Religious Celebrant
Being united in the name of marriage
Traditional Weddings
“Celebrate Love with Timeless Traditions”
Our traditional weddings, officiated by a religious celebrant, honour both faith and heritage while creating a magical, unforgettable experience. From elegant ceremonies to grand receptions, we offer personalized services to ensure every moment reflects the depth of your cultural and spiritual beliefs. Let us help you design a wedding that embodies tradition, bringing together family, friends, and the beauty of time-honored customs.
Legal Weddings
“Make It Official, With Faith at the Centre”
Legal weddings, performed by a religious celebrant, offer an intimate, straightforward way to exchange vows while upholding your spiritual values. Whether you’re looking for a minimalist ceremony or a formal legal union, we guide you through the process with care and professionalism. Our religious celebrant ensures that your commitment is both legally binding and spiritually significant, allowing you to focus on the joy of your special day.
Traditional Weddings
Package Includes
- All legal paperwork (including Official Government Marriage Certificate*)
- Commemorative Certificate
- Visa Letter if required
- Planning of your Ceremony to include any aspect of ceremony you wish.
- Inclusion of your personal vows and assistance in drafting, if required.
- Wedding Ceremony checklist
- Fun (but serious) pre-marriage survey
- Facilitation of discussion resulting from survey (if required)
- Assistance with other wedding service providers if required.
- The Celebrant
- Marriage Interview
- Rehearsal
- Marriage support network information sheet. Contacts for pre and post marriage support
- Your Wedding Ceremony
- Copyright license, allowing you to legally use any music, prose or poetry at your Wedding Ceremony
- Use of a PA system for the Ceremony (if one is required)
- 2 x face to face meetings and a rehearsal (if desired) and unlimited email contact to plan your special day.
- $20,000,000 public liability insurance.
David Campbell is a religious marriage celebrant who conducts wedding ceremonies at a number of locations around Canberra. He offers traditional wedding ceremonies and can include any aspect of religious celebration you might desire.
I offer affordable wedding options for couples seeking an intimate experience and I look after all the legal requirements from notification through ceremony to certificate.
If you are looking for a less formal and lower cost option, the “Legal Only” package is for you. This is ideal for couples wishing to elope. To find out more,
To Arrange Your Traditional Weddings
Confirm my availability
You need to confirm my availability on your preferred date. It is worth having two dates in case your first choice is not available. To check my availability and book your wedding date.
2
Notice of intended marriage
This online form must be completed prior to the Marriage Interview. To Submit a Notice of Intended Marriage
Please note that a Notice of Intended Marriage is:
- Not legally submitted until signed and witnessed by me at the Marriage Interview.
- Valid for up to 18 months. If the parties are unsure of a date for their ceremony, this can be arranged later on.
3
Marriage Interview and Consenting Interviews
Marriage Interview:
I use this interview to verify your supporting documents and start planning for your ceremony. Note, this interview must be held more than one month prior to the date of your ceremony. Both parties must be present at the Marriage Interview. Please complete the online form (Step 2) and bring the following documents to the interview (All documents must be originals).
Both parties must provide evidence of:
─ The date and place of birth.
Proof of Identity (Any 2 of the following documents)
- Passport – Translated in English (if required)
- Driving Licence
- Proof of Age card
- Birth Certificate – Translated in English (if required)
- Proof of current address
─ The termination of any previous marriage, where relevant.
If you have been previously married, you must provide evidence of the termination of the marriage in the form of an original of your final divorce papers or a death certificate (if you have been widowed).
If they are not in English, a qualified interpreter must have translated them. The wedding ceremony date and time will be booked once all of these documents have been provided.
To Book an appointment for a Marriage Interview, and the two separate interviews. (Choose the appropriate meeting)
Separate Meetings:
Marriage Act requires an authorised celebrant to meet separately and in person with each party to the marriage before the marriage is solemnised. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that each party is freely and voluntarily consenting to the marriage.
A separate meeting needs to occur in the absence of the other party to the marriage and in a culturally safe environment – but this does not mean you need to meet alone with a party. Other persons can attend with the party’s permission.
Meet to discuss and finalise the final ceremony
At this meeting we will discuss all the aspects of your ceremony and everything you would like into the wedding ceremony. We will discuss your vows and any other aspect of the ceremony. You will receive a draft of the ceremony for the final agreement following this meeting. This can include (but is not limited to): reading/poetry, music, word of encouragement, Prayer, etc).
We will discuss other timings and meetings at the interview
Conduct a Rehearsal or Sign Final Paperwork
The rehearsal is usually best conducted the day prior to the ceremony. I like to try and have the entire wedding party at a rehearsal. The purpose of the rehearsal is to walk through everything and ensure that everyone knows what and when they will need to do their part. We will also sign the remaining paperwork in preparation for the ceremony.
We will discuss other timings and meetings at the interview
Your wedding ceremony
It is essential the Groom (and attendants) arrive 30 minutes prior to the appointed ceremony time with the Bride (and attendants) arriving 5 minutes prior to the starting time of the ceremony. This provides sufficient time to exit cars and have some photos taken prior to the ceremony and then to enter about 5-10 minutes after the posted start time.
The ceremony is conducted. And…
You Are Married
Official Government Marriage Certificate
I will submit an application for a standard marriage certificate on your behalf and have it sent to your address in the weeks following the Wedding Ceremony.
There is an admin fee associated with this service.
Cancellation
The initial non-refundable booking fee (paid at the time of lodgment of the Notice of Intended Marriage) is not refundable.
The remainder of the fee can be refunded if written notice to cancel is received at least 14 days before the ceremony date or Notice of Intended Marriage expiry date.
If a notice to cancel a marriage ceremony is received less than 14 days prior to the ceremony date, a refund will not be issued.
Change of Date
Should you wish to change the date of the ceremony, you must provide written notice at least 14 days before the ceremony date.
If a change of date of a marriage ceremony is received less than 14 days prior to the ceremony date, the marriage ceremony is considered to have been cancelled and a refund will not be issued. A new booking will be required.
Witnesses
You are legally required to have two witnesses at your Wedding Ceremony to witness and sign the marriage certificate. I do not supply witnesses.
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must know either party
- Must speak and understand English
Interpreters
If agreed during your Marriage Interview that an interpreter is required, you must arrange for this in order for the ceremony to take place. I do not supply interpreters. The attendance of an interpreter is considered to be in place of one of the additional guests.
