When you think about elopements, you probably envision covert romantic getaways. A day of shared love with your sweetheart is both profound and uncomplicated.
Legality in South Africa: The Department of Home Affairs is in charge of the solemnization and registration of civil weddings, customary marriages, and civil unions. Your marriage must go through the required formalities as a South African citizen in order to be legitimate.
To obtain a marriage licence, you must: – ensure that you are legally permitted to marry; – understand the legal consequences of a marriage, particularly that marriages in South Africa are automatically in community of property unless a valid ante-nuptial contract is entered into before the marriage; and – ensure that your marriage will meet all of the legal requirements for a valid marriage.
The following documents must be produced on the day of your wedding: – Identity documents for each person getting married – If a foreign national is marrying a South African citizen, they must both present their valid passports as well as a completed BI-31 Form (Declaration for the Purpose of Marriage, Letter of No Impediment) – If the wedding is for a minor (someone under the age of 18), Form DHA-32 must also include the written approval of both parents/legal guardians, the Commissioner of Child Welfare, or a court. If the minors being married are under the age of 18 for boys or 15 for girls, the Minister of Home Affairs’ written approval is also necessary – If any of the people getting married is divorced, the final divorce decree must be provided. If any of the people getting married is widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate must be given.
At least two witnesses are required for a Home Affairs wedding. Following the solemnization of a marriage, these witnesses and the marriage officer must sign the marriage record. The marriage officer will provide the parties with a complimentary handwritten marriage certificate (BI-27). The marriage official must next submit the marriage register to the nearest Department of Home Affairs office, where the details of the marriage will be registered in the National Population Register (NPR).
If you intend to marry overseas, you will be subject to the laws of that nation, thus it is important to examine their exact criteria at their official embassy. In most circumstances, a Letter of No Impediment will be necessary (LNI). The LNI is a certificate given by the Department of Home Affairs Head Office that confirms an individual’s present marital status and that they are free to marry.
Forms can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs or a SA High Commission office. If you are divorced, you must send your divorce decree with your application. Depending on the processing period, it might take up to six months to obtain your letter, so the sooner you apply, the better. The certificate is valid for six months after it is issued.
To ensure validity, it must be issued by the Department of Home Affairs Head Office, not a Regional Home Affairs Office. The LNI can be legalised only if a genuine, official Home Affairs letterhead is given, signed and stamped by an approved Home Affairs officer (Head Office only).
How much does eloping in South Africa cost?
Extras cost between R10,500 and R30,000; invitations and gifts cost between R7,000 and R20,000; and everything else costs between R10,500 and R30,000. There are, however, additional considerations to consider.
Is elopment synonymous with marriage?
Eloping is a marriage that takes place without the couple’s relatives and friends’ knowledge, notably their parents. Those who elope often simply have a ceremony and do not throw a reception or celebration.
Is it selfish to elope?
When you choose to elope, you are not acting SELFISHLY. You are engaging in SELF-CARE. You have chosen to respect your own wants and feelings. You are making choices that are best for YOU.
Is eloping less expensive than getting married?
Elopements are substantially less expensive and allow couples to concentrate on their honeymoon. Furthermore, these rituals are more private and personal than the standard 300-person wedding.
