bellarine Peninsula
Posted: 15/12/2023
No. Under The Marriage Act (1961), the Celebrant MUST lodge your official paperwork within 14 days of the ceremony. however, it will be the date you signed ON your Official Certificate of Marriage. However, you can have a Commitment Ceremony, where NO paperwork is signed until the church wedding date. THEN the paperwork must be sent in by the Celebrant within 14 days of signing. We can be fined, gaoled and/or deregistered for breaking the Government Law.
(18) · Byron Bay to Ballina , North Coast NSW and Gold Coast QLD
Posted: 19/09/2023
That is NOT possible at all.
However you can talk to your celebrant about a commttment ceremony with a legal ceremony on another date.
Ask me how !
A difficult situation trying to please traditonal parents and your future bride. Remember this is your wedding & your future. You can have a committment ceremony with the celebrant on the lucky date on the Chinese calendar, maybe sign a decrative certificate for committment. Then have the church wedding on the date that your bride wants, the registration will then state that date. This way you should be able to please both your parents & future Bride. Good Luck, I happy to help in any way. Sincerely, Deb 0488 301 001
Unfortunately not. The date the celebrant solemnised the ceremony will be the official marriage date. Also, Celebrants have to submit the Official paperwork to BDM NLT 14 days after the Ceremony took place....
Goodluck!
Dan :)
You Cannot. Whetever date the celebrant officates at the wedding - is the date of registratyion that will appear on the cerificate.
You can however - just have a simple legal wedding on that first date - then have a "commitment ceremony" or "renewal of vows" on that second date 4 months later. Call me if need further explanation. Regards - Craig Moran Celebrant 0417584156
(15) · Perth & Surrounding Areas (Other Areas By Arrangement)
Posted: 4/07/2023
May be some confusion here. If you go with a Celebrant, then you dont need a church wedding to be officially married. From the date you sign the wedding documents, the celebrant is required to submit within 2 weeks, however the marriage certificate will show the date the wedding was performed. If you want a date that is lucky, then marry on that date.
cheers
Lee Halligan Celebrant
(2) · Gold Coast / Tweed Heads / Brisbane
Posted: 4/07/2023
Unfortunately, this would be illegal. Marriages are registered within 14 days of the wedding here in Australia!
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.
According to law in Australia, the Marriage Act 1961, the marriage must be registered by the celebrant immediately (within 14 days maximum) with the date that you actually were married to Department of Birth, Deaths and Marriages in the State in which the ceremony took place. This date of marriage cannot be changed or left open.
I wish you both a wonderfully loving marriage and hopefully you will find a solution that makes you all happy by moving your Church wedding to a more auspicious date or your Mother understanding and accepting the legal date.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask your own question and we'll have our experts answer it.
Ask a question
No must be registered within 14 days with BDM.
Cheers David