Some ceremonies you feel more than you follow. On Valentine's Day 2026, Manon and Karim were married in my own garden — she's from France, he's from Mexico — and when they spoke their vows, not everyone in the room understood every word. It didn't matter in the slightest. The emotion reached all of us anyway.
Two languages, learned for each other
This is the part I'll never forget. Manon had learned to speak her vows in Spanish — not her language, but Karim's — so that his Mexican family could understand every word she promised. And Karim had done the same in reverse, speaking his in French, for Manon's parents.
Neither was speaking their own tongue. They'd each learned the other's, quietly, in the weeks before — just so the people who love them wouldn't miss a thing. Spoken a little carefully, entirely from the heart, those vows were the most moving few minutes of the day. You didn't need the translation to feel it.
A garden, a Buddha, and both families on the screen
We held the ceremony in my backyard, against the stone Buddha water feature that gives the garden its calm. It's an intimate spot — and for Manon and Karim, intimate was exactly right, because most of their family couldn't fly in from France and Mexico.
So we brought them in another way. Both sets of parents joined live by video call and were present for every word — watching their children marry from the other side of the world, in the middle of the night in their own time zones, and not missing the vows spoken in their language. There was a bouquet toss, and then we did what Valentine's Day deserves — we raised a glass of champagne.
Moments from the day
▶ Two short films · tap to watch
The bouquet toss
Just married
Marrying across borders
A French bride and a Mexican groom, marrying under Australian law — that's three countries with a stake in the paperwork, and it's the part that can quietly stress a couple out long before the day itself. Getting it right, calmly and early, so Manon and Karim could think about each other instead of forms, was as much my job as the ceremony was.
If you're marrying someone from another country, or planning a ceremony that touches more than one, it's worth understanding the legal side early — how a legal ceremony works in Sydney, and how overseas marriages are recognised here. And if a relaxed garden ceremony is what you're picturing, that's exactly where this one happened.
"I would highly recommend Rohit for so many reasons — he is truly passionate about his work, and full of warmth and kindness. From our very first meeting, we knew we were happy and confident to get married with him. Karim and I come from different backgrounds — I am French and Karim is Mexican — so immigration and international paperwork were very important factors for us. Rohit understands these situations and the specific challenges of marriage between foreigners. For all these reasons, we recommend him 100%." — Manon · Easy Weddings review
Planning a cross-border wedding?
If you and your partner come from different countries, the ceremony is the easy part — it's the paperwork and recognition across borders that's worth getting right early. A Notice of Intended Marriage must be lodged at least one calendar month before the ceremony, so start there, especially if family are travelling or joining from overseas.
I'm a marriage celebrant, not a migration agent — for visa questions, speak to a MARA-registered agent — but I'll make the marriage side simple, so you can focus on each other.
Common questions about cross-border & bilingual weddings
Can you perform a wedding ceremony in two languages?
Yes — bilingual and trilingual ceremonies are some of my favourites. Manon and Karim's ran in English, with their vows in French and Spanish. I can weave vows, readings or key moments into another language and keep the legal wording clear in English, so nothing about the marriage's validity is ever in doubt. Tell me which languages your families speak and which parts matter most, and we'll build the ceremony around them — it's the heart of what a bilingual celebrant in Sydney does.
Can overseas family join a Sydney wedding by video call?
Absolutely — Manon's family watched from France and Karim's from Mexico, live. It takes a little planning: someone nominated to hold the phone or tablet, a stable connection, and a run-sheet so family overseas know when the vows, the kiss and the signing are coming — even if it's the middle of the night in their time zone. I build those cues into the ceremony so no one on the other side of the world misses the moment.
What paperwork do we need if one of us is from another country?
You lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one calendar month before the day, and each of you provides ID and evidence that any earlier marriage has ended. You don't need to be an Australian citizen or resident to marry here — many couples marry in Sydney and have it recognised back home. I'm a celebrant, not a migration agent, so visa questions go to a MARA-registered agent — but I'll make the marriage paperwork itself simple.
Marrying across cultures or borders?
Tell me your two countries and the day you're picturing. I'll make the paperwork calm and the ceremony yours — in whatever languages your families need.
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