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Australian WeddingsAustralian Weddings: have an international flavour and are a multi-cultural affair, so much so that there is no such thing as a traditional wedding in Australia! Let me explain. There were two distinct groups within Australia; the native Aboriginal people who arrived 40 – 80,000 years ago and the European migrants lead by the English in 1788. Latterly, communities not only from Europe, but Africa, Asia and the United States have all brought their customs and faiths/religions with them all of which have survived.
Interfaith marriages between the Aboriginals and others were outlawed. The 1890’s legislation prevented such marriages. The migrants tended to keep within their communities and not mix with other migrant groups. The geographical distances between habitations were such that communities married within communities. Thus this was a perfect situation to preserve so many different international customs and traditions. Australian weddings today still tend to reflect the couples ancestry. Interfaith weddings are no longer outlawed, but the trend is to recognize both parties’ cultural backgrounds. Aboriginal Australian Weddings: There were well over a 100 Aboriginal tribes. Each tribe would have been further sub-divided into “bands”, comprising 2 – 3 families. This led to over 200 languages and 600 dialects within the Aboriginal Community. Their cultural history was passed down orally, thus there is exceptionally little documentation. What is known is that there was a general acceptance of polygamy and inter-band marriages to solidify communities. The main Aboriginal tribes today are the Koori of Victoria and NSW, Murri of southern Queensland, Noongar in southern WA, Nunga in the south of SA, Anangu in northern SA and neighbouring parts of WA and Northern Territory. Today the Aboriginal elders accuse the children of “going the white man’s way”, i.e. marrying for love and in the European tradition. Themes and Fashion at Australian Weddings: Australians are well known for being extremely laid back. Australian fashion is distinctive for being lightweight, casual and somewhat colourful. Do not be surprised to find guests turning up in their shorts and thongs! If this suits you, great, but to avoid this it is essential that the bride and groom indicate on the invitations the dress code and/or theme. Popular Aussie wedding themes include: Authentic Australian Food: Please click on the following link for some authentic Australian cuisine:
Australian Wedding Banquet.
An average wedding costs between $12,000 - $15,000 Aus dollars. A couture (made to measure) gown averages $2,000 - $5,000. Banks are reporting loans being taken out of $20,000. Legalities When Marrying In Australia: To marry within Australia your paperwork should be lodged no less than 31 days before your wedding date in the relevant State. If living outside of Australia then visit your Australian Embassy or Consulate and ask them for the applicable Notice of Intent to Marry form. Be prepared to produce your birth certificates and any other relevant documentation, for example, divorce papers, death certificate, change of name papers, if applicable. You should be 18 years of age or over. Same sex marriages are not conducted. Marriages are usually conducted in English. Both civil and church weddings are recognized by law and internationally. Most denominations are catered for, but again you should check with your nearest Australian Embassy/Consulate. Australian Wedding Traditions: There are no specific customs or traditions as each nationality and religion or faith has its own. However, amongst the rural communities in Australia it has become custom to write the names and marriage date in the front of the family bible, together with any forthcoming children and hand the bible down from generation to generation. Like their European counterparts, Australian brides generally wear white wedding dresses. During the wedding ceremony the bride and groom exchange wedding rings. If you know of any Australian wedding traditions let me know and I will add them to this site.
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