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title: "Wedding Documents and ID: A Checklist for Your Celebrant"
source: "https://allcelebrants.com.au/blog/wedding-documents-and-id-checklist"
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Legal marriage

Planning

# Wedding Documents and ID: A Checklist for Your Celebrant

August 8, 2026

4 min read

TOC

Good document preparation is not the glamorous part of wedding planning, but it protects your wedding day and your future records. Your celebrant needs to be satisfied about identity and eligibility before they solemnise a marriage, so start gathering documents as soon as you lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage.

## What your celebrant will usually need

- Evidence of your date and place of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport.
- Evidence of your identity, commonly a driver licence or passport.
- Proof that a previous marriage has ended, if either person has been married before.
- Information needed to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage accurately.

Your celebrant will tell you exactly what they need to see for your circumstances. Do not send sensitive documents more widely than necessary, and ask your celebrant about their secure process for receiving and storing them.

## Pay close attention to names

Marriage documents become part of your long-term identity record. If your names differ across a birth certificate, passport, licence, change-of-name certificate, divorce order or previous marriage certificate, tell your celebrant early. They can explain what links or further documents may be needed. Do not assume a familiar nickname, shortened name or social-media name will be suitable for formal documents.

## If documents come from overseas

Overseas birth certificates, divorce documents and translations can take more time to assess. Give copies to your celebrant early and follow their guidance about originals, translations or further evidence. This is one of the strongest reasons to avoid leaving the NOIM to the legal minimum.

## Keep a simple folder

Use one secure folder, physical or digital, for the documents your celebrant has asked for. Record what has been sent and bring any requested originals to your meeting. It is a small bit of organisation that makes the rest of the process much easier.

This checklist is general only. The current government guidance lists evidence of birth, identity and previous-marriage documents at [Get married](https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/marriage/get-married).