Can a Friend Marry You in Australia?
Yes! There is just one important thing you need to know…
Your friend can lead your ceremony.
It’s true!
Your friend can lead the ceremony, but an authorised celebrant needs to handle the legal side of the marriage.
It’s called a Co-Pilot Ceremony, and that's where things get VERY interesting.
How does a Co-Pilot Ceremony work?
A Co-Pilot Ceremony is when your chosen person leads the ceremony, while an authorised Celebrant - such as myself - handles the legal requirements and the key words.
Good ol’ Australian law requires your marriage to be solemnised by an authorised Celebrant under the Marriage Act 1961 (great read if you get the chance). However, that doesn't mean your mate - or whoever you choose - has to sit in the crowd and twiddle their thumbs while a stranger leads your entire ceremony.
So, can my friend legally marry me?
Nope, unless they're an authorised marriage Celebrant. But even if they're not, they can still lead your ceremony and do about 95% of it.
What can my friend actually do?
Pretty much everything! Whoever you choose to lead your ceremony - your best mate, sister, Dad or Auntie Lorraine - takes care of all the best parts of the ceremony.
What your Celebrant Buddy can do
- Welcoming everyone
- Sharing your story as a couple
- Setting up your vows
- Your own personalised vows
- The ring exchange
- The traditional marriage vows
- The I Do's
- Stories, jokes and celebrant-style commentary
- Blessings or meaningful moments
- The big announcement
- And, of course, the kiss
What does the authorised Celebrant actually do?
With a Co-Pilot ceremony, your authorised marriage Celebrant handles all of the legal duties.
A registered Celebrant in Australia is an individual officially authorised by the Australian Government under the Marriage Act 1961 to legally solemnise marriages.
They complete all of the legal duties so the person you choose - aka your Celebrant Buddy - doesn't have to spend $3k (approx.) and do 12 months of studying a Certificate IV in Celebrancy to get registered.
| When | What the legal celebrant does |
|---|---|
| Before the ceremony |
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| During the legal ceremony |
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| After the ceremony |
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Why have a friend lead your wedding ceremony?
A lot of couples choose a Co-Pilot Ceremony, a.k.a. My Celebrant Buddy, because their friend or family member knows them better than some random celebrant.
Your dad has known you from day one.
Your sister knows all the crazy stories, including that time you cracked it at the shopping centre.
Your uncle can tell your story with love, heart and a cheeky sense of humour to boot.
That's the whole idea behind My Celebrant Buddy.
Does my friend need to become a registered Celebrant?
No, they don't.
An authorised celebrant, such as myself, takes care of all the legal requirements.
Plus, your chosen person gets a series of online lessons to help them build and deliver the ceremony from start to finish. This includes:
How the Legal Side Works
Your Master Script Template
A Walkthrough of the Ceremony
Going for the LOLs
Positioning. Positioning. And More Positioning.
Music, Mic & PA Setup
Helping With Your Couple's Vows
Frequently Asked Questions
The All-Important Rehearsal
Your Final Checklist
What if my friend wants to become a registered Celebrant?
They can definitely do that! For that to happen, they'll have to go through formal training, and there are registration requirements and costs. There are also many legal responsibilities that come with the role.
They'll need to undertake a Certificate IV in Celebrancy and apply to be registered. This can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000, depending on the provider they train with.
There's also about 12 months of training. Sometimes it can be less, but it usually takes that long to film a lot of the mock ceremonies.
It's a great option if you want to get into celebrancy as a career. But if you just want your friend to do your wedding as a one-off, My Celebrant Buddy is a fantastic alternative.
How My Celebrant Buddy works
My Celebrant Buddy is a Co-Pilot Ceremony service that lets someone you know and love take the lead at your wedding.
Step 1
You choose exactly who you want there with you and your partner. Your brother. Your Auntie. Your Nan. Anyone.
Step 2
They'll receive a series of lessons that help them build the ceremony from start to finish.
Step 3
I'll facilitate the preparation of the legals. It'll either be myself or a trusted celebrant handling the paperwork.
How much does it cost?
My Celebrant Buddy starts at just $890 plus GST. Find out how much My Celebrant Buddy costs by clicking your state below.
Is a Co-Pilot Ceremony legal?
A Co-Pilot Ceremony can result in a legally valid Australian marriage, as long as the requirements of the Marriage Act 1961 are met and an authorised marriage celebrant carries out the legal parts of the ceremony.
Can my friend marry us without a Celebrant?
An unauthorised friend cannot legally solemnise your marriage on their own. Doing so would mean the marriage was not legally recognised.
Under sections 45, 46 and 50 of the Marriage Act (my fave section is 37 but this is close… darn close), the authorised Celebrant must identify themselves as, well, you know, authorised, and also deliver the Monitum, hear the couple's legal vows and oversee the signing of the marriage documents with two witnesses.
However, the legal part of a ceremony is actually quite minimal and there’s plenty they CAN do.
Everything outside those specific legal requirements - the personal vows, the story, the I Do’s, the kiss - is non-legal and ceremonial.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, your best friend can lead your wedding ceremony. They just can't legally solemnise the marriage unless they're an authorised Celebrant, so an authorised celebrant handles the legal side. In a Co-Pilot Ceremony, your friend leads about 95% of the ceremony, including the story, the personalised vows, the rings and all the fun parts. The Celebrant takes care of the Monitum, your legal vows and the paperwork.
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Yes, your dad is a great choice for your Celebrant Buddy. He can take on a beautiful, emotional part of the ceremony, like the rings and the vows, and can write most of the script, from the first time he put a nappy on you to the day he met your partner. The only catch is that an authorised marriage celebrant still needs to take care of the legal obligations.
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Yes. Your sister arguably knows you better than anyone, so she can lead most of the ceremony: telling your story, guiding you through your personalised vows and introducing the rings. She can't act as the authorised Celebrant unless she's completed the required process to become one, but that doesn't matter. An authorised Celebrant takes care of the legal requirements, whether that's the week before, on the day or during the ceremony.
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Not on their own. An unauthorised friend can't legally solemnise a marriage, and a marriage solemnised that way wouldn't be legally recognised, so an authorised Celebrant always has to be involved. Under the Marriage Act 1961, that Celebrant says the Monitum, hears your legal vows and oversees the signing of the marriage documents with two witnesses. Your friend can still lead everything else, including the personal sections, the story and the rings.
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No. An authorised Celebrant takes care of the legal side, so your friend doesn't need to be registered. Instead, they work through short, fun online lessons, generally around 15 minutes each and at their own pace. The lessons cover the script, positioning, music, the legals and the rehearsal, with support whenever they need it. If they'd like to become a celebrant for good, they can study a Certificate IV in Celebrancy. That usually takes about 12 months and costs roughly $2,000 to $4,000, plus registration.
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Yes, for the personalised vows. Your friend can introduce them, and Celebrant Buddies are encouraged to use cue cards to hand to you at the right moment. The legal vows are different. You and your partner need to say those out loud, correctly, in the presence of two witnesses and the authorised celebrant.
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Yes, and they'll probably do it better than a stranger could. Your friend can write the story of how you met and introduce the personal vows, readings and other parts of the ceremony. Because they know you better than some random Celebrant, they can get into the nitty-gritty of your relationship and tell your story accurately and beautifully, with a hint of humour to boot.
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Yes. The ring exchange isn't a legally required part of the ceremony, so your friend can handle it. You can also hand the rings to someone else you'd like to feel more a part of the day, such as a grandmother, a friend or the Celebrant Buddy themselves. A tip: ask whoever does the rings to hop out of the way afterwards so the photographer gets the best shot.
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That's completely normal, and even professional celebrants get nervous. The lessons help your Celebrant Buddy prepare and build the structure of the ceremony, which builds confidence. A rehearsal before the big day is recommended, and they can get in touch with My Celebrant Buddy any time leading up to it. Some public speaking experience helps, but it doesn't matter much. Paul Bonadio, who used to do stand-up comedy, says wedding crowds are fantastic crowds.
Explore My Celebrant Buddy: mycelebrantbuddy.com.auOfficial Australian marriage requirements: Australian Government: Get married
The bottom line
Your friend doesn't have to become a celebrant to lead your ceremony. With a Co-Pilot Ceremony - and a service like My Celebrant Buddy - they can be the face, voice and personality of your ceremony, while an authorised Celebrant takes care of the legal requirements.