The legal steps for getting married in New Zealand, in order. You apply for a marriage licence from Births, Deaths and Marriages and marry with a registered celebrant.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm specifics, fees and timings with Births, Deaths and Marriages (Department of Internal Affairs) and your celebrant.
About 6 months before the wedding
You must be married by a celebrant whose name is on the official list: an independent celebrant, a minister of a recognised religious body, or an organisational celebrant. A registry ceremony is on weekdays 9am to 5pm; a personalised ceremony can be any time and place named on your licence.
About 9 weeks before the wedding
You must be 16 or over (16 and 17 need Family Court consent) and not already married or in a civil union. Gather your details and any divorce or death evidence, and check what the application asks for.
About 3 weeks before the wedding
Apply to Births, Deaths and Marriages, online or on paper. Only one of you has to complete the application, with both your details, and you sign a declaration as part of it. The licence must be in place at least 3 working days before the wedding, and it expires after 3 months. The fee is about $158 (as of writing).
Get a marriage licenceAbout 7 days before the wedding
Your celebrant checks the licence before the ceremony and confirms who you are. The ceremony must be at a place named on the licence.
On the day
You need at least two witnesses who understand the ceremony. You each say the legal words and sign the marriage register straight after.
Within about 7 days after the wedding
Your celebrant must send the signed Copy of Particulars to Births, Deaths and Marriages within 10 days. Ask them to confirm.
Within about 14 days after the wedding
Order the official certificate online (about $35 posted, as of writing). You'll need it for name changes, banks and any immigration paperwork.
You must be married by a celebrant whose name is on the official list. Independent and organisational celebrants can conduct legally binding ceremonies.