South Africa offers some of the most amazing wedding locations and is becoming very popular due to this variety - from a luxury safari wedding where you may have un-invited guests (wildlife) to scenic coastal venues.

• An affidavit BI-31 (we will send this to you) or your South African identity document and birth certificates. Foreigners must present their passports.

• If divorced, the final decree of divorce. If for any sound reason a person is unable to produce a decree of divorce or if a person was divorced in a foreign country and cannot obtain a decree of divorce an affidavit by the person concerned is required to the effect that he/she is legally divorced, and stating the name of the court which granted the divorce and the date on which it was granted.

• If widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate. If a death certificate is not available the person concerned is required to submit an affidavit confirming the death of the deceased spouse and stating the name of the deceased and the date of death.

After solemnisation of the marriage, both parties to the marriage, the two witnesses and the marriage officer must sign the marriage register, upon which the marriage officer must issue the parties with a marriage certificate (BI-27) free of charge.

We recommend you find out what the authorities in your country will need from you when you register your marriage once you get home.

In terms of the South African Marriage Act a marriage must be conducted in a church or another building used for religious services, or in a public office or private house, with open doors, and in the presence of the parties to the marriage and at least two witnesses. However, in the case of serious illness or injuries, the marriage may take place in the hospital or facility concerned.

Only marriage officers authorised in terms of Act No. 25 of 1961 to perform marriages may do so. Presently civil marriages are solemnised at offices of the Department of Home Affairs and at churches with authorised marriage officers.

There are so many amazing places for a South African wedding - we cannot name them all but some of the different options to choose from include:

• A safari wedding or bush wedding - this is one of the most special weddings as it cannot be done in many countries so all your guests will be talking about it for a long time. There are many locations for a safari wedding and you can be sure that your wedding will be everything and more that you could ever have dreamt about.
• A beach wedding - South Africa has some amazing beach wedding locations that can be used to make your wedding exceed your expectations.
• 'Cultural' wedding - Do something different for your dream wedding day and get married at a cultural village. Hear the sounds of the African drums and learn about our cultures - traditional African weddings or European weddings with an African theme are available.
• Scenic wedding - From the Drakensberg mountains to the Cape Winelands, South Africa offers amazing scenic wedding locations.

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