Rev. Leon Marriage Officer Garden Route

13/10/2025

Together we plan your wedding ceremony not only to be memorable, but unforgettable forever!

Love and greetings
Leon

10/10/2025

From Resentment to Renewal (part 3): Transforming Marital Tension into Active Love

Marriage, at its core, is a dynamic dance of intimacy, vulnerability, and growth. But even the most loving partnerships can accumulate resentment—those quiet, corrosive feelings that build when needs go unmet, words go unspoken, or wounds go unhealed. The good news? Resentment isn’t the end. It’s a signal. And with intention, it can be the beginning of deeper love.

🌱 Recognize Resentment as a Messenger
Resentment often masks deeper emotions: hurt, disappointment, fear. Instead of pushing it down or lashing out, pause and ask, What am I really feeling? What need is going unmet? This shift from blame to curiosity opens the door to healing.

💬 Communicate with Courage and Compassion
Active love begins with honest dialogue. Not the kind that accuses, but the kind that reveals. Use “I” statements—I feel unheard when… or I need more connection around…—to express your truth without triggering defensiveness. Vulnerability is the bridge between resentment and reconnection.

🔄 Replace Scorekeeping with Generosity
Resentment thrives on tallying wrongs. Active love thrives on giving freely. Instead of waiting for your partner to change, ask yourself, What loving act can I offer today—without expectation? A kind note, a warm touch, a moment of listening. These small gestures shift the emotional climate.

🛠 Rebuild Trust Through Consistency
Healing resentment isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a daily practice. Show up. Follow through. Apologize sincerely. Celebrate progress. When both partners commit to consistent care, love becomes not just a feeling—but a habit.

❤️ Choose Love, Again and Again
Marriage isn’t about never feeling resentment. It’s about choosing love even when it’s hard. Active love says, I see your flaws, and I still choose you. It’s a radical act of grace—and the foundation of a resilient, joyful union.

If you’re navigating this journey, you’re not alone. Every couple faces seasons of strain. But with intention, empathy, and a little courage, resentment can become the soil where deeper love grows.

Love and greetings,
Rev Leon

09/10/2025

Grootste geskenk: Stap elke dag met self geskepte happiness in jou huwelik in. Nie die ander een se verantwoordelikheid om jou te probeer gelukkig maak nie.

09/10/2025

So true.... happy people don't go around hurting others.

08/10/2025

How to fix Resentment in your marriage (part two): 5 more signs of Resentment in a marriage.

Apart from the five signs of Resentment we listed previously, here are 5 more signs:

6. UNSPOKEN EXPECTATIONS.
When needs go unmet and unspoken, disappointment festers into Resentment.
7. LOSS OF EMPATHY.
It becomes harder to offer emotional support when Resentment clouds compassion.
8. FEELING TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
You feel undervalued and unappreciated, leading to Resentment
9. RESURFACING OLD HURTS.
Past mistakes and betrayals are frequently brought up, even in unrelated situations.
10. LACK OF ENTHUSIASM.
Excitement, affection and future planning fade.

Resentment can be turned around. In the next issue we look at ways to fix Resentment in a marriage.

Love and greetings,
Rev Leon

07/10/2025

How to fix Resentment in your marriage: 5 Signs of Resentment in a Marriage
Before I share with you how resentment in a marriage can be turned around, let’s start by looking at the signs of resentment. Resentment in marriage doesn’t always arrive with fireworks—it often creeps in quietly, disguised as everyday frustrations or emotional distance. Left unchecked, it can erode intimacy and connection. Recognizing the signs early is key to healing and rebuilding trust. Here are ten common indicators that resentment may be simmering beneath the surface:

🔍 1. Passive-Aggressive Behavior
Snide remarks, sarcasm, or subtle digs often replace direct communication when resentment is present.

🧊 2. Emotional Withdrawal
One or both partners may pull away, avoiding meaningful conversations or physical closeness.

🗣 3. Frequent Arguments Over Small Things
Minor issues—like dishes or chores—become battlegrounds for deeper, unresolved feelings.

🧾 4. Keeping Score
Tracking who did what, who hurt whom, or who owes what can signal a lack of forgiveness and growing bitterness.

🙅‍♀️ 5. Avoidance of Quality Time
Spending less time together or preferring solo activities may reflect a desire to escape tension.

If any of these resonate, it’s not a sign of failure; it’s a call for attention. Resentment can be transformed with honest dialogue, empathy, and a shared commitment to growth.
Tomorrow, we will discuss five more signs of resentment before exploring how to address this issue

Love and Greetings,
Rev Leon

06/10/2025

What Documents do I need from you to register your marriage / civil union at Home Affairs?

LIST of Compulsory Supporting Documents:
The following compulsory documents must be submitted to register your marriage

 Completed DHA-30 (for heterosexual marriage) OR DHA-1766 (for same-sex marriage) Questionnaire
 (sent to you via Email or WhatsApp)

 Color ID Photos
 (4 x photos of each partner getting married)

 Legible Copies of ID Documents of the Couple
 No passports or driver’s licenses
 If you have a new ID card, then both sides of the card must be copied

 Legible Copies of ID Documents of two Witnesses
 no passports or driver’s licenses
 If they have new ID cards, both sides of the card must be copied
 Witnesses must be older than 18 years

 First Page of the Divorce Order and Settlement Agreement
This will be the page with the Stamp of the Court on it
 (if marital status is DIVORCED)

 Death Certificate of the Deceased
 (if marital status is WIDOW / WIDOWER)

 The “Interview Report” obtained from the Immigration Officer at the Department of Home Affairs in George who conducted your interview
 (if you marry a non-South-African / foreigner)

 Letter of non-impediment
 (if you are non-South-African)

 Antenuptial Notification Letter from the attorney or legal professional
 (if you are entering into marriage OUT of Community of Property with an Antenuptial Contract)

Love and Greetings,
Rev Leon

03/10/2025

Read, take the Quiz, and plan to get help if things turn out to be not so healthy.

Healthy relationships are marked by characteristics such as trust, openness, respect, and affection. Learn the signs of both healthy and unhealthy relationships.

03/10/2025

What if your marital status shows MARRIED, not WIDOW/ER, on the Home Affairs system?

 It is your responsibility to verify your current MARITAL STATUS on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) system.
 The toll-free phone line and SMS service are no longer available.
 The only two alternatives left are:

(A) Phone your local DHA Office - not the best option

(B) Visit your local DHA Office:
 Take your ID Book / Card with you and ask the officer behind the counter to verify your current marital status on the system.
 VERY IMPORTANT – Ask for a PRINTSCREEN document stating your current marital status.
 Should it read as still being “MARRIED” – you need to rectify your status with Home Affairs BEFORE the wedding to prevent huge delays registering your new marriage on their system.
 The Home Affairs Head Office in Pretoria is responsible for processing this update, which typically requires several weeks to finalize.
 The local DHA branch can only register your new marriage once Head Office has updated your marital status.
 Please sit with the Home Affairs Clerk and make sure that he/she makes a note on the system that you handed in the necessary documents to update your marital status. You have the right to ask for a screenshot once more.

Although I can still conduct your ceremony while the status correction is underway, (you will be legally married from date of your wedding) the registration of your new marriage will have to wait until DHA Head Office updated your marital status to register your new marriage.

Love and Greetings,
Rev Leon

01/10/2025

What if your marital status shows MARRIED, not DIVORCED, on the Home Affairs system?

● It is your responsibility to verify your current MARITAL STATUS on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) system
● The toll-free number and SMS services have been discontinued. They are not in operation anymore.

● Only two alternatives left are:
● (A) phone your local DHA Office - not the best option

● (B) Visit your local DHA Office:
▪ Take your ID Book / Card with you and ask the officer behind the counter to verify your current marital status on the system.
▪ VERY IMPORTANT – Ask for a PRINTSCREEN document stating your current marital status
▪ Should it read as still being “MARRIED” – you need to rectify your status with Home Affairs BEFORE the wedding to prevent huge delays registering your new marriage on their system.
▪ This update is being done in Pretoria at the Home Affairs Head Office; it might take several weeks to be updated
▪ Only AFTER your marital status has been corrected by Head Office, can the new marriage be registered by the local DHA branch
▪ Please sit with the Home Affairs Clerk and make sure that he/she makes a note on the system that you handed in the necessary documents to update your marital status. You have the right to ask for a screenshot

● At least I can proceed with your ceremony if the correction of status is in progress, but registration of the new marriage will be delayed.

Love and Greetings,
Rev Leon

30/09/2025

30/09/2025

Who may a Woman NOT get married to by law?

The Civil Union Act (effective from December 2006) allows anyone – regardless of their sexual orientation – to marry either through a civil union, a civil marriage, or a customary marriage. There are exceptions, however. Certain people may not get married.

Here are the people I cannot marry in terms of the Marriage Act:
Prohibited Marriages
The law states that certain categories of people may not marry. These include:
• Minors, unless the prescribed consent to the marriage has been given
• People who are already married. Bigamy is a punishable offence in South Africa. Such marriages are also invalid under South African law
• A woman may not marry any person mentioned in the column below:

Father
Son
Father’s father
Mother’s father
Son’s son
Daughter’s son
Brother
Husband’s father
Husband’s son
Mother’s husband
Daughter’s husband
Father’s mother’s husband
Mother’s mother’s husband
Husband’s father’s father
Husband’s mother’s father
Husband’s son’s son
Husband’s daughter’s son
Son’s daughter’s husband
Daughter’s daughter’s husband
Father’s brother
Mother’s brother
Brother’s son
Brother’s son’s son
Sister’s son
Sister’s son’s son
Sister’s daughter’s son

Love and Greetings
Rev Leon