Courthouse marriages in Australia

In American movies and TV shows they often talk about courthouse weddings, or getting married at the court. To put it simply, we don’t have courthouse marriages in Australia. You can’t walk into a functioning courthouse, a court of law, and get married in that building by court staff. It’s just not a thing.

Registry Office weddings

What people are usually talking about when they refer to a courthouse marriage is getting married in the Registry Office. Most States and Territories in Australia have narriage registries or registry offices, usually run by the State or Territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Registry offices provide simple marriage ceremonies usually in government buildings (although occasionally in more exotic places). They’re solemnised by State and Territory Officers – celebrants appointed by the relevant government to conduct registry office weddings.

Celebrant weddings

Getting married at your local Registry Office is a fine and valid choice. But I would encourage you to consider hiring a celebrant to create and perform a personalised, meaningful wedding ceremony for you in a venue of your choosing. You can even have the celebrant of your choice perform a short and sweet ceremony, similar to what you would get at the Registry Office. But a celebrant will take much better care of you than the Registry Office will. We’re worth it!