At last, you would say! I have received so many
"congratulations" from friends and family already. Wow! Some people
are shocked that I have been mute about this exciting news for this long. But
its a great thing, isn't it? It would be so nice to have me tie the knots with
my guy on a cool and sunny Sunday. The thoughts itself is very romantic. I love
it! LOL
What are the reasons for getting hitched on the first day of
the week anyway? (Yes, Sunday is the first day of the week. Its not Monday. LOL)
Is it really ok to get married on a Sunday? How would it look like to do the
traditional or church wedding on that day? Are my reasons tenable in law? What
is the law saying about this? Really ...
From the top of my head, I would say one of the reasons
people would prefer a Sunday wedding ceremony is that its hassle-free. The
traffic situation and the movement of people involved in the preparations won't
be that hectic at all! With most Christian worshipers already in church and
non-Christians chilling at home, Sundays are just perfect for the occasion.
Some other reason is whooped around the spirituality concept
of Sundays for many Christians. "God would be present to really bless the
union". So many couples would be so thrilled to think of that day as one
which they would "dedicate to God" as long as they live together as
couples. But ...
Let me be the first to bust your bubbles. Its NOT ok to wed
on a Sunday! Its not! No, here is how it is.There are three types of wedding or marriage ceremony (whatever
suits you) that are common in Nigeria.
We have the traditional, court or statutory and the church/mosque weddings.
They all differ in content and style. They are all valid in their own right.
One is not better than the other. But in our clan, many couples choose to go
for all, if not a mix of two, depending on the pocket-power of the individuals.
As an exception though, traditional marriages can be
conducted on Sundays! Yes! Oh hold it, I have not contradict myself here. As
the name implies, traditional wedding ceremonies are done according to the life
and practice of the different tribal/ethnic peoples of Nigeria. For
example, what is obtainable in the customs and traditions of the Efik ethnic
people may not fly for Hausa folks. Marriages are celebrated based on what is
acceptable to each community. So, traditions are not necessarily restricted by
days of the week when it comes to weddings. They can hold on any day including
Sundays and they are very valid legally!
A sharp contrast to traditional marriage are those done in
courts or church. While church/mosques weddings may be celebrated on Sundays,
court or statutory marriages cannot! A church may actually conduct weddings on
Sunday or any other week-day but that does not mean its empowered to do so. It
is the legal empowerment status of a church that would determine if it can
celebrate weddings on Sundays or not. Such empowerment are sourced from the
Marriage Registry or courts. Where a church is not licensed to solemnize
marriages by the relevant Marriage Registry, what it does for couples cannot
carry the full weight of the law. Those weddings may as well be referred to as
western traditional marriages. LOL! The courts do not hold for such arrangements.
The more reason why weddings may conveniently be conducted on Sundays in such a non-licensed organization, and no brows would be raised. Marriages of this
nature are at best potential collateral damages to the couple and all
concerned.
The Marriage Act and the Matrimonial Causes Act regulate
marriages done within the ambit of the law. Court or statutory weddings/marriages
are marriages under these Acts. These marriages are valid ab initio! They can only
be validly celebrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Saturdays are special days arranged by the law for couples who are unable to
meet the other days of the week. Yeah, Saturday weddings are also valid and recognized under the Act. Unfortunately, Sundays are non-juridical days (meaning,
no legal process take place in such days) and so, marriages cannot be validly celebrated
in a marriage registry. Those registries are locked to the public on Sundays.
Let's wrap this gist up this way, plan your traditional
marriage for Sunday. That's fine. Talk with your church pastor. (Oh did I
forget to include mosques as well in this piece? Please Immans too.) Find out
if the church you intend to wed in, is licensed under the law. If its not,
decide on whether to simply have a "blessing of marriage" that Sunday,
where you are merely prayed for/on by the pastor or risk the validity or
otherwise of the marriage. Better still, plan a court or statutory marriage on
any day of the week, including Saturdays for your peace of mind and for
everyone's happiness.
Don't we just love legal marriages? LOL! Let's make it a
date next time as we look at another topical issue of our legal life. Enjoy
yourselves.
Ciao!!
Alice O. Odibo is a legal practitioner and
the principal partner at Odibo O. A. Co., a firm of legal practitioners &
solicitors. She is a graduate of University
of Benin and has 8 years
experience in corporate and criminal litigation practice. She resides in Lagos. Contact details.
08057474161. aliceodibo@yahoo.com BB:26474A85
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