To be legally married in New South Wales a commonwealth authorised marriage celebrant must officiate your wedding. The marriage celebrant will conduct a wedding ceremony that includes the legally required words to make the marriage official and then lodge your marriage documents with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
There are two main types of celebrants who are authorised to perform wedding ceremonies in NSW. They are civil celebrants and ministers of religion. Both are required to conduct wedding ceremonies in compliance with the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961.
If you are planning a religious ceremony, you might choose to be married by the Minister at your local church or place of worship, or by a local priest, pandit, rabbi or other authorised minister of religion. Religious celebrants may officiate weddings outside of the church in accordance with their religious organisation.
Civil celebrants officiate more than 80% of marriage ceremonies in NSW according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Commonwealth registered civil celebrants listed below can perform wedding ceremonies anywhere in Australia - including at your chosen wedding venue.
Here's a list of the best marriage celebrants in New South Wales. They officiate a wide range of wedding ceremonies from fully personalised celebrations that last from 20 - 30 minutes, to paperwork weddings that get you officially hitched in 2 - 3 minutes.
Find A Marriage Celebrant
Sydney
Blue Mountains
Byron Bay
Central Coast
Hunter Valley
Mid North Coast
Newcastle
Wollongong/South Coast
Southern Highlands
Regional NSW
Marriage Celebrants in Sydney
Michael Janz Celebrant & MC
- Location: Randwick, NSW 2031
- Years In Business: 8+
- Cost: $550+
- 5 Star Reviews: 250+
With his warm & welcoming presence and genuine interest in all people, Michael Janz is one Sydney's most popular marriage celebrants. He is a brilliant conversationalist who easily connects with people of all backgrounds and has a gentle & endearing way that puts people at ease.
Michael has married everyone from young lovers to couples in their 80's and officiates simple ceremonies from traditional vows to fun weddings that veer outside the box. Michael is located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and is one of our top 10 civil celebrants in New South Wales.
Sydney Celebrant Vicki Frittman
- Location: Pagewood, NSW
- Years In Business: 12+
- Cost: $550+
- 5 Star Reviews: 40+
With a love of paperwork and a desire to make getting married stress-free for her couples, Vicki Frittmann is the celebrant you want to have all the legalities taken care of for you. She is a Commonwealth authorised marriage officiant based in Sydney's East who travels all over the city to perform heartfelt and fun wedding ceremonies.
You may recognise Vicki from her acting days on Australia's favourite soup Home & Away. The celebrity master of the stage and screen brings a wealth of experience to ensuring your guests enjoy your wedding ceremony. Fees start at $550 for a 5-8 minute legals only ceremony and are excellent value at $850 for a 18-30 minute service.
Mick Goldie Celebrant & MC
- Location: Coogee, NSW 2034
- Years In Business: 1+
- Cost: $500+
- 5 Star Reviews: 10+
Mick Goldie is a laid back marriage celebrant located near Bondi Beach in Sydney and is happy to travel anywhere to officiate weddings in New South Wales. Influenced by his background as a tour guide and with a knack of drawing out stories having also been a journalist, Mick's ceremonies tend to be both highly personalised and highly entertaining.
Mick specialises in quick & simple celebrations that perfectly capture the relationship of his couples. His legals-only style ceremonies are $500 and more personalised ceremonies are under average rates at $900.
Liz Watson Weddings
- Location: Erskinville, NSW 2043
- Years In Business: 5+
- Cost: Enquire
- 5 Star Reviews: 60+
Liz Watson is a specialist LGBTQIA marriage celebrant who crafts highly personalised and unique wedding ceremonies around what is meaningful to her couples. Wedding ceremonies have the couple's love story weaved with light hearted humour throughout and providing help with writing personal & meaningful vows is one of Liz's superpowers.
Zoe Sabados Celebrant & MC
- Location: Marrickville, NSW 2204
- Years In Business: 3+
- Cost: $595+
- 5 Star Reviews: 150+
"Endless laughs", "11/10 flawless fun" and "exuberant firecracking vibes" are just some of the reviews Zoe has received over her whirlwind first 3 years as a civil celebrant in NSW. This dynamic pocket rocket has brought a fresh approach to officiating weddings giving the ceremony an upbeat makeover filled with an infectious sense of fun.
All of Zoe's wedding ceremonies come with a "no boring bits" promise, the occasional expletive, loads of laughter and a sense of expecting the unexpected. She writes custom tailored ceremonies from scratch so that every ceremony is an authentic celebration of the two personalities tying the knot.
Eliza McAllister
- Location: Collaroy, NSW 2097
- Years In Business: 9+
- Cost: $700+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Sydney celebrant Eliza McAllister has the biggest smile of any officiant in New South Wales. Her down to earth nature and beaming grin create a warm and happy vibe at the altar and she is often appreciated for her positive and calming presence that enables couples to put nerves aside and stay present in the moment.
Fees for a short, sweet & personalised wedding ceremony start at $700 in her local region on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Eliza also offers vow renewal ceremonies from $400.
Megumi Carver Sydney Celebrant & MC
- Location: Rosebery, NSW 2018
- Years In Business: 11+
- Cost: $400+
- 5 Star Reviews: 180+
Previously a powerhouse in Scandinavian fashion, the tiny and elegant Megumi Carver is now one of the state's best dressed wedding celebrants. She officiates casual wedding ceremonies with a lighthearted sense of fun and being fluent in both Japanese & English can deliver ceremonies in both languages.
Megumi's fees to get you legally hitched start at $400 for a paperwork-only ceremony and range up to $1,150 for a custom-written wedding ceremony. For couples wanting a simple, all inclusive ceremony package Megumi has an in-house photographer, florist and hair & makeup artist.
Victoria Eustace
- Location: Camperdown, NSW 2050
- Service Areas: Sydney + NSW wide
- Ceremonies: Weddings, elopements, legals only.
- Personality: Warm, engaging, supportive
Victoria describes herself as a forward-thinking marriage celebrant who equally appreciates the value of traditions and ideas outside of the box. She is a is a flexible and down-to-earth officiant who brings a calming and reassuring presence to the altar. Victoria easily fits in with all types of weddings from relaxed country affairs to elegant waterfront celebrations.
Wedding fees start at $400 for legals only, $750 for basic elopements and go up from there.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in Sydney
Marriage Celebrants in the Blue Mountains
Marriage Ceremonies by Kellie Warren
- Location: Londonerry - Sydney, NSW
- Years In Business: 1+
- Cost: $500+
Kellie Warren is one of the youngest marriage celebrants in New South Wales and is based in the Penrith region of Sydney. She officiates simple and affordably priced wedding and elopement ceremonies and goes above & beyond to organise stress-free and fun celebrations that are a momentous occasion for her couples.
Wedding ceremonies are priced from $500 and include all-in-one ceremony packages with an arbour, ceremony set up and styling.
A Ceremony By Design
- Location: Blue Mountains National Park
- Years in Business: 25+
- Cost: $800+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Sue is a founding member of the Australian Marriage Celebrants Association and with 25 years worth of weddings to her credit is one of the most experienced marriage celebrants in New South Wales. She is a preferred supplier at some of the grandest wedding venues in the state including The Hydro Majestic, Echoes & Lilianfels in the Blue Mountains.
Sue creates custom-written wedding ceremonies that are a wonderful reflection of her couples and assists with crafting meaningful vows. As a languages teacher, Sue is fluent to perform marriage ceremonies in French, German and Indonesian.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in the Blue Mountains
Marriage Celebrants in Byron Bay
Married By Elva
- Location: Wellington Point QLD 4160
- Years in Business: 4+
- Cost: $535+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Elva Nicolson brings a gentle, heartfelt humour to modern wedding ceremonies and has a love of marrying couples of diverse backgrounds. Her 5 star reviews depict a warm and friendly wedding officiant who makes wedding planning from afar easy and stress free.
Elva is a preferred supplier at many Northern NSW wedding venues and offers affordable wedding packages that range from legals only ceremonies through to highly personalised nuptials.
Sam Johns Celebrant & MC
- Location: Brunswick Heads, NSW 2483
- Years in Business: 2
- Cost: $450+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Sam Johns is a relative new entrant to the NSW wedding celebrant scene and has brought with him a determination to officiate heartfelt wedding ceremonies that are as unique as his clients. He takes the time to understand what his couples truly value in their relationship and crafts a loving and witty ceremony that captures their personality & bond in words.
Sam's many 5 star reviews depict a calm marriage celebrant who assists couples to relax and enjoy the moment. He has a high attention to detail, listening carefully to the wishes and preferences of his clients. He also makes the effort to arrive early on the wedding day and get to know guests so that the ceremony is an experience that everyone feels immersed in and a part of.
Andrew Michael Marriage Celebrant & MC
- Location: Bangalow, NSW 2479
- Years in Business: 10+
- Cost: $1,600+
- 5 Star Reviews: 100+
Andrew Michael is a highly experienced marriage celebrant who officiates wedding ceremonies on land and in the surf along the Northern NSW coastline. The down-to-earth beach lover is known for his energy, enthusiasm and love of meeting new people. He'll find out why you want to commit to each other forever and then build a fairytale ceremony around your story.
Aside from being one of Byron Bay's best marriage celebrants, Andrew is a handy musician and can strum you up the aisle with his guitar. He regularly partners with other industry musicians to provide the full soundtrack to your wedding day and offers MC packages to boot.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in Byron Bay
Marriage Celebrants on the NSW Central Coast
Love Notes Ceremonies
- Location: Toowoon Bay, NSW 2261
- Years in Business: 5+
- Cost: $2,350+
- 5 Star Reviews: 100+
Love Notes Ceremonies is a professional husband + wife duo featuring experienced wedding celebrant & singer Hayley and her acoustic guitar strumming and harmonica playing partner Chris. Together, the pair officiate fun wedding ceremonies combining the relaxed tunes of live acoustic music with a wedding singer and civil marriage celebrant.
Love Notes offer all inclusive wedding ceremony packages from $2,350 including a personalised wedding ceremony and custom live soundtrack. Reception sounds and MC services can be added with packages from $3,350.
Love Stories By Jess
- Location: The Entrance, NSW 2261
- Years in Business: 1
- Cost: $750+
- 5 Star Reviews: 10
Giving traditional wedding ceremonies a modern twist is Jessica Ortega, a NSW celebrant & MC who services the state's Central & North Coast regions. Jessica personalises each wedding ceremony with the couple's unique story and helps to craft vows filled with genuine meaning. She is fluent in, and can deliver wedding ceremonies in Spanish & Maltese.
Jess's ceremony packages are priced from $750 for small elopements with up to 15 guests and from $1,300 for a fully personalised celebration lasting 15 - 20 minutes.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants on the NSW Central Coast
Marriage Celebrants in the Hunter Valley
Monty King Celebrations
- Location: Gateshead, NSW 2290
- Years in Business: 9+
- Cost: $1,500+
- 5 Star Reviews: 150+
Monty King is one of the most popular marriage celebrants in the Newcastle region of New South Wales. Oozing a natural charm and charisma, he brings a chilled and enthusiastic vibe to weddings, sharing hilarious stories and anecdotes that keep guests engaged and laughing from start to finish. MC packages available.
Hitched In The Hunter
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW
- Years in Business: 7+
- Cost: $1,400+
- 5 Star Reviews: 200+
Mel is a warm, calm and relaxed marriage celebrant who has officiated hundreds of weddings and elopements. She creates highly personalised wedding ceremonies that celebrate your unique story and delivers the 15 - 20 minute celebrations with an easy and infectious calmness. Highly experienced with LGBT wedding ceremonies.
Weddings With Jules
- Location: Hamilton South, NSW 2303
- Years in Business: 11+
- Cost: $1,750
- 5 Star Reviews: 30+
When you get married by Jules the experience goes beyond a traditional wedding ceremony, instead incorporating your story from each of your perspectives plus those of your closest family and friends. The highly inclusive ceremonies have a genuine warmth and intimacy, are usually hilarious and are delivered in Jules' typical light hearted and heart felt manner.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in the Hunter Valley
Marriage Celebrants on the NSW North Coast
Helen Hising Marriage Celebrant
- Location: Telegraph Point, NSW 2441
- Years in Business: 10+
- Cost: $800+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Nearly all of Helen's couples begin their description of her with... "such a beautiful person." Helen is very good at calming nerves at the altar and makes couples feel comfortable standing in front of crowds. If you're looking for a marriage celebrant who delivers romantic wedding ceremonies, Helen is an ideal choice.
Celebrating Life's Events
- Location: Lake Macquarie, NSW
- Years In Business: 17+
- Cost: $525+
- 5 Star Reviews: 20+
Nadine Leighton officiates modern wedding ceremonies in Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Newcastle and surrounding North Coast NSW regions. She's relaxed and organised, and invests time & planning into formalising bespoke ceremonies either from a choice of samples or your own vision for your significant event.
Nadine comes with a solid understanding of legislation around getting married in NSW and is a calm presence in the face of unplanned events. She offers registry style weddings and elopements priced from $525, personalised small wedding ceremonies for up to 20 guests from $690 and classic ceremonies from $920.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants on the NSW North Coast
Marriage Celebrants in Newcastle NSW
Julie Muir Wedding Celebrant & MC
- Location: Mayfield, NSW 2304
- Years in Business: 8+
- Cost: $1,850+
- 5 Star Reviews: 150+
Having married more than 350 couples, Julie Muir is one of the most experienced marriage celebrants in New South Wales. The lady knows how to tell a story, engage an audience and create belly laugh moments mid "I do's".
Julie is of Irish origin and is fluent in Irish, Spanish, French and feel good factor.
Located in Newcastle, Julie celebrates the occasion anywhere from Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie to further north along the NSW coast. Personalised nuptials start at $1,850 for a whiskey-drinking, yarn-spinning ceremony with all the fun feels.
Jaya Bargwanna
- Location: Newcastle, NSW 2300
- Years in Business: 4+
- Cost: $650+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Jaya takes a collaborative approach to creating bespoke wedding ceremonies. She'll ask you a bunch of fun and lighthearted questions to delve deep into your relationship vault and then develop a rom-com-esque tale with the pair of you as the main characters using a cocktail of all three truths - yours, hers and the actual.
The down to earth and charismatic storyteller has a cheeky sense of humour and is known for incorporating a signature gin creating ritual into her ceremonies (she's a qualified chemist). A bare bones wedding is $650 but if you're booking Jaya to vibe up your vows you'll want the bespoke package which is a bargain if you can get it under $1,500.
The Nuptials Co
- Location: Lake Macquarie, NSW
- Years In Business: 1
- Cost: $560
Keelz became a registered marriage celebrant after two friends asked her to formalise her qualification so that she could officially marry them. She's loving her new gig as a young and fun marriage celebrant and as an industry newbie brings fresh ideas and pin point attention to detail.
Legals only weddings are $560, micro weddings with 20 guests are priced from $1,000 and a full ceremony is $1,400.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in Newcastle NSW
Marriage Celebrants in Wollongong & South Coast
Married By Sharon
- Location: Dapto, NSW 2530
- Years In Business: 7+
- Cost: $850+
- 5 Star Reviews: 80+
Sharon is a highly experienced wedding celebrant who has married more than 200 couples across the South Coast of NSW. She is known for her engaging and approachable manner and relaxed, fun-filled wedding ceremonies.
Sharon offers short & sweet wedding ceremonies at $750 including just the legal wording in her local area. Personalised wedding ceremonies that share your love story are $1,250 with a service area of 50km from Wollongong. Thereafter travel fees apply.
Simple Ceremonies
- Location: Milsons Point, NSW 2061
- Years in Business: 8+
- Cost: $350+
- 5 Star Reviews: 700+
Simple Ceremonies is a Sydney-based business with a team of professional marriage celebrants throughout New South Wales. All wedding officiants specialise in quick & easy ceremonies that are much like a Registry Office wedding only conducted in beautiful public locations.
Cheap wedding ceremonies start from $350 including a guest list of up to 20 guests in a choice of set locations. Ceremonies with up to 60 guests are $425 or it is $525 to choose your own venue with 100+ people in attendance. Ceremony styling and furniture hire options are available as package add-ons.
Jacqua
- Location: Wollongong, NSW 2500
- Years in Business:
- Cost: $750+
- 5 Star Reviews: 100+
Jacq is your lady for non-traditional weddings. For her own big day she eloped to the Nevada Desert and had a sunset ceremony before drinking champagne into the night. Jacq is an explorer, traveller, yogi and ocean swimmer and will most definitely take the time to really get to know you so she can personalise your ceremony with you. Wedding fees start at $750 for legals only, $1,300 for elopements and $1,600 for personalised wedding ceremonies.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants on the NSW South Coast
Marriage Celebrants in the Southern Highlands
Nina De Borde Celebrant & MC
- Location: Exeter, NSW 2579
- Years in Business: 14+
- Cost: $1,800+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Nina De Borde is a warm, kind and enthusiastic wedding celebrant who officiates wedding ceremonies from Canberra to the Southern Highlands and beyond. She has a background in the arts (loves musicals), is an avid bush walker and loves her vege garden and good wine.
Nina designs bespoke wedding ceremonies that celebrate your life together. She's also available to hire as an MC.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in the Southern Highlands
Marriage Celebrants in Regional NSW
Kali Newcomb
- Location: Mudgee, NSW 2850
- Years in Business: 10+
- Cost: $850+
- 5 Star Reviews: 70+
Kali Newcomb is an English-born voice artist who lives in Mudgee and marries couples all over country NSW. She has a knack of drawing out a good ol' country yarn and is an excellent story teller with previous experience as a scriptwriter for Underbelly and McLeods Daughters.
Kali's wedding ceremonies are known for being warm and inclusive, hilarious at times and custom-written about the couple's journey together and shared experiences.
Travelling Celebrant NSW
- Location: Cardiff South, NSW 2285
- Years in Business: 1
- Cost: $800+
Lyndal Johnston is a travelling civil celebrant who's based in Lake Macquarie and who travels in her van all around New South Wales to marry people. She's a passionate wordsmith and caring individual who crafts personalised ceremonies that bring the couple's story to life. You'll get a meaningful experience at the altar that's fun, memorable and a little outside the box.
Rebecca Bunyan
- Location: Hay, NSW 2711
- Years in Business: 9+
- Cost: $600+
- 5 Star Reviews: 50+
Rebecca Bunyan is a friendly officiator of weddings who marries couples all over the lower western region of NSW to Griffith, the Murray River and Mildura. She's a good people-reader, loves a laugh and believes a balanced ceremony is a good one.
Rebecca's wedding ceremonies are delivered in their traditional format but with a modern touch. She'll tailor the ceremony to something short & sweet if couples don't want too much fuss or deliver a full 20 - 30 minute bespoke experience for those who do.
VIEW ALL: Marriage Celebrants in Country NSW
NSW Marriage Celebrants
New South Wales has a huge variety of civil celebrants who specialise in different styles of wedding ceremonies. The most common types of marriage celebrants most sought after in NSW are:
- Fun Celebrants
- Elopement Celebrants
- LGBT Celebrants
- Legals-Only Celebrants
How To Choose A Marriage Celebrant
Choosing the right celebrant is crucial to having a meaningful celebration that resonates with everything you believe in together. To find the right celebrant for your wedding, start by choosing the type of wedding ceremony you wish to have and then find a celebrant who:
- fits your personality and will perform your wedding ceremony with the right vibe
- has the required skillset (eg bilingual)
- offers services you value (eg rituals, live music, can also MC your reception)
- fits your budget
- is available on your wedding date
Types of Wedding Ceremonies
These are the most popular types of wedding ceremonies officiated by marriage celebrants in New South Wales:
- BESPOKE CEREMONY: A 20 - 30 minute modern wedding ceremony that is written from scratch and shares your unique story usually involving lots of laughter and tears. Budget $1,200 - $2,500+
- CUSTOMISED CEREMONY: A semi-bespoke celebration tailored to suit from a ceremony template. You can write your own vows. Budget $750 - $1,500+
- SHORT & SWEET: A simple wedding ceremony that is momentous and memorable without too much fuss. Budget $500 - $1,200+
- LEGALS ONLY: A paperwork only marriage with the legally required words spoken that usually takes less than 5 minutes to get you officially hitched. Budget $350 - $750
- GET MARRIED BY A FRIEND: A friend performs the majority of your wedding ceremony until it's time for the legal bits. You'll need to hire a legals only celebrant to make it official. Budget $350 - $750 + a bottle of wine for your amazing friend
Cover Image: Zoe Sabados