Blog

It has been traditional for centuries for a woman to assume her husband's name when they get married. A majority of woman still do this today but you may not be aware of what the options are. Even fewer are aware that men may now assume their spouse's name if they...

The quickest way to get married in South Africa is to find a Marriage Officer, make an appointment and let them take care of the rest. A Marriage Officer can come to your home or venue or you may go to the Marriage Officer.  The cheapest way to get married is at...

There is a great option for having a very small wedding that is still beautiful, personal and special. We have teamed up with a lovely small intimate wedding venue and an experienced planner of small weddings to create an all inclusive small wedding package. A...

Sometimes the perfect place to be married is at a small, intimate wedding venue. We have found just the place!  We are often asked for a convenient venue that can cater for a wedding that can include 5-20 guests and host an intimate wedding and celebration. Loerie...

We've all seen it in at least one movie. A couple are getting married, the minister asks "If anyone can show just cause...." and the long spurned lover comes forward and delivers an impassioned plea. So we all know that the objection question is often asked during...

There are so many ideas an options for your wedding ceremony. Following is a little ritual that can be done as part of a ceremony. It is obviously not a ceremony on it's own but can be included. When I first read this I thought it was terribly cheesy but I was...

Any Marriage Officer registered in South Africa can solemnize a wedding anywhere in South Africa. There is even provision for a Marriage Officer to do so in any country in the world as long as the one of the couple have a permanent address in South Africa. Many...

Marriage Officers are different. While we are all subject the law and it's requirements, how those rules are interpreted and how we go about the process can be very different. This is why you must find the person that is right for you. As with many professions...

There are three types of marriage in South Africa: Civil Marriage, Civil Union & Customary Marriage. This article will deal with the first two. Customary marriages are not handled by Marriage Officers but rather Home Affairs and are regulated by the Customary...

A growing number of people are not religious and are looking for a wedding ceremony that will celebrate their love specifically rather than have a focus on religion. In some circumstances, even though you may not be religious, perhaps your family are and you feel...

For 6 years we have worked with MBI Attorneys in Randburg to refer anyone needing advice and help with the Ante Nuptial Contract (ANC). They are a small firm of two attorneys who deliver excellent service and they are well worth contacting if you require assistance...

Just about all barriers to being married have been removed. In South Africa mixed race marriages were prohibited until the 1990s, same-sex marriages were prohibited until 2006. Today almost any 2 adults may get married. There are, however, several degrees of...

Until very recently the role of the Marriage Officer has been filled by Ministers & Rabbi's and the vast majority still are. There is still a strong perception that Marriage Officer is the authority on a wedding ceremony and he decides the content of a ceremony...

When a South African marries are foreign national an interview with Immigration at Home Affairs is required.  This regulation was introduced about 3 years ago. The reason this was introduced was to prevent "marriages of convenience" where the foreign national is...

Like all good answers, yes and no.  In order to be legally married and registered as such with Home Affairs you need to have a Marriage Officer involved.  However, when it comes to your wedding ceremony you do not require a Marriage Officer. You could have a...

I should say at the outset that this is my opinion. Should you have a rehearsal? My answer is no, with a proviso. It is my long experience that that a wedding ceremony goes best when it happens naturally and to some extent spontaneously. A wedding ceremony should...

There are 3 versions of the Marriage Certificate with a 4th of option. They are:  Manual Certificate: This is the certificate you are given on your wedding day by the Marriage Officer.  This is simply a blank A5 certificate with your details hand written on it and...

Keep in mind that opinions of what constitutes Marriage Officer "duties" may well differ from person to person. But this does include the non-negotiables. This list is based on my 19 years as a Marriage Officer who has presided at over 1500 weddings. The legal...

The day of the wedding can be an interesting one for you as the groom. Weddings, really, are about the bride. Of course, you are important and everyone wants you there and they want you happy and looking good but essentially you want to do all of this to make your...

Weddings are a permanent feature of society, no matter religion or tradition weddings are a thing and through our lives we will attend a few. Because the history of weddings, well specifically the ceremony, is so tied with religion and because we've seen countless...

https://vimeo.com/329292905?fbclid=IwAR1N4fVX6_cLfeDGcL2MIfJBL3qnDSzCOSQUmuKeeOkvcB-crfR3J17vWhcDefinitely one of the highlight weddings for us this year was Queen & Thato who were married on the 22nd of February at Red Ivory Lodge in Hartebeesport. In our...

Your wedding ceremony can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Having said that, here are my thoughts and my advice on this. Weddings have a very long history in human society. If you go back a hundred years or so, life was difficult and generally there was...

When meeting your potential Marriage Officer (or Officiant) for the first time you will feel like there are a lot questions you should be asking. The ceremony is an important part of the day but it is actually least complicated so there are probably not as many...

"Marriage Officer" is not a very sexy title. Some instead use the word "Officiant". So in some cases they are the same thing but not always.  It is also a word that has less religious so for people who perform non-religious ceremonies this is a better word than...

Being legally married and your ceremony are actually two separate things. In the vast majority of cases they are done at the same time. You have a ceremony during which the Marriage Officer includes the legal things he or she is required to say and immediately...

First, before getting married you must see an attorney to get full and proper advice on your options and which will be best for you. Discussion around getting a contract can often be a little tense. The reason for this is that it is often looked at from the wrong...

While looking for a Marriage Officer you may have come across the term "non-denominational" and perhaps you're not sure what this actually means. Typically, which is to say historically, when you got married you went to the priest/rabbi/pastor of your church. You...

The short answer is "You can have exactly what you want!"There is a legal question that a Marriage Officer is required to ask you but he or she can work that into any ceremony that is performed. I guess it is worth knowing that the ceremony and the legal bit are...

All Marriage Officers are licensed to solemnise marriages anywhere in the country. Every Marriage Officer is attached to a specific Home Affairs office - the nearest one to their registered address. This is where they will submit the paperwork for every marriage...

A Marriage Officer is a person that has been designated by Home Affairs to formalise weddings and register them with Home Affairs. This is governed by Marriage Act of 1961. In order to become officially certified and recognised by Home Affairs a person is required...

The legal part of getting married in South Africa is very simple. At it's most basic this is what is required: You and your partner to be present Have your South African IDs Have two witnesses present Have a registered Marriage Officer present The Marriage Officer...

Up until approximately 2002 you could go to court and be married by a Magistrate. This is no longer the case. This role was moved to Home Affairs.  Every office has at least one designated Marriage Officer. This is most often a secondary role in that it is not his...

Marriage is, at its heart, the combining of the lives of two people into something new, something unique. From friends to families to cultures a wedding is always the start of something different. In modern times this has only become more interesting.  Let's face...

Gay, Lesbian, Same Sex or just LGBT weddings have been legal in South Africa since 2006. As of early 2019 there are approximately 180 registered Civil Union Marriage Officers.  According to Statistics South Africa same sex marriage registrations comprise just 1% of...

A part of the wedding planning process seems to be to give a role of everyone close. One of those role’s is the Master of Ceremony and generally this is given to the family member or friend that is most likely to be funny and doesn’t mind talking in front of a...