How to Officiate a Wedding in New Zealand

As a Minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

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The Short Version

There are two things: the wedding ceremony, and the legal marriage. One is a ceremonial ritual, a performance, and the other is paperwork. In most countries, FSM ministers handle the ceremony and the couple does the legal part separately. New Zealand is different.

New Zealand is the first country in the world to officially recognize the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for marriage purposes. In December 2015, the CFSM was approved as an organization under Section 10 of the Marriage Act 1955. The world’s first legal Pastafarian wedding was held in April 2016 on a pirate ship in Akaroa.

FSM celebrants in New Zealand can perform legally binding marriages. You still need to go through the official celebrant approval process (it’s not automatic from ordination alone), but the organizational pathway is established and working.

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You Can Do This

The couple asked you because they want you standing up there — not a stranger, not a professional, you. That means something. Here’s what you need to know:

It’s not as scary as you think. Most ceremonies are 5–15 minutes. The couple does most of the talking (vows, “I do”). You’re the guide.

At a minimum, your ceremony needs two elements: 1. Declaration of Intent — “Do you take this person…” / “I do” 2. Pronouncement — You declare them married

Everything else — readings, vows, stories, jokes, Pastafarian blessings, the whole production — is optional and up to you and the couple.

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Preparing for the Ceremony

1. Get ordained — Get ordained with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Takes a few minutes. The digital credentials come within hours, and the physical package ships in a few days.
2. Become an approved celebrant (if you want to handle the legal side too) — see the section below on becoming an NZ celebrant. This is a separate step from ordination.
3. Talk to the couple — What kind of ceremony do they want? Religious? Secular? Funny? Short? This is their day — find out what matters to them.
4. Write your script — Include the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement. Fill in the rest with whatever feels right — personal stories, readings, vows, humor.
5. Practice — Read it out loud at least twice. Time it. Speak slowly — you’ll talk faster on the day.

Ceremony Day

• Bring: Your script (printed), your ordination credentials, and a pen
• The ceremony: Walk through your script. Declaration of Intent → Pronouncement → done. Everything else is gravy.
• Two witnesses must be present and sign the marriage certificates
• No venue restrictions — you can marry people anywhere in New Zealand. Beach, backyard, mountain, pirate ship — anything goes.
• Relax. You’ve prepared. The couple picked you. Enjoy it.

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Becoming an Approved FSM Celebrant in New Zealand

Online FSM ordination is important — but in New Zealand, it doesn’t automatically grant you legal authority to perform marriages. New Zealand uses a government-approval system, and all celebrants must be registered with the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Because the CFSM is an approved organization, the pathway is the organisational celebrant route:

The Process

1. Get ordained with FSM (if you haven’t already)
2. Be nominated by the NZ branch of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as their celebrant
3. Apply through the organisational celebrant process:
   • Must be based in New Zealand
   • Verified RealMe identity
   • Complete an online test
   • Application fee: $150
   • Processing time: 3–4 weeks (longer September–December)
4. Your name is published in the NZ Gazette and you appear on the official celebrant database

Once approved, you’re a fully authorized marriage celebrant — same legal standing as any other celebrant in New Zealand.

If You’re Not an Approved Celebrant

No worries — you can still lead the ceremony. The couple just needs to arrange for an authorized celebrant to handle the legal marriage paperwork. Options:

• Registry office — Quick civil marriage registration at a Births, Deaths and Marriages office ($173.70 including license). Then your FSM ceremony is the celebration.
• Another authorized celebrant — The couple books one for the legal bits. Many are happy to do a brief legal signing before or after your ceremony.

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Marriage Requirements in New Zealand

Marriage License

• At least one party must appear in person at a Registry Office to sign a statutory declaration
• Must be filed at least 3 days before the wedding
• License valid for 3 months
• Cost: $150 for a personalised ceremony with an approved celebrant
• $173.70 for a registry office ceremony (includes license)
• No residency requirement — anyone can marry in New Zealand

For Overseas Couples

• Can use form BDM 58/60 from outside NZ
• Statutory declaration can be signed by a Commonwealth Representative
• Send to nearest NZ Registry Office at least 1 week before the wedding
• Or complete everything in NZ (3-day waiting period applies)

Witnesses

• Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony
• Should be of sufficient age to understand the significance (18+ recommended)
• Witnesses sign the marriage certificates

Venue

• No restrictions for personalised ceremonies — any time, any date, any place
• Registry ceremonies: business hours only (9am–5pm Mon–Fri, not public holidays)

After the Ceremony

If you’re an approved celebrant handling the legal side: – Marriage certificates signed by couple, celebrant, and 2 witnesses – Provide the ceremonial certificate on the day – Submit paperwork to the relevant registry

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New Zealand’s FSM History

New Zealand holds a special place in Pastafarian history:

• December 2015: The Registrar-General approved the CFSM as an organization under the Marriage Act 1955 — the first country in the world to do so
• April 16, 2016: The world’s first legal Pastafarian wedding. Toby Ricketts and Marianna Young were married by “ministeroni” Karen Martyn on a pirate ship in Akaroa. Full pirate attire. International media coverage.
• NZ’s Marriage Act allows organizations promoting “religious beliefs or philosophical or humanitarian convictions” to nominate celebrants — this broader language is what made FSM recognition possible

New Zealand’s success is regularly cited as precedent in other countries’ recognition efforts.

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New Zealand Tips

• FSM can legally marry people here — one of the only countries where this is true
• Becoming an approved celebrant requires the government process (not just ordination)
• No venue restrictions — marry anywhere
• 3-day minimum between license application and ceremony
• License valid for 3 months
• No residency requirement for the couple — popular for destination weddings
• The NZ Pastafarian community is active: pastafarian.kiwi
• Searchable celebrant database: celebrants.dia.govt.nz

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Questions?

Contact us. For celebrant registration questions, contact NZ Births, Deaths and Marriages. For FSM-specific questions about the NZ organisational celebrant pathway, reach out to the NZ Pastafarian community.

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This page is a helpful guide, not legal advice. Laws change. Always verify current requirements with New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs — Births, Deaths and Marriages.