So you’re planning to Wed in stunning Taranaki (or elsewhere in New Zealand)! CONGRATS!!!
We’re pretty stoked for you! Whether you’re a local or you’re eloping beneath our beautiful mountain, on one of our breathtakingly stunning beaches or amongst the vines of one of our iconic wineries – there are a few little legal technicalities you need to take care of in advance, to insure your wedding is legally recognised in New Zealand!
We’ve done the research, read all the legalities and put together this easy guide so you can just concentrate on the fun stuff!
First up – WHO can get legally married in New Zealand?
- > You can legally get married in New Zealand provided you are BOTH over 18. (If you’re 16 or 17 you’ll need sign off from a family court judge before you can legally say “I Do”.)
- > You both must not be currently married or in a civil union.
- > You must not be closely related to each other.
- > You must both freely consent to being married.
New Zealand welcomes, recognises and celebrates same-sex marriages, non-residents and international couples so even if you’re visiting from across the world and are not resident in New Zealand – you can still get legally married here!
Next up – choose who is going to perform the legal ceremony. Whether you choose to use a Registered Marriage Celebrant or a Religious Figure such as a Pastor, Minister or Priest etc. – they must be legally registered with the New Zealand Government – you can check the list of registered marriage officiants here.
So now you have a celebrant – it’s time to apply for your Marriage Licence! And nowadays it’s super easy to apply online via the Department of Internal Affairs or in person at your local Births, Deaths and Marriages office. It currently (as at 24 October 2025) costs $150 to apply for a marriage licence and this needs to be paid at the time of application (Celebrant fees are additional to this cost). If you are choosing a Registry Ceremony this will cost $240. Make sure you do this at least 3 days before your Wedding Date – but not more than 3 months in advance. And heads up – one of you can apply for the licence BUT the Statutory Declaration needs to be signed by BOTH of you. You will also need to know WHERE you’re getting married, WHO is performing your ceremony and WHEN ie. the date and time (or at least an indication) that you intend to get married.
Once you get the tick of approval you’ll receive your Marriage Licence (which is your legal permission to marry) and a Copy of Particulars of Marriage (your celebrant will complete this during your ceremony). You need to give both these documents to your Celebrant before your ceremony.
On the Day – your Celebrant will guide you through the legal wording required which includes you both stating your full names and that you take each other as legal spouses. You both must sign the Copy of Particulars of Marriage and there must be two legal witnesses present who:-
- > Must be old enough to understand the legal process.
- > Must be able to understand what’s happening (interpreters can be used if they speak another language).
- > Must be of sound mind and not be intoxicated.
After your Wedding – your celebrant will return the signed paperwork to the Department of Internal Affairs (they must do this within 10 working days). Once it is received – your marriage is officially registered and you can order your Marriage Certificate online – this is your official legal proof of your marriage. This currently costs $33 to have this mailed to you. You may need your marriage certificate for :-
- > Name Changes
- > Applications for immigration
- > Legal and Banking updates
A few extra legalities if you’re travelling to New Zealand from another country to get married
- > You don’t need to be a Citizen or even a resident in New Zealand to get married here but you do need to have a valid passport, a marriage licence and proof of your freedom to marry if you were married previously (ie. Divorce papers or a death certificate of your previous spouse if you are a widow/widower).
- > Also – if you’re on a tourist or work visa – you cannot get married to gain residency. That’s an entirely different immigration process.
All in all – getting married in New Zealand is actually a pretty straightforward process, legally speaking anyway! Working with a professional Wedding Celebrant (you can find some amazing ones on our Directory) who can guide your through the legal process leaves you with plenty of energy and time to find the perfect thing to wear, the perfect florist and photographer, to deal with Mother-in-law or Bridal Party dramas or most importantly – it leaves you free to focus on the main event , celebrating your love and your union in one of the most beautiful places in the world!
Happy Wedding Planning!