|
Weddings in South Africa
How Long Does the Wedding Take?
- Civil ceremony, without music - 10 minutes
- Christian ceremony, without music - 20 minutes
- Each hymn or solo - add about 3 minutes per item
- African singers or dancers - add about 10 minutes
Documentation Required
The following documentation is essential:
- Passports and a Photostat copy of the Passports to confirm identity.
You will also need to complete a sworn affidavit provided by the Marriage Officer.
- Divorce Order or deceased spouse’s Death Certificate, if previously married. This should be either the
original document or a legally certified copy.
N.B. Documentation in languages other than English will need to be
translated into English by an Official Court Translator in your home
country and certified by the Court in your home country as a true
translation of the original document. Sometimes these documents are
lengthy – they only need to have what is usually the first page translated,
as long as this gives the case number, the name and place of the court, the
names of the parties involved, the date of the final divorce order and the
final judgement of divorce.
Please be aware that there is no way at all that a wedding ceremony
can take place if all the required documentation is not provided.
Documentation Provided After the
Marriage
Your Marriage Officer will issue an Abridged Marriage Certificate immediately
after the ceremony.
A Complete (Unabridged) Marriage certificate will be issued by the Department
of Home Affairs some six to eight weeks afterwards.
Special Circumstances
- One Party under 21 years: In South Africa, majority is only
attained at the age of 21. Anyone marrying below that age requires
the consent of both parents, which can cause considerable delays.
There are also a number of legal requirements that need to be fulfilled,
so please consult with us well in advance.
- Marriage of Relatives: There are some degrees of relationship
where this is permissible. Please consult with us well in advance.
- Interfaith Marriages: A Civil ceremony or a Christian ceremony
must be chosen. Ceremonies that combine different religious traditions
are not permitted.
- Same Sex Marriages: Not permitted
- Polygamous Marriages: Not permitted
Wedding and Honeymoon
Destinations - Activities
Cape Town
Garden Route
Kruger Park
Sun City
Drakensberg
Beach
Mozambique
Victoria Falls
|
