Secret marriage and honeymoon

I do not want any person to attend our wedding as I want to keep it a secret. How can I go about this? Can my wife dictate having a honeymoon in addition to choosing a location? I am really struggling with funding but I also want to get married to this woman who has big expectations from me. Guide me please.
KT, Dar

The Law of Marriage Act, 1971 states that, any member of the public may attend a marriage in civil form so far as the accommodation in the office of the district registrar may reasonably permit. Further to that, any person who is a follower of the religion according to the rites of which a marriage is contracted may attend that marriage. Also, any member of the community to which the parties or either of them belong may attend a marriage contracted in Islamic form or according to rites recognised by customary law.

From the above, no marriage can be contracted in secrecy under Tanzanian law. The best you can hope for is that, no one shows up during the proceedings of the marriage either at the Registrar’s office or at the public place of worship, wherever you choose to get married.

As for a honeymoon, we have checked our statutes and this word does not appear anywhere. It is surely not a condition subsequent to marriage. Our research reveals that honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic and/or romantic, but with the coronavirus pandemic very few destinations are open.

Hence it is entirely your choice if you want to go on a honeymoon or not. The law does not force you to but perhaps your wife will have such an expectation. It is the expectation of your wife that you have to manage, which is not a legal question. We wish you good luck.