“I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, Alex, take you, Sam, to be my lawful wedded spouse.”
The words the law asks you each to say. Everything around them is yours.
Ruth Marlowe Weddings and elopements in Sydney & the Blue Mountains
Hello, I’m Ruth.
I marry people in back gardens in Balmain, on sandstone lookouts in Katoomba, and in plenty of places in between. Most of my couples want the same thing: a ceremony that sounds like them, runs on time, and gets the legal part exactly right.
We’ll meet for coffee or a video call, I’ll ask how you met and what you argue about, and then I’ll write a ceremony that’s yours. You see every word before the day.
Ruth
Four ways to say I do
Every ceremony includes the legal words, your paperwork and the signing. The difference is how much of your story goes in around them.
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Simple
15 minutesRegistry-style and unhurried. The legal words, your vows, the rings and the signing. Nothing you don’t need.For a quiet weekday wedding
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Classic
25 minutesA warm welcome, a reading or two, your vows and a ceremony shaped around the traditions you want to keep.For the garden or the chapel
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Personal story
30 minutesYour story, told well. How you met, what you’ve built, and the people who got you here. Funny where it should be.For couples who want it to be about them
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Elopement
10 minutesJust you, two witnesses and a view. Weekday mornings at a lookout or your rented cottage in the Mountains.For two, and the two who sign
From the harbour to the escarpment
Inner west gardens, harbourside lawns, Leura cottages and Katoomba lookouts.
Clear fees, no surprises
Every fee includes your Notice of Intended Marriage, the legal paperwork and lodging your marriage with the NSW Registry.
Elopement
fromA$550
- Up to 10 guests
- Weekdays, before 11am
- Short meeting or video call
- Legal paperwork, lodged for you
Two witnesses can be arranged
Ceremony
fromA$950
- Simple or classic ceremony
- Two meetings
- Your draft to read and change
- Legal paperwork, lodged for you
Most weddings start here
Full personalised
fromA$1,250
- Your story ceremony, written from scratch
- Rehearsal the day before
- PA system and microphone
- Signing table and chairs
For the whole day, done properly
Sample prices. Travel beyond Sydney and the lower Mountains is quoted with your booking. A deposit of A$300 holds your date.
The legal part, made simple
A marriage in Australia is legal when the paperwork is right and the right words are said. I take care of it, and tell you what to bring.
- At least one month ahead
Lodge your notice
We sign the Notice of Intended Marriage together, and I keep it on file. It needs to reach me at least one month before the wedding, and no more than 18 months before.
- When we sign the notice
Bring your ID
Each of you shows a birth certificate or passport. If either of you was married before, bring the divorce certificate or death certificate that shows how it ended.
- Any time before the day
Choose two witnesses
Any two people aged 18 or over. Friends, family, or the photographer if you’re eloping.
- Your wedding
On the day
You both sign a short declaration that there’s no legal reason you can’t marry. In the ceremony I say the words the law requires, you each say the legal vows, and then you, your witnesses and I sign the marriage certificates.
- Within two weeks
After the wedding
I lodge your marriage with NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days. The certificate you sign on the day is a keepsake; to change your name you’ll apply to the Registry for the official one.
Good to know
How far ahead should we book?
For a spring or autumn Saturday, about a year. Weekdays and winter dates are often free with a few months’ notice. Legally, your notice has to reach me at least one month before the wedding.
Can we write our own vows?
Yes, and I’ll help if you’re stuck. There are a few legal words you each need to say as well. They take about ten seconds, and we fit them in so they don’t feel like a form.
One of us has been married before. Is that a problem?
Not at all. You’ll just need the divorce certificate, or the death certificate, that shows the earlier marriage has ended. Bring it when we sign your notice.
Do you travel to the Blue Mountains?
I live there. Anywhere from Glenbrook to Mount Victoria is included. Further out, and across Sydney, travel is quoted up front.
Do we need a rehearsal?
For a bigger wedding with a bridal party, it helps. It’s included in the full personalised ceremony and can be added to the others.
What if it rains?
Have a wet-weather spot in mind, and tell me where it is. I bring a clear umbrella for the signing table either way.
Check your date
Saturdays from September to April go first. Pick a date to see if I’m free, then send a note and I’ll reply within two days.
Is it free?
Booked in this sample: 21 Nov, 12 Dec and 13 Mar, among others.