Full Ceremony
A full ceremony with the legal pathway and registration paperwork confirmed in advance.
Why couples choose us
- more than 4,000 weddings performed
- Licensed marriage officers
- Based in Gauteng
- Service South Africa
What is a full ceremony?
A full ceremony combines the celebration with the legal ceremony conducted by your assigned registered marriage officer. The correct Marriage Act or Civil Union Act pathway and documents are confirmed before the day. Foreign-national workflows include a separate Home Affairs interview before the ceremony.
Both spouses must be present, two adult witnesses are required, and the assigned registered marriage officer completes the relevant register. Identity and supporting-document requirements depend on the couple's legal pathway and circumstances.
The package at a glance
The Full Ceremony costs R5,400. It takes place at your venue or home, the ceremony itself runs 30–40 minutes, and there is no package guest limit — the practical limit is set by your venue. Travel is included for up to 100 km there and back from our Randburg office, with venues further out quoted as extended travel and confirmed before you book. See the full package details for everything included.
The ceremony itself
A full ceremony can look like anything. It can be held at a venue, in a garden, on a wine farm, in a restaurant, or at a private home. It can include vows you have written yourselves, readings from people you love, music that matters to you, and cultural elements that reflect who you are. The legal requirements do not constrain the ceremony — they simply define what needs to happen within it.
Together we have performed more than 4,000 weddings. We know the difference between a ceremony that merely covers the requirements and one that actually moves people. We work toward the latter, every time.
Documents you need
Both parties need valid South African identity documents (or passports for foreign nationals) and two adult witnesses with valid ID. Two witnesses can be arranged if needed. If either party has been previously married, additional documents are required.
See the full documents checklist before your consultation. If either of you is a foreign national, read our guide on foreigners marrying in South Africa.
Common questions about full ceremonies
Can we write our own vows?
Yes. South African law requires that a specific declaration of consent be made by both parties during the ceremony, but you can write everything else around it. We will guide you on what is legally required and help you build the rest of the ceremony from your own words and ideas.
How many guests can we have?
There is no legal limit on guest numbers, and the Full Ceremony has no package guest limit. The practical limit is determined by your venue. If you want something smaller, our Craighall garden hosts the All-in-One Garden Wedding for up to ten guests and the Mini Ceremony for up to six, and the Legal Elopement at our Randburg office suits just the two of you and your witnesses.
Where can we have the ceremony?
Anywhere we can travel to with the register. We work across Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the greater Gauteng area. Garden weddings, venue weddings, destination weddings within Gauteng — all are possible.
What happens after the ceremony with the paperwork?
Your assigned registered marriage officer completes the relevant register with both spouses and the two witnesses, then submits it through the applicable Home Affairs process.
What's included
- Up to 100 km round-trip travel from our Randburg office
- As many pre-wedding meetings as you need
- A rehearsal at our office
- A personalised 30–40 minute ceremony
- Registration at Home Affairs
- A handwritten abridged marriage certificate on the day
- A marriage status check
Ready to plan your ceremony?
Tell us your date, your venue, and what kind of ceremony you have in mind. We will help you take it from there.