what is a ‘legals only’ marriage ceremony?
Not everyone wants a big wedding ceremony. Some couples want the legal bit done simply, privately and without turning the whole thing into a production involving 90 chairs, a floral arbour and someone’s cousin doing a reading from a phone with 7% battery.
Enter: the legals-only marriage.
A legals-only marriage is exactly what it sounds like. It covers the legal requirements to get married in Australia, without a full personalised ceremony. Simple. Practical. Still legally important. Here’s how it works…
What is a legals-only marriage?
A legals-only marriage is a short, simple ceremony that includes the required legal wording, the signing of the marriage paperwork and the two witnesses needed to make the marriage official.
It is not a full wedding ceremony. There is usually no personalised love story, no big guest arrival, no ceremony structure with readings, no wedding party processional and no long script. It is for couples who want to get legally married without the full wedding moment.
Who does legals-only suit?
Legals-only marriages can be perfect for couples who:
want to get legally married now and celebrate later
do not want a big ceremony
are planning a destination wedding overseas
need the paperwork handled simply
want something private
hate being the centre of attention
want to keep things low-fuss
just want to be married without the big wedding machinery
There is nothing lesser about it. It is just a different kind of wedding choice. Not every couple wants a full ceremony and Not every couple needs one.
What actually happens?
You will still need to complete the required paperwork beforehand, including the Notice of Intended Marriage. On the day, your celebrant will guide you through the legal wording, you will say the legally required vows, your witnesses will sign the documents and your celebrant will handle the paperwork afterwards.
A legals-only marriage is usually very short. Depending on the arrangement, it might take around 5-10 minutes. It can still be warm., and It can still feel special. It just doesn’t have all the bells, whistles and confetti of a full ceremony.
How many people need to be there?
At minimum, you need:
both people getting married
an authorised celebrant
two witnesses over 18
That’s it. Your witnesses can be friends, family members or sometimes arranged depending on the celebrant and location.
If you want a few extra people there, that may be possible too, but once you start adding a group, vows, music, styling and a moment, you may be moving into micro wedding territory. And that is totally fine. It just means you need to book the right service.
Legals-only vs micro wedding: what’s the difference?
This is where couples can get a little tangled. a legals-only marriage is mainly about completing the legal requirements, whereas A micro wedding is a small wedding ceremony with a touch more content and usually up to 20ish guests.
A micro wedding might include exchanging personal vows, having someone perform a reading, or maybe a little snippet of your love story/relationship journey. you can probably expect the ceremony to take 15-20 minutes.
And then you’ve got the fully personalised wedding ceremony, with all the bells, whistles, music, and moments. Expect around 30 minutes for this one, and as many guests as you like.
None of these options are better than the others. They just suit different couples.
Can we still exchange personal vows in a legals-only ceremony?
Maybe, but this is where you need to be honest about what you want.
If you want to exchange personal vows, include a few guests, play music and make a moment of it, that is probably not really legals-only anymore. That is more like a micro wedding.
If you genuinely want the fastest and simplest legal option, keep it lean. If you want meaning and atmosphere, book a ceremony that allows space for that.
Can legals-only still feel nice?
Absolutely. Simple does not have to mean cold. A good celebrant can make a legals-only marriage feel calm, clear and respectful without dragging it out or pretending it is a full ceremony.
You can still dress up. You can still go for lunch afterwards. You can still have a glass of champagne. You can still make it feel like a little milestone rather than an errand with rings.
But the whole point is simplicity.
When legals-only might not be the right fit
Legals-only may not suit you if:
you want your relationship story told
you want guests to feel included
you want personal vows
you want readings or rituals
you want a ceremony that sets the tone for a bigger celebration
you are hoping for “short but still like a proper ceremony”
That last one is important. If you want a proper ceremony, even a small one, book a micro wedding or fully personalised ceremony.
Final thought
A legals-only marriage is a brilliant option for couples who want to keep things simple, private and practical. It is not a sad little backup plan. It is not a wedding failure. It is not “less than”.
It is a clean, clear way to get legally married without building a whole event around it. And if that is exactly what you want? Gorgeous. Let’s not overcomplicate it.
If you are still deciding between legals-only, micro wedding or full ceremony, have a look at my celebrant services and see what fits your version of getting hitched.