Imagine just you and your beloved, standing on a mountaintop at sunrise, reading handwritten vows to one another as you commit to your life together… How crazy beautiful is that?

One awesome thing about marriage ceremonies is that they can be done your way, on your terms. Yes, a wedding can be old-school, in a church or wedding venue, but it can also be wild, free-form and organic – just like you!

One thing we notice that couples get confused over is symbolic ceremonies vs legal ceremonies. From a significance point of view, they have massively different meanings.  

What’s the difference between a symbolic and legal wedding?

What are the different types of wedding ceremonies? What is a symbolic ceremony and what is a legal ceremony? Which is best for our relationship? We know there’s lots to think about, but essentially, a ceremony can be either legal or symbolic. 

Here’s what you need to know about both options, keeping in mind that there’s no right or wrong – do what feels right and natural for you. 

Legal ceremonies: unity in the eyes of the law

A legal wedding ceremony is just what it says on the tin – a ceremony, led by a celebrant or religious figure, resulting in a marriage that’s registered and legally recognised by the government.

To many couples, this is important as they want a legally binding marriage. Sometimes it can be important when taking your partner’s name, having children, or for insurance purposes. 

But yes – as with anything involving the government, there’s some bureaucracy involved. The Australian Government makes you complete some paperwork (the Notice of Intended Marriage form), which you’ll need to do a month before the wedding. 

You’ll also need to meet some pretty basic wedding requirements, show proof of ID, and find a registered celebrant who can legally perform the marriage. You’ll need to round up at least two witnesses plus the celebrant, which can be tricky if you want your wedding to be a private affair.

Hold up… So how can I make my marriage legally binding if I don’t want witnesses?! No dramas – you can have a legal marriage beforehand (e.g. within your state’s Marriage Registry Office), but then have a more meaningful symbolic ceremony at another time.

Symbolic ceremonies: a free-form choose-your-own-adventure

The truly awesome thing about a symbolic ceremony is that it’s whatever you make it to be. So what happens at a symbolic wedding? The choice is really up to you, as you get to create a day that suits you and your relationship! 

Imagine being married by a parent or best friend. Or hiking through Tjoritja, the Northern Territory’s MacDonnell Ranges, and enjoying the haunting, desolate beauty of the outback, searching for the perfect spot to say your vows.

You can write your vows in advance or speak from the heart, just being with the person you love, telling them how much you love them, and making a meaningful commitment – whatever that looks like for you. Rings, no rings, flowers, no flowers… A symbolic ceremony is legit a blank slate that you can customise completely. 

So how do you get married symbolically? You’ll love this part: you just do it! No paperwork, admin or government rubber-stamping required. A symbolic wedding is more of a commitment ceremony, so you can pick a location and date, write your own vows, and invite anyone and everyone – or no one at all. 

(A top tip: we can never resist a sunset, so this can be the BEST time to say your vows or just take your couples’ portraits – we’re still smiling over this epic adventure shoot we did in Branxton with Matt and Maddy.)

As adventure wedding photographers, we adore ‘normal’ weddings, but sometimes they can feel rigid, lacking an organic flow. With a symbolic wedding, you can design the day however works for you. 

Is a symbolic ceremony legally binding?

This is as clear as mud, so here we go. A symbolic ceremony on its own is not legally binding – it’s simply two people making a personal commitment to love, cherish and value one another. Which is pretty damn beautiful, if you ask us!

However, to make your symbolic ceremony official, you can also have a legal ceremony beforehand, which is where you ‘legally’ become married. Once the formalities are out of the way, you can get married again on your own terms. 

This is ideal if you want to get legally married, but prefer your ceremony to be private, without any witnesses. 

Which type of wedding ceremony is right for me?

Love, commitment and relationships are a super personal thing, with every couple having a different opinion and preference, so there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to get married. 

Give it some serious thought as a couple and consider which would best work for you. Is having your wedding legally recognised important to you? Or are you more of a free spirit pair that bucks conventionality?

You can also get married both legally and symbolically, so you don’t need to decide if you’re unsure. Hell, you can get married as many times as you like, with some couples having annual commitment ceremonies to renew their vows. 

As your photographers, we are absolutely not here to tell you which way to go, since we love the passion, romance and enthusiasm of every damn wedding we’ve ever been to! But we do want to encourage you to follow your dreams and your heart, planning a day (or weekend, or whole week!) that completely suits you, your love and your approach to life. 

Want to talk about all things adventure wedding photography? We’re travellers at heart who love nothing more than rolling up our sleeves, jumping in the troopy and meeting you in the most amazing wedding location, no matter how remote. Let’s make some wedding photography magic happen together!