Adelaide Registry Office Wedding: Your Two Options Compared
If you want a simple, legal marriage in Adelaide you have two realistic options. The government registry office at Chesser House, run by Consumer and Business Services. Or a registry-style ceremony with us at SA Marriage Office in Glenelg.
Both give you a legal marriage, registered the same way, with the same certificate at the end. Here is the comparison, using the government’s own published fees.
| Comparison | SA Marriage Office | Adelaide Registry Office |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 Monday to Friday$469 Saturday or Sunday | $451$147 notice fee plus $304 ceremony and venue fee |
| Days | Seven days a week | Monday to Friday only |
| Next available date | Open every date from one month out, seven days a week | Commonly around eight weeks |
| Booking | Pick a date, upload your paperwork and pay, in one sitting | Complete an online form, upload your documents, wait for the notice to be emailed to you, sign it, upload it again, pay, then book a slot |
| Where | Glenelg, a few minutes from the beach | Chesser Street, Adelaide CBD |
| Guests | Up to 10 | Up to 30, including your witnesses and any photographer |
| Who marries you | Sam, every time | A Consumer and Business Services celebrant |
Everything included in our price is on the fees page.
Your marriage is registered exactly the same way
There is no difference. Every marriage in Australia is performed by an authorised celebrant under the Marriage Act, whether that’s a minister of religion, a registry office celebrant or a civil marriage celebrant. The Notice of Intended Marriage is lodged at least one month before the wedding, and afterwards the paperwork goes to Births, Deaths and Marriages South Australia, who register the marriage.
You end up with the same entry in the register and the same certificate. What differs is the day itself, and what you had to do to get there.
SA Marriage Office is privately operated. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Consumer and Business Services or Births, Deaths and Marriages. The only time we deal with them is to lodge your paperwork after you are married.
The booking process, step by step
With SA Marriage Office
Open our calendar and pick a date and time.
Download the Notice of Intended Marriage and sign it in front of an authorised witness: a celebrant, JP, solicitor, doctor or police officer.
Book online. Upload the signed notice and your documents, and pay.
Turn up with two witnesses.
At the BDM Adelaide registry office
Complete the online intention to marry form and upload scans of your documents.
Wait for Consumer and Business Services to email you a notice of intended marriage.
Sign the notice and upload it. It is not lodged until the signed copy is uploaded.
Pay $451.
Book a date and time from the available weekday slots.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to get married at the registry office in Adelaide?
The total fee is $451: $147 for the notice of intended marriage, which is not refundable, and $304 for the ceremony and venue. A ceremony with us is $399 Monday to Friday and $469 on a Saturday or Sunday, with the same paperwork included.
Can you get married at the Adelaide registry office on a weekend?
No. Registry office ceremonies run Monday to Friday only, in eight slots between 10:15am and 4:15pm. We marry couples seven days a week.
How soon can we get married in Adelaide?
By law your Notice of Intended Marriage has to be lodged at least one month before the wedding, wherever you marry. After that it comes down to availability. Our calendar shows every date we have open, so you can see the earliest one before you commit to anything.
What is a courthouse wedding in Adelaide?
The same thing as a registry office wedding. South Australia does not marry people in courthouses. Ceremonies are held either at the Consumer and Business Services marriage room on Chesser Street, or with a private celebrant like us.
Is a registry office wedding as legal as any other wedding?
Yes. Both are performed by a celebrant authorised under the Marriage Act and then registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages. Same legal marriage, same certificate.
Do we get an official marriage certificate on the day?
You get a commemorative certificate on the day. The official certificate, the one you need to change your name or update a passport, is issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages afterwards and costs around $80. That is the same whichever option you choose.
More questions are answered on our FAQs page.
Ready to pick a date?
Our calendar shows every date we have open, including weekends. Legally married from $399, in Glenelg, with the paperwork handled.
5.0 out of 5 from 34 Google reviews. Read them on Google.
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Holly Spencer“Sam made the whole process so easy and seamless from start to finish. Everything was relaxed, well organised, and completely stress free.”
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Tai Green“We had a very quick, small ceremony with Sam who was so welcoming! We had already had a nonlegal wedding overseas so just wanted to sign the papers to have it legalised.”
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Renee Murphy“Sam was a wonderful celebrant and so welcoming and made everyone feel comfortable. The venue was simple and elegant. Exactly what we were after.”