Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi announced that no marriage certificates will be issued during South Africa’s 21-day lockdown.
From midnight tonight [Thursday, March 26], South Africans are required to stay in their homes, with all social events prohibited. This includes weddings, which have already been a struggle as a result of social distancing rules.
Motsoaledi was outlining what his department will still be able to do during the lockdown, which includes no processing of new documents.
“We won’t issue any marriage certificates, new or old, because there won’t be any emergency [requiring marriage]. You can wait until the 21 days,” said Motsoaledi.
While that could have been the end of the announcement, Motsoaledi took the opportunity to offer some advice to those who might be disappointed by the news.
“Maybe the 21 days will also give you time to think whether you want to get married or not. It will be a good time to reflect,” he said.
Many vendors and wedding venues have already closed, meaning many weddings were put on hold anyways. While the Minister might have sounded flippent about your marriage, maybe use the 21 days to iron out those small details that were bugging you and take extra time to connect to your partner.
Feature image: Pexels
Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell said ‘I do’ in a small ceremony on March 25. Despite planning their big day for over a year, all their plans had…
Choosing an engagement ring is tricky. Not only do you have to consider the cut, colour, carat, and setting style, but have to remember that each choice needs to match the previous one.
On top of this the ring receiver (in most cases the bride) has to like it. After all, she’s the one who’ll be wearing it for the rest of her life.
For this reason, people may consider having the bride choose her own ring. Now don’t get too upset at the idea! It doesn’t have to be a controversial move. I mean, we’re in the age of independence right? Women are making their own choices and this is just another one they would probably love to make for themselves.
If you’re not sold on the idea of the bride choosing her own ring. Here are some pros and cons, to help you make your final decision.
Pros
– You get to spend quality time together
It can be a lovely bonding experience for the two of you. Instead of it being a stressful time in store for one partner alone, it can be a way for you two to get to know each other even more.
– No guessing games
As mentioned before, there are a lot of decisions to make with rings. It’s also impossible to know what cut, colour, and setting style your bride will want without specifically asking her. So, instead of playing a guessing game while you consult the jeweller, have your partner by your side to make the decisions herself!
– Sets the tone for wedding planning
It’ll be the first wedding task you do together and will give you some insight into what the wedding planning will be like.
Cons
– Takes away the surprise factor
While you can still keep the date and proposal plans a surprise, your bride will know she’s getting proposed to sooner or later. That might take the fun out of it for many people.
– Waiting after buying
The bride will spend every second after choosing the ring in anticipation of the proposal coming her way. If she has to wait too long she might get frustrated, but you also don’t want to rush it. This could complicate things.
– Money-talk could get awkward
The bride will know the budget for the ring. Most couples are good with being open about these things, but if you aren’t then taking your bride ring shopping is probably not a good idea.
Image: Unsplash
Wedding Etc, Bacher & Company and the Mont Blanc Fragrance Brand treated our “brides to be” with the opportunity to win 3 x Mont Blanc his and hers hampers…
As part of your wedding festivities, the bridal shower offers a perfect moment for you to celebrate your upcoming nuptials with your nearest and dearest.
As the bride, you definitely want to look the part. Remember, this is your day! To tease your walk down the aisle, it seems fitting to wear white to your bridal shower. Naturally, this outfit would be more daytime appropriate than a wedding dress.
Here are some fashionable ideas for you to put your best foot forward:
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Also read: Modern Bridal Shower Ideas
Feature image: Unsplash
With many of us practicing self-isolation at home, we’ve got lots of time on our hands to bingewatch a show or two (or 10!) One of thees binge-worthy…
Millenials have changed the status-quo of many things, including marriage. In years gone by, it was generally expected that you get married early in your twenties. These days, people are taking a longer route to the destination.
Data from Pew Research has shown that the median age of people getting married (men and women) is the highest it’s ever been. But this doesn’t mean that millenials are against marriage. It simply shows that they are delaying it.
So why is an entire generation opting to push back their plans for nuptials? Well, there are a few reasons.
The most commonly cited reason is that millenials prefer to have their own lives in order before taking on a life-long partner. Careers, goals, bucket lists, travelling, studying, job promotions – these are all things millenials want to accomplish before marriage.
They are more concerned with establishing themselves as individuals, instead of rushing to share their lives with another person. Experts have reported that this, in fact, results in a more fulfilling marriage in the end.
Another reason is that divorce rates are high. Many millenials have been children of divorce. Having experienced this, they would prefer to ensure that they protect their own children from it. In order to do this, they are postponing marriage to be certain of their readiness and their compatibility with partners.
Quite notably, the importance of marriage has also decreased. This has also resulted in delayed marriages. In the past, marriage was a huge part of peoples lives and was even used to define people, especially women. Marriage no longer adds to (or lessens) a womans value, so women are in less of a hurry to go through with it.
Finally, the social norms have changed. Previously, you could not have kids without being married or it would be a scandal. You could not live with your partner without it being the talk of the town. These rules, in most places, are no longer a factor in the marriage equation. People are more free to live their lives and do as they please.
Of course, if you want to get married early in life that’s okay too. However, the trend seems to be that the age at which people marry is increasing.
So if you’re planning on marrying later in life, and you’re being questioned as to why you’re 28 and not married yet, feel free to provide your examiner with any of the reasons listed above!
Image: Unsplash