You must lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one full month before your wedding date, and it’s valid for up to 18 months after lodgement.

For example, if you want to marry on 30 September, your celebrant must receive your NOIM no later than 30 August.

The form must be lodged with your celebrant, not a registry office, and can be submitted:

• In person (with original ID documents)

• Electronically (some celebrants accept signed and scanned forms, followed by sighting original ID later)

In special circumstances—such as serious illness, travel, or military deployment—you can apply to a prescribed authority for a shortening of time, but this is only granted in exceptional cases.