There are three legal components that must appear in every Australian wedding ceremony script. Beyond these, couples have considerable freedom to personalise the rest of the ceremony however they like.

The three legal requirements

  1. The Monitum — The celebrant must recite a specific statement about their authorisation and the nature of marriage: “Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.”
  2. Mandatory vows — Each party must declare: “I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, [Name], take thee, [Name], to be my lawfully wedded wife/husband/spouse.” These words must be stated exactly as written in the Marriage Act.
  3. Voluntary consent — Both parties must genuinely agree to marry without any coercion or pressure.

Personalisation

Beyond these legal essentials, you have considerable creative freedom. The ceremony can include custom readings and music, personal vows (delivered before or after the legal declarations), cultural or religious elements, symbolic rituals, and whatever level of formality suits you.

In short: the law sets a small framework, and everything else is yours to shape.