Your marriage is legally recognised immediately—from the moment you and your partner say the legal vows, sign the certificates, and the ceremony is completed in front of your celebrant and witnesses.
That means you are officially married on the day of your ceremony, not when your paperwork is processed by the government.
Here’s what happens next:
-
Your celebrant will lodge your signed marriage documents with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) in your state or territory—within 14 days
-
The BDM then updates the official government records
-
If you want a legal (official) marriage certificate, you must apply for it from the BDM—it’s not automatic – if your celebrant works via a BDM online registry system, they can order the official certificate on your behalf.
⚠️ Important to note:
Even though your marriage is legally recognised from the wedding day, you’ll need the official marriage certificate to prove it for legal name changes, passport updates, etc.
Leave A Comment