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Cape Town bride and British groom who met at a group wedding tie the knot at a mass wedding

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Afsana Khan and Peter Hedley-Smith. Photo by Gabi Zietsman
Afsana Khan and Peter Hedley-Smith. Photo by Gabi Zietsman
Gabi Zietsman

Peter Hedley-Smith, a British man, came to South Africa on a visit in 2010.

He arrived in Cape Town on a Friday afternoon, and when he woke up on that Sunday morning, he knew he wanted to live here for the rest of his life. 

Four years later, he met Afsana Khan, and the two started a relationship.

READ MORE: It took 23 years for this prisoner to be allowed to get married: The tragic Robben Island love story you've probably never heard of

Couple who got engaged at a mass wedding, tie the

Afsana Khan and Peter Hedley-Smith. Image by Gabi Zietsman 

The couple met at a house party and then realised later that they live only 200 meters apart, and they've been inseparable for the last six years.

Although Afsana and Peter have different religions, their love brings them together. "We embrace modern South Africa - European and African, British and South African, Christian and Muslim, old and young," Peter says.

READ MORE: In sickness and in health: 3 000 masked couples get married in Korean mass wedding despite coronavirus fears

Afsana shares the same sentiments, saying, "We both have a passion for learning and understanding cultures, and that's what works for us. I can't imagine being with someone who came from the same background as me. Life needs to be a bit more interesting than that. We don't agree on some things, but we do agree on most things." 

READ MORE: WATCH: 19 couples tie the knot in mass Robben Island wedding, and first braille marriage certificate issued

Peter proposed to Afsana at Africa Burn, a mass wedding festival.

"I thought he was joking, and it took me a while, maybe a few months to realise it was real, and here we are," says Afsana, speaking about their recent marriage at the Robben Island mass wedding on Valentine's Day.

"We finally did it. We wanted to get married at home affairs, and we don't like weddings at all. When this popped up on our google feed, we said we have to do it. It makes sense." 

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