CHURCH WEDDING: What is the difference between a Church/Religious Wedding Ceremony & Civil Wedding Ceremony?
The main difference is that a Church wedding is a religious service conducted by a member of the Clergy within a state, and at which a marriage takes place, as a Sacrament; while a civil ceremony is conducted by a nationally registered Marriage Celebrant so can take place anywhere in Australia, anytime, anyway, and with almost any content, religious or not, provided there is a compliance with the Marriage Act; and whilst the Minister may ask the couple questions in place of their Vows, in a Civil Ceremony, the couple say their vows to each other.
Church wedding
In a Church wedding, the couple face the altar and clergy member as it is about your joining in Sacrament and so engage in prayer in a Church community to receive a holy blessing upon your union in the presence of the congregation you are joining as a couple/family and so the ceremony follows church doctrine, often limiting what can be done & said so as not to contradict or impinge upon religious belief or context and of course the congregation should be present in addition to your guests who may not be members of that congregation. If you are devoutly religious, attend a particular church together, want to take part Sacrament, wish to raise your children in that religion/church, want your children to attend the associated religious school and you will regularly attend Church services a family, then maybe consider a church wedding however if you are not intending to attend that church apart from your wedding, you should consider a Civil Ceremony.
Some Clergy will insist that your ceremony can only take place inside their Church building and may require you to attend Marriage Preparation courses.
If you are of different religions, some churches may also require a ‘conversion, i.e.. joining of that faith which may also include religious classes rituals over a period of time.
Civil Ceremony
A Civil Ceremony has almost no restriction.
It is entirely about your marriage and your choices.
A Civil Ceremony can be written especially for you and almost anything goes as long as the Monitum and vows are said and the Marriage celebrant is authorised. As with any marriage ceremony the vows and marriage law cannot be contradicted.
The couple usually by choice, face each other or the guests that they have invited.
You are required to have 2 witness for the signing of your Certificates but can have as many or as few guests as you like. If you want more signed witness a separate non-legal Certificate can be created.
No classes are required of any kind but as with as planned marriage, you will still be given a pamphlet to inform/remind you of what it means to be married.
A Civil Ceremony can have no religious content whatsoever or can include religious context and content. It is entirely your choice.
Here is my ‘generalised’ ready reckoner listing my interpretation of differences but if you have any questions or disagree with me on any point, let me know.
| Item | Civil | Church |
| Requires one month’s notice under the law | Yes | Yes |
| You must provide proof of identity as well date/place of birth | Yes | Yes |
| You will be given a pamphlet to inform/remind you of what it means to be married. | Yes | Yes |
| Only 2 witnesses required for the signing of your legal Certificates | Yes | Yes |
| The Ceremony is designed/written especially for you | Yes | No |
| The Ceremony is entirely about your marriage | Yes | No |
| Can take place anywhere | Yes | No |
| Can take place anytime | Yes | No |
| Is a specifically religious service or sacrament | No | Yes |
| Can take include a variety of rituals from different cultures or religions | Yes | No |
| You must ‘say’ your Vows to each other | Yes | No |
| You can have lots of friends of all denominations as guests. | Yes | Limited |
| Can only take place within the state or territory in which the Celebrant is registered. | No | Yes |
| The couple usually, by choice, face each other or the guests that they have invited. | Yes | No |
| You announce your vows by questions and answer only | No | Yes |
| Is conducted by a Minster of Religion (Clergy member) | No | Yes |
| Can marry regardless of age (provided over 18), sex or sexual orientation, gender, religious belief, culture, race etc, | Yes | Maybe |
| You can marry if you are unable or unwilling to have children | Yes | Maybe |
| You can marry if you are of the same sex /gender | Yes | Maybe |
| You can marry if you are LGBTQI | Yes | No |
| You can have LGBTQI bridal party | Yes | Maybe |
| You can marry if of the same sex as your partner | Yes | Maybe |
| You must be Baptised into the church (or similar ritual) | No | Yes |
| Can have almost any content, including non-religious, religious, ritualistic, humanist, agnostic, pagan, or not, | Yes | No |
| One or both in the couple must join the religion or Church | No | Yes |
| The ceremony must take place inside their Church building | No | Yes |
| The couple must attend Marriage Preparation classes. | No | Yes |
| The couple must be of the same religious faith | No | Usually |
| The couple must attend regular religious services and/or classes | No | Yes |
| Requires your children to join a particular religion | No | Yes |
| Restricts what you can wear | No | Yes |
| Has almost few or no restrictions apart from ‘don’t break the law or put any person in danger’. | Yes | No |
| Follows a church doctrine | You choose | Yes |
| Will include the reading of religious or Biblical text | You choose | Yes |
| Will include the reading of non-religious text | You choose | Maybe |
| Couple face the altar/front | You Choose | Yes |
| Couple and guests join in prayer | You Choose | Yes |
| You receive a form of Holy blessing | You Choose | Yes |
| You receive a Family blessing | You Choose | Your Choice |
| Will not contradict or impinge upon religious content/context | You Choose | Yes |
| Will definitely include religious context or content | You Choose | Yes |
| Will have no religion content at all. | Your Choice | No |
| Held at any venue or location of your choice e.g. reception centre, garden, hall, restaurant, backyard, on horseback, mountainside, beach, cave, lounge-room, air-balloon, cliff face etc.. | Your Choice | Limited |
| Should include members of the local religious congregation | Your Choice | Yes |
