Privacy Policy

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Effective Date: [21st May 2026]

At Riseabove Ceremonies, (referred to as "I", "me", or "my"), your privacy is critically important to me. I am committed to protecting your personal data and managing it in strict accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Furthermore, as an Authorised Commonwealth-Registered Civil Marriage Celebrant, I adhere strictly to the professional confidentiality and secure record-keeping mandates outlined in the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants (Schedule 2 of the Marriage Regulations 2017).

This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information.

1. The Information I Collect;

To perform my duties as an Authorised Commonwealth-Registered Civil Marriage Celebrant and manage my business website, I collect both standard digital information and highly sensitive legal data.

• Website & Inquiry Data: Full name, email address, phone number, wedding date, venue location, and any details you provide via online contact forms or email inquiries.
• Legal & Identity Data: Full names, dates of birth, birthplaces, occupations, address history, and marital status as required to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).
• Sensitive Document Copies: Passports, Birth Certificates, Driver's Licenses, Divorce Decrees, Death Certificates, Change of Name Certificate or Name Change Decree used strictly to verify your identity and legal eligibility to marry.
• Automated Data: Basic website cookies and analytics (such as IP addresses and browsing behaviour) used to improve my website performance.

2. How I Use Your Information;

I only use your personal information to deliver my celebrant services and fulfil my legal obligations. This includes:

• Responding to your website inquiries and managing your booking.
• Preparing, lodging, and registering your legal marriage paperwork.
• Drafting and tailoring your personalised marriage ceremony.

3. Disclosure of Your Information;

I do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. In accordance with the Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants, your data is kept strictly confidential. It will only be shared under the following circumstances:

• Legal Registration: Your legal data is submitted to the relevant state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) to officially register your marriage.
• Regulatory Compliance: Your data may be reviewed by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department if requested during a formal regulatory audit.
• Your Explicit Consent: I will never share your personal information, contact details, or images on my website or social media channels without your express written permission. I will never pass your data to third-party wedding vendors (like photographers or venues) without your consent.

4. Website Analytics and Cookies;

Our website may use cookies and analytics services to:

• Understand website usage;
• Improve website performance;
• Enhance user experience.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings, although some website features may not function properly.

5. Data Security and Storage;

I take your data security seriously and employ strict physical and digital measures to protect it from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse:

• Digital Records: All digital client data, including electronic forms and scanned documents, are stored on password-protected devices utilising multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure, encrypted cloud storage.
• Physical Records: Any physical paperwork, including original or printed copies of forms, are kept in a secure, lockable fire proof safe accessible only by me.
• Retention and Destruction: I retain your official marriage records for the period required by Australian law. Once the legal requirements are fulfilled and your marriage is successfully registered, any temporary copies of identity documents (such as photos or scans of passports) are securely and permanently destroyed. Original documents are always returned to you immediately after verification.

6. Accessing and Correcting Your Information;

You have the right to request access to the personal information I hold about you, or to ask for corrections if you believe the data is inaccurate or out of date.

If you wish to access or update your information, please contact me directly using the details below. I will respond to your request as promptly as possible.

7. Changes to this Policy;

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updated versions will be published on our website and dated.

8. Contact and Privacy Complaints;

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to update your records, or would like to lodge a complaint about how your data has been handled, please contact me at:

• Business Name: Riseabove Ceremonies
• ABN: 29 420 163 128
• Contact Name: Aaron R Mepstead
• Email: riseaboveceremonies+support@gmail.com
• Phone: 0493339213

If you are not satisfied with my response to a privacy complaint, you have the right to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), here you will find all the information you need to lodge a complaint.