A Guide to Registry Office Weddings in Auckland, New Zealand
Registry Wedding at the Canopy - Nature’s Registry Office
A Guide to Registry Office Weddings in Auckland, New Zealand
The Covid-19 pandemic brought forward the closure of the Auckland Department of Internal Affairs Office, as a place to hold registry weddings. It was to close in July 2020, outsourcing all registry office weddings to registered and verified celebrants. This means any registry office wedding is now directed to a celebrant of the couple’s choice. The celebrant must be VCANZ qualified. The marrying couple can choose their own wedding site and a short registry wedding will be held.
What is a Registry Wedding?
The new requirements for a New Zealand Registry Wedding are very simple:
• A registry wedding has a short, prescribed script and the only people required to be there are the celebrant, the marrying couple and two witnesses
• Guidelines from the Department of Internal Affairs state that the location can now be anywhere of choice. The celebrant does not have to provide a venue/location for the wedding, but they can if they wish to
• The ceremony is to be up to 30 minutes in duration.
• The celebrant is under no obligation to travel long distances and it is the couple’s responsibility to provide two witnesses.
• Registry weddings can be performed any time on weekdays that the celebrant and couple agree upon. There is no restriction on the time of day or night - that is flexible and entirely up to the couple and the celebrant.
• Registry weddings are not permitted on weekends or public holidays. This is so there is a clear separation between the personalised ceremonies usually performed on weekends, and these short and simple registry ceremonies.
What is legally Required for a Registry Wedding?
The couple apply online for the licence to get married, and the paperwork is sent to a verified celebrant of their choice from the list displayed in the drop down menu. They take a form of identification with them, such as a drivers licence or passport, to the wedding ceremony. The Celebrant is required to formerly identify each person. The wording that is used in the set script covers all that is legally required for a couple to be married. Two witnesses are required to sign the marriage paperwork.
The fee the couple pay the celebrant is a set fee of $90. This is on top of the marriage licence fee which is $150.
How many Guests may I have at a Registry Wedding in New Zealand?
You may have up to 20 guests.
What do I say in the ceremony?
You will be guided in what you have to say. It is a set script. To read the script you will say for your wedding vows, view here.
Who does a Registry Office Wedding Suit?
For couples in a hurry to marry, this is a quick way to have a no fuss wedding. It is often a popular choice for couples wanting to marry for a second or third time. For couples without any religious beliefs, it can be a preferred choice. In some cases, a registry wedding is undertaken as a matter of convenience, and this does occur here in New Zealand. A registry wedding is simply, the easiest way to marry.
So if you’re thinking of having a registry wedding, here’s some helpful information.
What paperwork is required and how long does it take?
The minimum number of days it takes to apply and receive your application for a Registry Wedding is 3 days. A Registry Wedding is applied for online from anywhere in New Zealand or overseas. Click here for online application. It pays to have all your information ready before you start, i.e. birthdates, parent’s middle names, dissolution of previous marriage/civil union, etc.
Tips:
The order in which you list your names on the online form is the order in which they will appear in the marriage licence.
It’s easier to order your Marriage Certificate at the time of filling out the online form. This costs $33 and is normally sent to you within 1-2 weeks after the marriage has been registered.
How do you choose a Celebrant?
When having a registry wedding you currently have a limited number of celebrants to choose from. As you fill out the online application form, you will be shown a list of celebrants who have been verified by the Celebrants Association and approved by the Department of Internal Affairs to conduct registry weddings.
How do you know who to choose?
The Celebrants Association high lights celebrants who have gone through their standards assessment, and these Celebrants are promoted as validated Celebrants (VCANZ). The Celebrants Association (CANZ) profiles celebrants on its website. This is an easy way of finding out more about the celebrant you may wish to choose. You can learn a lot more about each individual celebrant here. If the celebrant has their own website, there will be a link to it where you can find out more about the celebrant.
What is the difference between a registry wedding and a personalised wedding?
A Registry wedding is shorter than a personalised wedding ceremony and typically more casual.
For the registry wedding, it’s very easy, as all you need to do is to turn up to the venue of your choice and bring some identification with you. The ceremony is short and sweet and can still feel very special. There’s no fuss and bother, it’s simple and easy with the ceremony only lasting up to ten minutes. How you choose to celebrate afterwards is up to you.
The personalised wedding involves a lot more time, it is longer in duration and it is designed especially for the marrying couple. You have the option of writing your own vows, and words around the exchanging of rings. Your celebrant is there to help you write these, and to guide you through the many options you may choose to have within your ceremony to make it a very personalized and meaningful occasion.
What do you wear for a registry wedding in New Zealand?
You can wear whatever you like. It can range from a beautiful wedding dress to your favourite outfit. Many couples choose to not have a suit and wedding dress and opt more for smart casual dress. There are no rules here, the day and the decisions belong to the couple marrying. If it’s a winter wedding or an outdoors wedding, it’s best to dress for comfort, so you can enjoy your day.
Want to Know More?
If you’re wanting more information or advice, please feel free to email, message me or call me. I am happy to give you non-obligatory guidance and support. Eco Celebrant Barb Milina 0275 430 288