Find a marriage celebrant

Types of marriage celebrants

You must be married by an authorised marriage celebrant to be legally married in Australia.

There are four types of authorised marriage celebrants:

• Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants
• Commonwealth-registered religious marriage celebrants
• Ministers of religion who are from a recognised denomination
• State and territory officers

We manage a database of all authorised marriage celebrants.

Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants

We regulate Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants.

They generally perform civil ceremonies, which is a non-religious marriage ceremony.

Search for a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant.

Religious marriage celebrants

We regulate Commonwealth-registered religious marriage celebrants.

These celebrants don’t have to perform ceremonies that do not align with their religious beliefs. But they must say they are a religious marriage celebrant when they advertise their services. 

Search for a Commonwealth-registered religious marriage celebrant.

Ministers of religion

Ministers of religion of a recognised religious denomination are managed by:

• the registry of births, deaths and marriages in their state or territory
• their religious organisation

The minister must be part of a recognised religion in Australia.

Search for a minister of religion of a recognised religious denomination

State and territory officers

State and territory officers are regulated by the registry of births, deaths and marriages in their state or territory.

They perform non-religious marriage ceremonies (civil ceremonies).

Search for a state or territory officer.

Complain about a marriage celebrant

You can complain about a marriage celebrant.