Quick Answer
What is an Acknowledgement of Country at a wedding?
An Acknowledgement of Country is a short statement, usually given by the celebrant at the start of the ceremony, recognising the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who are the traditional owners of the land where the wedding is taking place. It differs from a Welcome to Country, which can only be delivered by a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Elder or Traditional Owner.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is an Acknowledgement of Country at a wedding?
Also called: Welcome to Country, acknowledging Country at a wedding.
It's become common enough at Australian weddings that many celebrants now build it into their standard opening: a brief Acknowledgement of Country, spoken before the vows begin, naming the traditional custodians of the land the ceremony stands on. It's a small addition to the ceremony script, but it marks something distinctly Australian — no equivalent convention exists in a typical American or British ceremony.
Acknowledgement vs Welcome to Country
The two terms get used loosely but mean different things. A Welcome to Country is performed specifically by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Elder or Traditional Owner who has authority over that land, formally welcoming guests onto it. An Acknowledgement of Country can be delivered by anyone — celebrant, MC, a family member — as a mark of respect rather than a formal welcome.
- •At weddings it's almost always an Acknowledgement rather than a Welcome — booking a Traditional Owner specifically to deliver a Welcome to Country is a further, deliberate step some couples choose to take.
- •The celebrant typically delivers it at the very start of the ceremony, right after the processional and before the vows.
- •It's become standard enough in Australian public life — council meetings, school assemblies, conferences — that leaving it out of a ceremony script is now more likely to be a deliberate choice than an oversight.
Planning notes
- •Ask your celebrant directly whether they include an Acknowledgement of Country by default — most do, but confirm the wording if you want it personalised.
- •If you want a full Welcome to Country instead, this requires booking a local Traditional Owner separately and in advance, not just briefing the celebrant.
- •Keep it brief — most ceremony Acknowledgements run 20 to 30 seconds, not a lengthy address.
Plan a ceremony script the whole family can see
Confirming ceremony details — Acknowledgement of Country wording, order of proceedings, timing — is easier when the whole family can see the plan. Weddingkart keeps every event's run sheet in one shared workspace.
See multi-event support →Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Acknowledgement of Country required by law at Australian weddings?
No — there's no legal requirement. It's become a widespread cultural norm that many celebrants now include as standard practice, but it's not mandated by the Marriage Act.
Can anyone give an Acknowledgement of Country?
Yes — unlike a Welcome to Country, which only a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner can deliver, an Acknowledgement of Country can be given by the celebrant, an MC, or a family member.
Does every Australian wedding include one?
No, it's not universal, but it's become increasingly common and is now often the celebrant's default opening rather than something couples have to specifically request.
Related
By Mayank JaiswalLast updated