Courthouse Wedding Melbourne: the private alternative from $295

A simple, legal ceremony in a private chapel. No government queue, no three-month wait. Just the two of you and two witnesses, or up to 32 guests, seven days a week. We take care of all the legal paperwork.

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4.9 stars on Google. Over 3,000 couples married.

Australia doesn't have courthouse weddings. Courts deal with legal matters, not marriages. What people mean when they search for a courthouse wedding is a short, no-fuss legal ceremony without the cost of a big wedding.

In Melbourne there are two ways to get one. The government's Victorian Marriage Registry, which books out months ahead and runs weekdays and Saturdays only. Or a registered celebrant in a private ceremony space, available seven days a week. That's us! The legal result is identical either way.

Packages and pricing

The Legals Only package is the closest thing to a courthouse wedding: 15 minutes, two witnesses, and you're married.

Legals Only
Intimate
Personalised
Ceremony time
15 minutes
30 minutes
60 minutes
Guests (recommended)
2 to 6
2 to 16
2 to 32
Availability
7 days
7 days
7 days
Monday to Thursday
$295
$495
$695
Friday
$395
$595
$795
Weekend
$595
$695
$895
Registered celebrant
Yes
Yes
Yes
All legal work
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lodgement of NOIM form
Yes
Yes
Yes
Personal vows
Traditional or legal
Yes
Yes
Personal story and music choices
No
No
Yes

Every package includes the celebrant, our ceremony space, the legal paperwork and silk bouquets from our flower wall for your photos. The $150 booking fee is included in the price. There is no administration fee, no NOIM fee and no extra celebrant fee.

See full ceremony pricing

Courthouse, registry office or a private chapel

A courthouse
Victorian Marriage Registry
Registry Weddings
Available in Melbourne
No. Courts don't perform weddings in Australia
Yes, Old Treasury Building, 20 Spring Street
Yes, St Kilda Road, opposite Albert Park Lake
Simple legal ceremony
$400, Monday to Friday only
From $295, seven days a week
Non-refundable fee
$195.10 admin fee on every package
$150 booking fee, included in every package
How far ahead to book
Three months or more in peak season
Usually one month ahead, the legal minimum
Weekend ceremonies
Classic package only, no legal-only option
All packages, Saturday and Sunday
Speak to a person
Business hours, email first
Seven days a week on (03) 85 921 921
Guests
Up to 55
Up to 32

Same legal outcome. Very different day. If you're weighing up the government registry, read our full side-by-side comparison of the Melbourne registry office and our ceremony space.

What a courthouse-style ceremony looks like with us

You arrive a few minutes early with your photo ID and your two witnesses, or up to 6 guests. Your celebrant checks your identification and runs through what happens next. The ceremony itself takes about 15 minutes. It includes the short legal wording required under the Marriage Act, your vows, the exchange of rings if you're having them, and the signing of the register. Then a few photos in the room or at the flower wall, and you leave married.

If you'd like a little more time for your own vows and a few guests, the 30-minute Intimate package is the next step up. The 60-minute Personalised package adds your story and your choice of music.

How to book

  1. Book your date online. Our live calendar shows what's available and you don't need to pay to hold your date.
  2. Complete the Notice of Intended Marriage. We send you the form, you complete it online, and we witness it in a short video appointment. It has to be lodged at least one month before your ceremony.
  3. Turn up on the day with your photo ID and two witnesses. We do the rest, including registering your marriage with Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.

Need to get married in less than a month? If you meet the legal criteria, we can apply for a shortening of time on your behalf. Read about getting married quickly.

Witnesses

Australian law requires two witnesses over 18 at every wedding. Most couples bring family or friends. If you'd rather keep it to the two of you, we can provide professional witnesses for $50 each on a weekday and $75 on weekends. They sign the paperwork and stay in the background, or join in the moment if you'd like them to. More on how witnesses work.

Where we are

We're in St Kilda Road Towers, opposite Albert Park Lake, a few minutes from the city by tram or car. If you had pictured the Magistrates' Court on William Street, that isn't where weddings happen in Melbourne. Ours happen here, in a private room with natural light and views over the lake. See directions and parking, or book a time to come and see the space.

Questions couples ask about courthouse weddings

Can you get married at a courthouse in Melbourne?
No. Courts in Australia don't perform weddings. The equivalent is a short legal ceremony, either at the government's Victorian Marriage Registry or with a registered celebrant. Our Legals Only package is a 15-minute ceremony in a private chapel from $295.
How much does a courthouse wedding cost in Melbourne?
The Victorian Marriage Registry charges $400 for a legal-only ceremony, weekdays only, including a $195.10 non-refundable administrative fee. Our Legals Only ceremony is $295 Monday to Thursday, $395 on Friday and $595 on weekends, with the booking fee included and no administration fee.
How long is the wait for a registry or courthouse wedding in Victoria?
The government registry recommends booking three months ahead in peak season. We're open seven days a week, so a date one month out is usually available. That month is the legal minimum: your Notice of Intended Marriage must be lodged at least one month before the ceremony.
Do I need witnesses?
Yes. Two witnesses over 18 are required at every Australian wedding. If you don't have anyone with you, we can provide professional witnesses for $50 each on a weekday and $75 on weekends.
Is a ceremony with a celebrant as legal as a registry wedding?
Yes. Our celebrants are Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants. The Notice of Intended Marriage, the legal vows, the register and the certificate are the same, and your marriage is registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria in exactly the same way.
Can I have a courthouse-style wedding on a weekend?
Yes. All three packages are available Saturday and Sunday. The government registry doesn't offer its legal-only ceremony on weekends.
Can I get married in under a month?
Sometimes. The one-month notice period is set by law, but a shortening of time can be granted in specific circumstances such as work or travel commitments, medical reasons or legal reasons. If you qualify, we apply on your behalf.
What do I need to bring on the day?
Photo ID for both of you, your two witnesses, and your rings if you're exchanging them. Everything else is handled before the day.
★★★★★
“David made planning our wedding an incredibly smooth and easy process. He took care of everything. All we had to do was turn up.”
B & A

Ready to book?

Check dates in our live calendar, call us seven days a week, or book a time to see the room.

Check available datesCall (03) 85 921 921

The Ivory Room vs The Government Registry Office.