Marriage licence advice from a Celebrant (that people often don’t tell you!)

One of the most common questions I get from couples is:

“How does the marriage licence part actually work?”

Fair enough! Unless you’ve been married before, it’s not exactly something most people know much about. So here are some of the things couples are often surprised to learn about getting legally married in New Zealand.

1. Your marriage licence is a legal document - so only the couple can apply for it

Because it’s a legal process, the application needs to come directly from the people getting married.

That means:

• your celebrant can guide you

• your venue can remind you

• your mum cannot do it for you 😅

The actual application needs to be completed by the couple themselves.

2. Your licence isn’t issued for one specific wedding date

A lot of couples think the licence only applies to the exact date they’re getting married.

It doesn’t. Marriage licences in New Zealand are currently valid for 3 months from the date they’re issued.

So, if your wedding date changes slightly within that timeframe, you usually don’t need to panic or reapply.

3. Licences aren’t instant - allow a few working days

Marriage licences are typically issued within 3–5 working days.

It's pretty straightforward, but I always recommend couples don’t leave it until the last minute “just in case”.

Public holidays and peak wedding season can slow things down, so my general advice?

Apply a couple of weeks before your wedding and then forget about it.

4. It currently costs $150 and most couples can do the whole thing online

At the time of writing, a New Zealand marriage licence costs $150 NZD

For most couples, the process can be completed entirely online, with the only exception being if you’re applying for a Civil Union licence, which has slightly different requirements. * note that the price is due to increase on 18 June 2026, to $158.

5. Apply for your marriage certificate at the same time

This is probably my biggest practical tip.

When you apply for your licence, you’ll usually be given the option to also order your official marriage certificate.

Do it then.

Future-you will thank you. Otherwise, after the wedding:

• life gets busy

• you go on honeymoon

• you forget

• and then six months later you suddenly need it for passports, banking, visas or changing your name.

At the moment, the standard marriage certificate costs $33, but it's going up to $35 on 18 June 2026.

6. Save your money! You don’t need courier delivery

There’s an option to pay extra to have your marriage certificate couriered.

But!

• it doesn’t arrive on fancy paper

• it’s not framed

• there’s no gold embossing

• it’s the same document

Most couples are absolutely fine receiving the emailed PDF version and saving the extra money. (Spend it on snacks the morning after your wedding instead.)

Final thoughts

The legal side of getting married in New Zealand is actually pretty simple once you understand the basics.

And while I can’t provide legal advice, I can help point couples in the right direction and make sure the process feels a whole lot less overwhelming.

Because there are enough things to think about when planning a wedding already.