Signing the marriage register and certificates

It is a legal requirement that the Marriage Register and Certificates are signed at the end of a wedding ceremony.

There are three important things to remember about the signing:

• The register and certificates must be signed by the Bride and Groom, then by their two official witnesses, and last by the Celebrant.
• Everyone signs using their usual signature (which means that if the bride is going to take her husband’s name, this is the last time she signs using her previous name).
• The signing is a major focus for the photographer, so how you move to the signing table and how you arrange yourselves at the table is important, as is allowing time for the photographer to formally pose you. As with all legal documents, the ink used should be black.

Usually, your celebrant will provide a pen. However, it is best to check that it is an elegant pen. I’ve had several photographers tell me that budget celebrants have turned up with a brightly coloured plastic pen advertising something or other, which required some photoshopping to tone down.

Pens

The pen you signed your certificates with makes a lovely keepsake, but you need to choose the pen wisely if you wish to supply your own. Some things to be aware of:

• Many ‘wedding’ pens are supplied with a cheap blue ink refill that doesn’t write well.
• If you’re tempted by feather plumes, opt for short ones – feathers brushing across faces during the signing can cause sneezing and obscure your faces.
• If you choose a fountain pen, make sure that the ink you use is waterproof.

Test all pens thoroughly – not just a scribble to see if they do write, but a reasonably protracted piece of writing to make sure they don’t smudge or drop clots of ink.

Signing table

Venues usually supply a table with cloth and chairs. In a park or your own home, you’ll need to organise a table and one or two chairs. You can choose to just bend over to sign (as long as your neckline isn’t too low to do that without giving the photographer and everyone else an eye-full). Avoid vases of flowers on the table. Your bouquet will be sufficient decoration during the actual signing and doesn’t carry with it the risk of drenching the certificates that a vase full of water does.

About Author Jennifer Cram
Jennifer Cram is a high-credential Brisbane marriage celebrant known for her creative approach to the development of unique, personal, and creative wedding and commitment ceremonies. Appreciated by couples for the meaningful simplicity of the ceremony and by photographers for their attention to the visual aspects, Jennifer devotes many hours to ensuring that each ceremony reflects the love and the values of the couple and the warmth of their relationship with family and friends. In 2009 and 2010, she was voted one of Queensland’s top celebrants at the Australian Bridal Industry Academy Awards with a rating of 99.62% by couples she had married.