Page 115 - The Circle of Life

as a matter of principle. There is also places in the world (blessed they are)

which will not allow non-married couples in one bedroom which may create
difficulties later on.

Note this is the same as refusing to work with gay couples on religious grounds
and usually illegal under ground of unfair discrimination. I really don't have an

answer to this one as the law is very specific and it is a fight you will probably
lose as equality in law is very important. More so than your religious beliefs it

seems. Standing on principles is always admirable. It is the opinion less ones we
despise.

A South African woman who wishes to have a passport in her married name is

allowed to apply in advance for one with a letter from the marriage officer who is
to perform the ceremony stating when and where the wedding will take place.

The passport will be issued and handed in trust to the marriage officer who will
give it to her as soon as the couple are married. Do this at least three months in

advance. Problem solved but I find most Home Affairs Officials don't know this
and standing hours in a queue just to explain this is not good for your blood

pressure. But by all means try it if you wish. You are allowed to.

By custom, not law, you are not allowed to see the wedding dress either until

the great day. Since it is interesting (much more than law) I thought it wise to
include a paragraph or two on the traditional customs of marriage across the

world.

Customs at weddings

I say again this is not the law but a nice topic anyway and don't crucify me if you

disagree. Many of the customs and traditions are so vague in origin that we have
more than one explanation for each. I took the most well-known ones for the

purposes of this book. Nor am I an expert on wedding customs and claim no
special knowledge. I sort of concentrated on the legal aspects only or the

wedding night up to now.

Have you ever wondered why brides wear white for it is not normal in other
parts of the world? For example Indian brides wear red and in Africa a lot of

colours of which white may be one.

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