If Valentine’s Day is all about expressing your love, there is no better way to do that than walking down the aisle. Add the beautiful and historic Robben Island into the mix and you are sure to have the most unforgettable Valentine’s Day ever. Yesterday, 15 couples all said ‘I do’ in the little chapel on the island during a beautiful mass wedding.

While one does not normally associate romance with the former prison, Robben Island has become a sought after wedding destination on Valentine’s Day for those who want to do something a little different on their big day. According to IOL, this initiative was started in 2000, and sixteen years later it is still going strong. Couples from all over the globe come to the island on Valentine’s Day to be part of this great tradition.

The tradition is all about moving forward. The island that has such a tragic background of oppression, becomes the site of love and unity, something the whole country can aspire to. Not only is the location absolutely stunning, it is also iconic, making it a wonderful wedding venue.

The couples were married by two Home Affairs marriage officers, then enjoyed a lunch after the wedding, were entertained by a band, and in good old fashioned Robben Island tradition, they were taken on a tour. If you want to be part of this wonderful tradition, you have a whole year to plan it. As for the newly-weds, we wish them all a happily ever after.

Photography courtesy Pick n Pay

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