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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you and your partner share a sense of wanderlust? Or maybe you’re dreaming of a destination wedding but don’t have the funds to make it happen. Fear not. There are many fun and creative ways to bring the world to your wedding.
Adding travel-themed elements to your big day is a great way to honour your love of travel. Using creative decor ideas, you can easily add that sense of wanderlust into your wedding.
Here some ideas to make your guests feel like they’re part of an exciting adventure.
The bride’s ring used to be the sole focus of an engagement. These days, groom’s rings are claiming their place in the spotlight too. Don’t let her have all the fun, show your rocking ring to all who can see.
Take a look at these stellar rings for inspiration:
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, designers have gotten especially creative. The new trend? Haute couture bridal face masks.
These fashionable designs, created by Winnie Couture, encourage brides and grooms to stay safe and stylish on their big day. Winnie Couture describes them as “protective wedding masks that offer style and safety for engaged couples across the globe.
“Each Haute Mask is handcrafted with the finest wedding attire fabrics and elements, 100% organic cotton lining, and a filter pocket for safe and comfortable wear.”
Masks range from $239-$389, and come in four main variants.
The masks are for a good cause as 100% of the proceeds from the collection will be donated to Direct Relief, a non-profit organization that is providing personal protective equipment and essential medical items to U.S. and international health workers responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Our most selfless medical heroes are keeping us safe with limited access to protective face masks. In order to contribute to the alleviation of the situation, my team and I have been making hand-sewn cloth masks to donate to hospitals and senior communities,” said Winnie, CEO of Winnie Couture.
Metal singer Marilyn Manson and burlesque performer Dita von Teese seemed a strange romantic pairing, but that’s exactly what drew them to each other.
Both from middle America, the two had reinvented themselves into who they wanted to be. Born Heather Sweet from Michigan, Von Teese became one of the most famous burlesque performers in the world. Brian Warner of Canton, Ohio grew up to be the world-famous controversial and iconic rocker.
After a five-year relationship, the pair tied the knot in a private ceremony at home in Los Angeles in November 2005, then exchanged vows again in a more lavish event at a friend’s castle in Ireland a week later. Their unconventional nuptials were even captured in an iconic spread for Vogue magazine.
Their nuptials went on for several days, starting with a civil ceremony at Von Teese’s Los Angeles home. This location was chosen as many of the churches they approached were apprehensive of having Manson inside their venues, according to Vogue.
Von Teese wore a simple white Moschino suit, designed by the label’s then-creative director, Rosella Jardini for the low-key event. It was Von Teese’s vision to look like “a forties bride going to the courthouse to get hitched before going off to the war” that inspired the design. Manson wore a Dior Homme jacket, a Galliano shirt, and Moschino creepers.
Their formal ceremony was much more extravagent. Held at Ireland’s gothic-style Castle Gurteen, the wedding was officiated by surrealist film director and comic book writer Alejandro Jodorowsky. Gottfried Helnwein, the owner of the castle, stood as Manson’s best man. The wedding was attended by about 60 guests, including Lisa Marie Presley and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark.
Credit: Instagram
For the nuptials, Von Teese wore a striking royal purple silk tafetta gown designed by Vivienne Westwood that featured a custom corset for her a 17-inch waist. She accessorised with a tri-corned hat designed by Stephen Jones and custom Christian Louboutin shoes the designer had created just for her. John Galliano designed Manson’s black silk taffeta tuxedo for the big day.
Credit: Pinterest
Of course, the reception was as unconventional as the couple. The banquet table was lined with giant centerpieces of black and crimson rose and featured gold skull-shaped candles. The waitstaff all wore Moschino tailcoats and pipers, and serenaded guests.
Credit: Pinterest
In the days after the wedding, guests partook in skeet shooting, archery and falconry on the castle grounds.
Unfortunately, the pair divorced a year later. During an interview with Khloe Kardashian on the Kocktails with Khloe show, she explained that getting married ruined their relationship.
“I was with him for seven years, we were married for only a year,” she said. “I feel like getting married was sort of like the kiss of death for us because it was sort of like the nail in the coffin. I felt obliged to go through with the ceremony in a way because so much was riding on it, like Vogue was photographing it, and it was in this castle, I just thought, ‘Oh well.'”While they were not friends for a long time after their divorce, the pair are now amicable.
Beloftebos, a wedding venue in the Western Cape who made headlines in January for refusing to host a same-sex wedding ceremony on religious grounds, are now claiming that they are being discriminated against by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
On Monday [May 18], the owners of the establishment claimed that they had filed papers with the Equality Court, opposing the fact that they have discriminated against LGBTI+ people, reports Times Live. This means they are arguing that their policy which states that they will not host same-sex weddings is not discriminatory.
Michael Swain, executive director of Freedom of Religion South Africa said that Beloftebos are “asking the Equality Court to find that the SAHRC unfairly discriminated against them on grounds of conscience, religion and belief, and that the commission is biased and prejudiced in its treatment of them and their belief system”.
The commission launched an application against the owners in March, following several complaints about the venue. The Comissioner, André Gaum, explained that the outcome they hope to achieve includes that the venue’s policy be declared discriminatory, and that they are forced to host same-sex marriages. He said that the policy is unconstitutional and amounts to unfair discrimination.
According to Times Live, the owners claim that the ruling will have far-reaching consequences for them. “If the court decides against them, the owners of Beloftebos will be forced to participate in and celebrate events that violate their conscience, religion and belief — or alternatively be forced to close their venue and cease to offer their services,” said Swain.
There is finally time to whip your hair into shape during lockdown. Making simple changes to your hair care habits and being more conscious about the products we use will help in the journey to achieve vibrant colour, stronger hair and greater shine.
1. Read the labels
Let’s be honest, it’s no easy feat to decipher a product label. Instead, focus on what you don’t want in your product, or what you could be allergic to, and make sure it’s not present. Scan your formula for ingredients such as PPD, PPT and PTD – all colouring agents with similar chemical structures that could cause severe allergic reactions. Try to avoid sulphates and parabens in your hair care products as this could cause irritation and allergic reactions, so rather reach for ‘cleaner’ products – they’re also kinder to the Earth.
Credit: Unsplash
2. Choose colour wisely
Healthy hair is associated with glossy, vibrant colour, which can more often than not only be achieved in a salon. When we can’t visit our favourite colourist, we need to make sure we prep our hair as best we can. Something to look forward to though, is the Koleston Perfect ME+ colour from Wella, which is free from harmful colour molecules, yet still able to provide you with brilliant colour and strong hair, thanks to PureBalance Technology. Make a stop at your closest Wella salon after lockdown to get salon ready locks.
Credit: supplied
3. Treat your tresses
Like you give your skin an extra dose of TLC every now and then, remember to do the same for your hair. On days you plan to wash your hair at night, drench roots to ends in a mixture made of half a cup of honey and a quarter cup of olive oil. Heat the mixture, generously coat your hair and tie in to a bun. Once you are able to visit your nearest Wella salon, give their Element’s care system a try which is free of sulphates, parabens and artificial colourants!
Credit: supplied
4. Let your hair down
If you generally keep your hair tied up or pinned back, you’ll know the stress it can cause on your scalp. To give your roots a rest, sleep with your hair loose and invest in a silk pillowcase to avoid unnecessary snagging and moisture loss overnight.
Movie-lovers unite! If a specific movie has a special meaning for you and your partner, why not incorporate it into your big day? The challenge here is to not be overly cheesy with the design.
It’s easy to over-theme a wedding cake, and then run the risk of hating it in the decades to come. Instead, its best to go subtle. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate your favourite franchise into your big day in a way that still looks timeless.
Basketball player Dennis Rodman has made many bizarre moves throughout his career. From his outlandish outfits to his close friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, nothing seems surprising for this iconic public figure.
Another strange moment from Rodman’s life? The time he reportedly married himself in a dress.
While promoting his memoir “Bad As I Wanna Be” back in 1996, Rodman decided to experiment with cross-dressing. He arrived at a book signing in a horse-drawn carriage escorted by a bevy of tuxedo-clad women, while wearing a custom wedding dress made in France.
At six feet, seven inches, the basketball player caused quite a scene in his wedding dress.
The star then declared that he was bisexual and was marrying himself.
While it was just a publicity stunt, there is no denying that it was effective. His book topped the New York Times bestseller list and remained on it for 20 weeks.
