Can You Get Married in Less Than a Month in Queensland? | Rush Wedding Guide
Everything you need to know about getting married quickly in Queensland.
So you need to get married – fast.
Maybe you've just found out about a job opportunity overseas. Maybe there's a visa deadline. Maybe someone is seriously ill and you want them at your wedding. Or maybe you just realised that your "plenty of time" to plan has somehow evaporated and your wedding is three weeks away.
Whatever the reason, you're wondering: Can we actually get married in less than a month in Australia?
The short answer is: Usually no, but sometimes yes.
As a marriage celebrant in Toowoomba, I've helped couples navigate rush weddings, last-minute changes, and tight timelines. Let me explain what's possible, what's not, and how to make it work if you're in a time crunch.
the one-month rule
First, let's be clear about the legal requirement:
In Australia, you must lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month and one day before your wedding date.
This is not a suggestion. It's the law.
For example:
- Wedding on March 15th = NOIM must be lodged by February 14th
- Wedding on June 1st = NOIM must be lodged by May 1st
This means if you haven't lodged your NOIM yet and your wedding is in less than a month, you legally cannot get married on that date.
BUT WAIT - CAN THE ONE-MONTH PERIOD BE SHORTENED?
Yes - but only under very specific circumstances.
Under Australian marriage law, a "prescribed authority" (like a judge, magistrate, or registrar) can authorise a shorter notice period if there are exceptional circumstances.
What Counts as "Exceptional Circumstances"?
The law doesn't define this precisely, but it generally includes:
✓ Serious illness or medical emergency
For example, if someone close to you (or one of you) is terminally ill and you want them to be at your wedding.
✓ Imminent overseas deployment
Military personnel being deployed at short notice.
✓ Employment or visa requirements
Sometimes visa applications require marriage within a tight timeframe, or employment requires immediate relocation.
✓ Pregnancy complications
In rare cases where there are serious pregnancy complications.
✓ Other compassionate grounds
Each case is assessed individually.
What Does NOT Count?
❌ "We forgot to lodge the NOIM"
❌"We've already booked the venue and can't change the date"
❌"Our families are flying in and we can't reschedule"
❌"We just really want to get married sooner"
❌"It would be expensive to change everything"
The bottom line: Just wanting to get married quickly is not enough. There needs to be a genuine, exceptional reason.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A SHORTENING OF TIME
If you believe you have exceptional circumstances, here's the process:
Step 1: Contact Your Celebrant Immediately
Tell them your situation and why you need a shortened notice period. They'll advise whether your circumstances might qualify.
Step 2: Lodge Your NOIM
You still need to complete and lodge your NOIM, even though you're applying to shorten the period.
Step 3: Apply for Permission
You (or your celebrant on your behalf) will need to apply to a prescribed authority for permission to shorten the notice period.
Who are prescribed authorities?
- Judge or magistrate
- Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Minister of religion of a registered denomination
- Marriage celebrant (in some cases)
- Your celebrant will usually guide you to the appropriate authority.
Step 4: Provide Evidence
You'll need to provide evidence of your exceptional circumstances. This might include:
- Medical certificates or letters from doctors
- Employment letters or deployment orders
- Visa documentation
- Statutory declarations
- Other supporting evidence
Step 5: Wait for Approval
- The prescribed authority will review your application and decide whether to grant permission.
Important: There's no guarantee your application will be approved. Even with genuine reasons, it's at the discretion of the authority.
Step 6: Get Married (If Approved)
- If permission is granted, you can marry before the one-month period is up. Your celebrant will need a copy of the approval to proceed legally.
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE?
This varies depending on:
- Which authority you apply to
- How quickly you can provide evidence
- The authority's workload
- The strength of your case
Realistically, you should allow at least 1-2 weeks for this process, which means if your wedding is in less than 2 weeks and you haven't started the application, it may not be possible.
WHAT IF I CAN'T GET PERMISSION ?
If you can't get permission to shorten the notice period, you have a couple of options:
- The simpliest option is to move your wedding to at least one month after you lodge your NOIM
- Have a commitment ceremony now, legal ceremony later (this is becoming increasingly popular)
WHAT I OFFER FOR RUSH WEDDINGS
As your celebrant, I can help make quick weddings happen:
✓
Fast availability – I prioritise couples with genuine time constraints
✓
Rush NOIM lodgement – We can meet within days to get it lodged
✓
Flexible meeting options – In person, video call, whatever works fastest
✓
Simple ceremony packages – Streamlined process for couples in a hurry
✓
Guidance through shortening applications – If you need to apply for shortened notice
✓
Commitment ceremony option – Legal ceremony + celebration ceremony if needed
✓
Rush fee – Small additional fee for last-minute bookings, but I'll work with your timeline
My goal: Get you legally married as quickly as possible, while still making it meaningful.
- COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT shortening of time weddings
Can I get married in less than a month if I'm pregnant?
Pregnancy alone is not considered an exceptional circumstance.
However, if there are pregnancy complications that create urgency, that might qualify. You'd still need to apply for shortened notice.
Can I get married in less than a month if I'm in the military?
If you're being deployed overseas at short notice, yes – this is one of the recognised exceptional circumstances.
You'll need official documentation of your deployment to apply for a shortening of time.
Can I get married in less than a month for visa purposes?
Sometimes. If your visa has strict timing requirements, this might qualify as an exceptional circumstance.
You'll need documentation from immigration showing the urgency.
What if my partner is overseas and can't be here to lodge the NOIM?
This is complicated.
Generally, both parties need to be present (or have the NOIM witnessed by an authorised person where they are). Speak to your celebrant about options.
What if we get married overseas in less than a month, is it recognised in Australia?
Yes, generally. If you marry legally overseas (following that country's laws),
Australia will recognise your marriage.
However, you still need to ensure it's legal in that country – don't assume it's easier elsewhere!
the bottom line
Can you get married in less than a month in Australia?
- If you have exceptional circumstances and can get approval: Yes, possibly
- If you haven't lodged your NOIM yet: No, not legally
- If you're willing to do a commitment ceremony + legal ceremony separately: Yes, you can have your celebration anytime and do the legal part when permitted
My advice:
- Don't leave your NOIM to the last minute
- If you're in a rush, act fast and contact a celebrant immediately
- Be realistic about what's possible
- Consider creative solutions (like two-part celebrations)
- Don't break the law – the legal requirements exist for good reasons
need help planning a rush wedding?
If you're planning a quick wedding in Toowoomba or South West Queensland, I can help you navigate the process and find the best solution for your timeline.
Get in touch urgently:
Email: hello@theshelleybrant.com.au
Phone: 0458 748 969
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