Getting married
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How to get married in NZ
Choose the kind of ceremony you want then follow the step-by-step guide.
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Getting married overseas
If you’re getting married or having a civil union overseas, you usually don’t need to do anything in NZ beforehand — check with the country’s officials if you need to do anything there.
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Celebrants
Only registered celebrants can perform weddings or civil unions in New Zealand.
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Find a registry office
Contact details for registry offices in Auckland, Manukau and Christchurch where you can get married or have a civil union.
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Get a marriage licence
Before you get married, you need to apply for a licence. A licence confirms it’s legal for you to marry. It costs $150 if you use a celebrant, and $240 if you get married in a registry office.
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Changing your name when you get married
In New Zealand, you don’t usually have to do anything special if you want to change your name after you get married or have a civil union.
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Order a marriage certificate
Your New Zealand marriage certificate is an official record of your marriage. It costs $33 to get one sent to you.
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Submit a notice of objection to someone’s wedding
If you think there are legal reasons why someone shouldn’t get married or have a civil union, you can lodge a caveat or notice of objection.
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Information for marriage celebrants
Celebrants can legally perform marriages and/or civil unions in New Zealand. If you want to become a celebrant, you can choose to be independent or connected with an approved church or organisation. Once you're registered you need to renew your registration each year and keep your contact details up-to-date.
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Civil unions
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