Symbolic Ceremonies
All of the ceremony. None of the paperwork. A symbolic wedding is built entirely around you — held anywhere, shaped any way.
- 5 000+ ceremonies officiated
- Licensed marriage officers
- Johannesburg and Pretoria specialists
- Couples from across South Africa
What is a symbolic ceremony?
A symbolic ceremony is a celebration of your relationship that is not legally binding. It is a ceremony in every meaningful sense — with an officiant, vows, readings if you want them, and a structure that holds the moment — but it does not produce a legal marriage certificate.
Couples choose symbolic ceremonies for many reasons. Some have already registered their marriage at Home Affairs and want a proper celebration. Some are in international relationships where legal registration is complicated. Others simply want the freedom to hold the ceremony wherever they choose, with whoever they choose, and to say exactly what they want.
The freedom to do it your way
Because a symbolic ceremony has no legal requirements, you have complete freedom over where it is held, how long it runs, what is said, who speaks, and what traditions are included or left out. We have officiated symbolic ceremonies on mountain tops, in restaurants, in living rooms, on private game reserves, and in places that hold deep personal meaning for the couple.
We work with you to understand what matters most, then we write a ceremony that reflects that. No boilerplate. No off-the-shelf script. Something that sounds like it was written for the two of you, because it was.
Do you still need the legal bit?
If you have not yet registered your marriage legally, you will still need to do that separately. We can help you understand the options — including how to have a separate, low-key legal registration before or after your symbolic celebration. Some couples do a quiet registry-style ceremony for the paperwork, then a full symbolic celebration for everyone they love.
The ceremony is the thing that your guests will remember. Make it count.
What's included
- Initial consultation to understand your vision
- Custom ceremony script written around you as a couple
- Rehearsal guidance if needed
- Professional officiant on the day
- Vow guidance and example wording
- Flexible ceremony length and format
- Reading and music recommendations
- Cultural and interfaith elements welcome
Tell us what you have in mind
Every symbolic ceremony is different. Start with a message and we will help you build it from there.