Getting married in Bali

Q: My boyfriend and I would like to get married in Bali early next year. We would prefer to have a very simple ceremony, as only our families and very close friends will attend. Are there any restrictions about foreigners marrying there? We are both Catholics with South African passports. - Jenny Bell

A: As there are a number of legal requirements involved in getting married in Bali, many foreigners opt to register their marriages in their home countries and then have a blessing and wedding ceremony in Bali. However, if you would prefer to get married in Bali, the most important thing you need is a "CNI" (Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage), which is a letter from a South African consulate, embassy or government department stating that there is no objection to you getting married in Indonesia. You will also need birth certificates and valid passports. If either of you is under 21 years old, you will need written parental consent. In addition, as Catholics, you will need to present baptism certificates and a "letter of freedom" issued by a priest or church official declaring that you have never been married and are free to marry. The final document you need is a "letter of delegation" issued by a priest or church official declaring that theyhave no objection to your marriage being performed by a priest from the Catholic Church in Bali. All documents are fairly easy to obtain, so you should not have any difficulty.