Costa Rica legalised same-sex marriage on Tuesday, May 16. At the stroke of midnight, couple Aritza Araya Arguedas and Alexandra Quirós Castillo became the first same-sex pair to legally tie the knot in the country.

The couple said ‘I do’ in San Isidro de Heredia, a town outside the capital, San Jose. The momentous wedding was broadcast on national television and live streamed on Facebook. Approximately 10 000 viewers from around the world tuned in to be a part of this historical moment.

“You have begun in law what has existed in love,” said officiant Ana Cecilia Castro Calzada. “We celebrate and honour this journey that you have made together as life companions in hope of a day like today: historic for you two and for Costa Rica.”

Take a look at the nuptials below:

Costa Rica is the first country in Central America and the sixth in Latin America to legalise same-sex marriage. Other Latin American countries where same-sex marriage is legal include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and some parts of Mexico.

The legalisation of same-sex marriage in Costa Rica comes after a years-long campaign spearheaded by pro-marriage-equality group Sí, Acepto. In August 2018,  the constitutional court in Costa Rica declared that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and discriminatory, and gave congress 18 months to change the law or else it would automatically happen. As the Legislative Assembly did not act, the ban was automatically nullified on May 26.

Feature image: screenshot from livestream

COVID-19 related wedding postponements have struck again as a Belfast couple have been forced to change their date. For this couple, however, the cancellation was more serious since they’d already tattooed their wedding date on their arms.

Francis Donald popped the big question to Fionnuala Kearney in December 2017. Immediately the pair began preparations for the big day.

With their planning, they decided on the wedding date to be October 16, 2020. To commemorate this decision, they had the special date tattooed on their arms in Roman numerals while on holiday in Turkey last year.

“We were in Turkey and had checked out of our hotel at 9am, but had to wait until the evening for our flight home – so we decided to go on a bar crawl. We strolled past a tattoo salon and we were tipsy, so thought it was a great idea to get matching tattoos,” explained the bride-to-be.

Unfortunately for the couple, the coronavirus pandemic took over and their wedding venue, Hugh McCanns hotel in Newcastle, informed them that they would have to postpone their wedding until 2021.

“When I was told we would have to postpone the wedding I was devastated, of course – but we only realised afterwards about our tattoos. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!” said Kearney to SNWS.

Of course, having to postpone your wedding is bad enough. However, since they already had the date tattooed on their arms, the couple were devastated. 

They have now moved their wedding date to April 2021 and are considering how they can ensure the tatoos remain meaningful.

It seems they are lighthearted about their misfortune, as Kearney posted to her Facebook, “Would only be us to get our wedding date tattooed for it to be postponed ?” 

Image: Facebook / Francy Donald

A California man said ‘I do’ to his pet cat this past weekend in a livestream ceremony, and no, not in a weird way. The ‘commitment ceremony’ was to raise funds for a local animal shelter where they first met.

Scott Perry found his beloved Olivia Le Chat at the Best Friends Animal Society NKLA five years ago. She quickly became an important part of his life.

“It was love at first sight! Well, sorta — Olivia hopped right into my girlfriend’s lap and right into our hearts! And then she hid under the bed for months,” says Perry on his website. “The girlfriend moved on but Olivia stayed, and as time went on, Olivia became less and less shy. Fast forward five years, and Olivia is more than happy to speak her mind, to wake me up to feed her and pet her in the early mornings, to let her out on the front porch for brushes in the sun and napping on the lounger, for evening biscuits on my tummy while I watch TV, and lots of treats and play time in between.”

Perry explains that he wanted to raise funds for the shelter and bring some happiness to the world during lockdown. So, he decided to have a commitment ceremony with Olivia. He even created a website with a wedding registry, for which he has a goal of raising $5000 to donate to the shelter.

“With the two of us locked down for the crisis, we decided to take the leap and make it official, by offering the world a bright spot to all the bad news out there and to raise money for the very place we met, Best Friends Animal Society NKLA.”

Perry says that having a pet is a huge commitment, much like marriage. You promise to take care of them and be there for them whenever they are in need. Thus, a commitment ceremony seemed fitting for them.

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The wedding streamed on 23 May on Perry’s Instagram Live. A black tie dress code was preferred, and pets were encouraged to dress up too.

Perry wore a tux and Oliva looked adorable in a flouncy white wedding dress. Watch the livestream here:

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Feature image: screenshot from livestream

Home Affairs are considering registration of marriages to be allowed under Level 3 of the national lockdown.

The department is currently dealing with a tremendous backlog in birth registrations which have accumulated during Level 5, according to News24.  They restarted these registrations on May 1.

“The department had an estimated backlog of 81 650 [registrations] at the beginning of Level 4 lockdown,” its acting director-general, Jackie MacKay, told the committee.

“Of the aforementioned backlog, the department registered 46 541 births which represent 57% of the above, estimated backlog.”

MacKay added that 35 109 births are yet to be registered and that demand was high for re-issuing of birth certificates and temporary ID certificates.

Finally, MacKay noted that a growing demand for all services provided by the department has led to a discussion about the identification of areas which are to be relaxed as we move through the levels of the national lockdown.

As a result, Home Affairs proposed that the registration of marriages be allowed during Level 3. According to The Citizen, these registrations, if they should be allowed, will happen through appointments.

While we are still unsure of when lockdown Level 3 will be put in place, Ramaphosa has hinted at the chance of it coming before the end of the month.

Image: Pexels

The coronavirus pandemic hs changed weddings as we know them. No longer may large crowds gather to celebrate their loved ones. Couples have had to get incredibly creative to allow their big days to continue. Here are a few ways they’ve adapted.

1. Mask on:

Now that face masks are recommended for wear whenever people step outside their doors, they’ve become a normal part of ones wardrobe. It has even featured in wedding attire. This designer has taken to making haute couture bridal masks. Many newlyweds have taken to posing with their masks, and some even kiss over them.

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2. Coming at you live (stream)

With in-person weddings not allowed, engaged pairs determined to tie the knot have taken to livestreaming their big day. From Facebook to Zoom, technology has never brought us so close. If you’re planning a Zoom wedding of your own, here’s how to make it special.

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3. Creativity is King:

Right now, there are no rules. Drive-thru weddings have grown in popularity as a quick and easy way to tie the knot. We’ve seen a couple get engaged as their ordained minister officiated from a fourth storey apartment window. One couple had their dogs pose as bridesmaids for their at-home wedding, and another had cardboard cutouts as wedding guests. One particularly inventive couple even ‘got married’ on popular game Animal Crossing.

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4. Minimonies:

Many couples have already placed deposits for wedding venues, thus decide to go ahead with their big day albeit it on a much tinier scale. Those still trying to have in-person weddings have taken to ‘minimonies’, an even smaller version of microweddings where couples get hitched with a small guest list of typically under 10. The rest of their guests tune in via livestream. In these uncertain times, minimonies are a great way to still say your I do’s safely.

Feature image: Instagram/Duke Moose

The coronavirus pandemic has hit people hard the world over. As many struggle to make ends meet, others are spurred to action. This rickshaw driver decided to do what he could to help those in need.

Akshay Kothawale from Pune, India, saved 200 000 rupees (R48 764) for his marriage. However, the nuptials were cancelled amid the pandemic. Instead of doing nothing, Kothawale decided to put that money to good use by feeding migrant labourers and those in distress in his area. Together with his friends, Kothawale feeds about 400 people per day.

Not only that, Kothawale is also helping senior citizens and pregnant women by offering them free rides to clinics in his vehicle, and is also going around the city to create awareness on the virus and how to protect yourself from it.

Kothawale explains that it was difficult to see so many people suffer, and wanted to lend a helping hand.

“I saw several people on roads who could not even afford to have one meal and were struggling to survive. I and some of my friends then thought of doing something to help the daily wagers and needy people,” he said. “I decided to use my savings for the cause and some of my friends also chipped in,” said Kothawale.

“Using my auto-rickshaw, we distribute one-time meal among people at Maldhakka Chowk near the railway station, Sangamwadi and Yerawada areas.”

The group plan to continue this feeding scheme until May 31, as their funds are lessening.

Feature image: Unsplash