Electronic marriage registers have replaced paper marriage registers. This applies to all marriages, including:
- civil ceremonies
- ceremonies at churches and other places of worship
What this means for your ceremony
There have been some changes to how your marriage is recorded.
You can include more parents
You can now include more than one parent on your marriage entry and certificate. For example, your mother, father, parents or step-parents.
You will sign a document instead of a register
You, your partner and your witnesses will sign a marriage schedule. The registrar will also sign this document.
This replaces the paper marriage register.
You will not get your certificate on the day
You will not be given a marriage certificate at your ceremony.
After your ceremony
After you sign the schedule we record your marriage in the electronic register.
If your ceremony is at the Register Office or an approved venue:
- we will post your marriage certificate to you
If your ceremony is at a religious venue:
- the clergy or authorised person will send the schedule to us, and you must order and pay for your certificate