WEDDING FORM - SURFERS PARADISE PARISH

This form is used to fill out Federal and Church documents, so please use full spelling of words, and please avoid abbreviations. Eg. Queensland instead of Qld; Boulevard instead of Blvd, etc. (When the document asks for the "maiden surnames" of parents, please print the full name of the parents, including all given names - {and middle names} - AND the surname of the person - eg, their family surname prior to them marrying). This is needed for government requirements). We use this document to prepare the legal paperwork that will be needed for the wedding. If we have already confirmed a wedding date and time with you, please enter it in the relevant sections, and if you are inquiring about a date and time, please put that in the relevant section. If you are inquiring re these dates and times then, naturally the filling in of this form is a request. In the second case of an inquiry, THE PRIEST WILL GET BACK TO YOU TO CONFIRM WHETHER THIS WEDDING IS ABLE TO BE PERFORMED AT TIME/DATE YOU REQUEST. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AT LAW AND WITH THE CHURCH ARE NEEDED BEFORE CONFIRMATION.

Before you start filling out this wedding form, please note: **  NB -  If you, or your fiancé, have been previously married (to other parties than the two now asking for a catholic wedding) and the prior wedding partner is still living, please do not book a wedding until you have contacted the Regional Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Church: https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/offices/office/regional-tribunal-brisbane/  We cannot do marriages of people previously married until they provide, where possible, a ‘freedom to marry’ letter from the catholic tribunal.   The Catholic Archdiocesan Tribunal, GPO Box 1726, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001 tribbris@bne.catholic.net.au Phone 3324 3033

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Please note that when you complete and submit the application form by pressing the submit button at the end of this form, you should receive an immediate message saying "Success" and you should also get an email confirming this. IF this does not happen, you may have accidentally not filled in all the required information. If you don't get a reply or a success page soon after submitting, please contact us as soon as possible to prevent delays. *
Please note that throwing confetti, rice, or petals inside the church or on its grounds is strictly forbidden.  
Similarly, bubbles are not permitted inside the church.

Food or hot drinks must not be brought into the church building and should be consumed before entry into the church. *
How will you be featuring music in the ceremony *
 
Proposed Wedding Month *
Proposed Wedding Day: *
Proposed Wedding Year *
 
Please select the day of week on which the wedding occurs *
Proposed Church for Wedding. *
 
Will you require one of the priests of this parish to be the celebrant for the ceremony? (please write their name below, and this celebrant will need to contact our parish to confirm his availability) *
 
Name of the Parish in which the Wedding will be conducted, Eg, "Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish," (Please note that the name of the parish here is "Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish," even if the wedding is in one of the three parish churches, eg; whether it is at St Vincents (Surfers Paradise), Stella Maris (Broadbeach), or CLear Island Waters (Sacred Heart), *
 
Please choose one of the following options that most accurately describes your situation: *
PLEASE NOTE, THIS FORM IS USED TO FILL OUT GOVERNMENT LEGAL DOCUMENTS. THESE LEGAL DOCUMENTS HAVE SOME SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL. FOR EXAMPLE. PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY ABBREVIATIONS. PLEASE, INCLUDE THE FULL NAMES OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY OR COUNTRY, AND ALSO WORDS SUCH AS STREET, AVENUE, AND SO ON. ALSO, FOR A PERSON'S NAME IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THEIR FULL NAMES ARE GIVEN, INCLUDING ANY MIDDLE NAMES. PLEASE TICK THE BOX TO INDICATE THAT YOU APPRECIATE THIS REQUIREMENT *
There are certain documents that the celebrant needs to receive in order for the wedding to be valid. *
The priest for your wedding has all the forms you need and he looks after all the paperwork for a valid wedding in the eyes of both the Government and also the church. Please indicate that you understand that the priest for your wedding is looking after all government and church documents that will be needed for your wedding. Please also indicate by ticking this box below that you agree to contact in writing and also confirm by phone message if you cancel or change the date or time of this booking. *
Are you looking for a wedding prayer service (music, prayers, readings, vows) or a Nuptial Mass (music, prayers, readings, vows, Eucharist and communion). When one side of the family is not Catholic, the Wedding prayer service is often found to be most suitable.  *
Groom: Please answer one of the above (It is not necessary that both parties be Baptised or Christened, as long as one of the parties is Catholic, a Catholic wedding is possible). Please choose the most accurate description. *
Groom:  Have you received the Sacrament of "Confirmation" (to the best of your knowledge) *
MARITAL STATUS OF THE GROOM *
Bride: Please answer one of the above (It is not necessary that both parties be Baptised or Christened, as long as one of the parties is Catholic, a Catholic wedding is possible). Please choose the most accurate description *
Bride:  have you received the church Sacrament of "Confirmation" (to the best of your knowledge) *
MARITAL STATUS OF THE BRIDE *
If you are bringing a visiting priest into this parish for the wedding please get the priest (or deacon) to contact us here at the parish to confirm he is doing the ceremony etc. our parish email is: surfers@bne.catholic.net.au *
Name and location of Catholic Parish where the wedding will be celebrated: (please note that the parish name is still used if the wedding occurs within the boundaries of that parish) - Please note that all three churches within the Surfers Paradise Parish are still part of Surfers Paradise Parish, eg: Stella Maris church is not "Stella Maris Broadbeach Parish," but it is Surfers Paradise Parish. *
Full postal address of the parish where the wedding will take place *
 
NAME OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE IN WHICH THE WEDDING WILL TAKE PLACE (PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING. IF THE PLACE IS NOT LISTED HERE, CHOOSE THE LAST BLANK OPTION AND WRITE THE DIOCESE NAME IN THE NEXT SEGMENT). For example: if you are being married in the Gold Coast, Queensland, then the choice will be Brisbane. *
 
A QUESTION FOR THE CATHOLIC PARTNER: IF YOU ARE CATHOLIC, PLEASE CHOOSE THE NAME OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE IN WHICH YOU NORMALLY RESIDE (PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING. IF THE REGION WHERE YOU LIVE IS NOT LISTED HERE, CHOOSE THE LAST BLANK OPTION AND WRITE THE DIOCESE NAME IN THE NEXT SEGMENT). (Please note: GOLD COAST, or BRISBANE, Maryborough, Childers, Hervey Bay,  etc are all Parishes that are within Brisbane Archdiocese) *
 
Would you like to be contacted by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to receive a copy of the Wedding certificate when it is registered after the wedding?

This next section is only for those who have been married previously.. for others please move to the next section:

Groom: How was the LAST marriage terminated
Bride: How was the LAST marriage terminated
Groom: was your former spouse baptised or christened?
Bride: was your former spouse baptised or christened?

PRACTICALITIES:

Ceremony booklets for the people are optional - please select one of the following (you are welcome to change your mind about this as you prepare, and if so please let us know any changed plan ) *

For all parties:

Our Apologies for repeating this particular question, however, we have found that 60% of all forms submitted have omitted something essential, or have written something incorrectly, even though they assured us they had checked. 

The Government Marriage forms require accurate and full information which matches with the details in Birth certificates etc. We are required to write names as they are spelt in Birth Certificates and other official documents, and this is why we are required to sight and compare the documents. If names are misspelt on any of your formal legal documents, you will have to contact the Registrar and apply to get these corrected. We are not able to correct these matters at our end. 

Frequently occurring errors found, after people have filled out this form, include:
- not putting in the middle names of various people eg Parents, witnesses. We need everyone's FULL given names and spelt correctly. 
- Writing the Mothers' "Maiden Names" as their Married Name. The Maiden name is the full given names, including all correctly spelt middle names, and also including their surname prior to marriage. The Federal Government requires this information. 
- Addresses include State and Postcode.
- NO abbreviations. For example, I have written "Queensland"  and not QLD, and Street or Avenue instead of St. or Ave, etc.

Please confirm here that you have looked over your answers and have double-checked for these or similar errors. *
The Catholic Church recommends that a minimum of six months notice be given to the Priest prior to the date of the wedding. This is to allow for sufficient time for preparation and planning. I understand that by applying to be married, I undertake to :
- Keep in contact with the Celebrant. (The celebrant will explain the process, and then its important that you complete the steps and be proactive in keeping in contact!).
- Provide him with the legal documents and church documents required, as soon as possible.
- Undertake a marriage preparation course as soon as possible (well before the marriage date). 
- Use the wedding ceremony choices document provided by the celebrant
- Consult with the celebrant well in advance of the ceremony about the Order of Service and send a copy to him some weeks prior to the ceremony.
- Arrange for a rehearsal date and time with the celebant, the priest.  *