Weddings & COVID-19: The Updated Dos & Don’ts in Singapore
2021-06-14

Source: Dahiana Waszaj on Unsplash

At a typical wedding, one can expect both a marriage solemnisation and a reception. COVID-19, however, has made it all anything but typical. While hosting both events consecutively on the same day was a distant memory during the early days of the pandemic, today, it’s finally possible with safety guidelines in place.

So before you engage that wedding catering service that you’ve had your eye on for a while now, or gleefully arrange for separate receptions for your friends and family, here’s the low-down on the latest dos and don’ts when it comes to wedding solemnisations and receptions in Singapore!

(Updated as of 11 June 2021)

Source: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash 

Solemnisation 

General rules

• Marriage solemnisations and wedding receptions MUST comply with prevailing safety measures as stipulated in this document. This document will be updated routinely in accordance in lieu with Singapore’s COVID-19 situation.
• Additional conditions may be set depending on the capacity and ability of venue to implement the necessary safety management measures.
• A Safe Management Officer must be present to ensure that measures are adhered to.
• Vendors engaged (e.g. photographers, videographers, make-up artists, bridal studio) must be on MTI’s permitted list of activities as reflected on the GoBusiness portal here.
• Vendors engaged to provide authorised services (including Licensed Solemniser) are excluded from the guest limit but should be kept to a minimum.
• Vendors and Licensed Solemnisers DO NOT fall under the maximum number limit of attendees.
• All attendees MUST take their temperature, check in and out via SafeEntry before entering the solemnisation premises using either the TraceTogether app or your TraceTogether token for the duration of the solemnisation.
• Attendees’ arrival and departure timings should be staggered where possible, and queueing in groups should be discouraged.
• For contact tracing purposes, you must inform your Licensed Solemniser of the names of the attendees and vendors at least 1 day before the solemnisation. This list of the names must be available on-site for verification. 
• Couples are advised to keep the attendance record for 14 days after the solemnisation. 
• The bride and groom must use either face masks or face shields throughout the ceremony, only removing it temporarily for key moments such as the exchanging of vows, rings, to kiss, and during march-ins/outs. 
• HOWEVER, the bride and groom must maintain a 2-metre distance from the rest of the attendees whenever their masks and face shields have been removed. All other attendees must have their masks on throughout.

• Event emcees and persons making speeches on stage may wear face shields in lieu of face masks when speaking on stage, if they are standing in a fixed position and maintaining at least 1-metre distance from all other persons, in line with MOH’s guidelines for the use of face masks and shields issued on 1 Jun 2020.

• Masks and face shields may be removed briefly for photo-taking, but must be put on immediately after photos.
  1-metre social distancing between groups should be observed at all times.

• Each couple is permitted to one marriage solemnisation & one wedding reception.

• Note: Wedding receptions are only permitted from 21 June 2021 onwards.
• Each event MUST be held in a single venue managed by the same operator. Multiple rooms are permissible as long as within the same venue premises.
• Each event must be completed within the same calendar day; either back-to-back or on separate days*.
• E.g. Couples may choose to hold BOTH their solemnisation and reception on 23 June 2021 ; or
• E.g. Couples may also choose to hold their solemnisation on 19 June 2021 and reception on 23 June 2021 instead. 

In other external venues

• For marriage solemnisation held in an external venue (i.e. outside the ROM/M Building or a place of residence):
• Max. number of attendees MUST NOT exceed
• 50 attendees (no PET requirement); or 
• 250 attendees (with PET for all attendees).
• Guests must be split into fixed groups of 5; no intermingling or mixing between groups.
• This rule applies to multiple groups present within zoning and/or staggered timeslots**.
• Live performances are NOT allowed at solemnisations in outdoor venues, i.e. places which are not enclosed.
• All attendees must take their temperature, check in and out via SafeEntry before entering the premises using either the TraceTogether app or your TraceTogether token for the duration of the solemnisation.
• Premises hosting multiple events or that are accessible by non-wedding patrons and members of the public are to put in place measures to ensure no inter-mixing between events, or between wedding guests and other patrons (e.g. physical barrier, separate rooms).

Source: Ricardo Moura on Unsplash

Wedding Receptions

General rules

Latest COVID-19 Guidelines (Phase 3: Heightened Alert)	Step 1: 14 June 2021 – 20 June 2021	Step 2: From 21 June 2021 onwards
Home & ROM/M Building	Not allowed	Not allowed
ROM/M Building	Up to 10 attendees	Up to 10 attendees
External Venues	Not allowed	✔ Up to 50 attendees, with PET required for wedding party (of up to 20 pax) or ✔From 51 to 100 attendees with PET required for all attendees

1.1. Designated Groups of 5 Guests are to be split into fixed groups of 5 within assigned zones. No intermingling between groups is allowed. 1-metre social distancing between groups should be observed at all times.

1.2. Exceeding 50 attendees For solemnisations exceeding 50 attendees, please ensure the following: ✔ Attendees must be split into multiple zones of 50 pax (up to 10 groups); or ✔ Attendees must be split across staggered timings of 50 pax per timeslot (with at least 30-min sanitation-cum-buffer time between slots) ✔ Each attendee (including couple & rest of wedding party) must be assigned to one zone throughout the entire event ✔ Entering an unassigned zone is prohibited, except the bride and groom may do so for brief periods i.e. take photos with guests.

1.3. Group Size for Wedding Party Designated core “wedding party” can consist of up to 20 attendees (including bride and groom). This number also belongs to the overall attendance cap for solemnisations. ✔ Individuals from wedding party may interact amongst one another; and; or ✔ Sit together at tables amounting to > 5 attendees. ✔ Wedding party may participate in multiple timeslots ✔ Mingling with other attendees outside the wedding party during the course of the wedding is prohibited.

1.4. Weddings Happening From 21 June 2021 Onwards Couples are advised to stay alert and vigilant regarding any updates or changes to the marriage solemnisation and reception requirements made by the government. As a general rule of thumb, you may take reference from prevailing measurements in place as a guide to continue arranging your wedding.

• Each couple is permitted to one marriage solemnisation & one wedding reception.

• Note: Wedding receptions are only permitted from 21 June 2021 onwards.
• Each event MUST be held in a single venue managed by the same operator. Multiple rooms are permissible as long as within the same venue premises.
• Each event must be completed within the same calendar day; either back-to-back or on separate days***.
• E.g. Couples may choose to hold BOTH their solemnisation and reception on 23 June 2021 ; or
• E.g. Couples may also choose to hold their solemnisation on 19 June 2021 and reception on 23 June 2021 instead. 

• Wedding couples NEED NOT have the same number of attendees for both their solemnisation and reception. 
• E.g. The solemnization with 250 attendees while the wedding reception with 50 attendees. 
• HOWEVER, if couples wish to host the entire event (solemnisation & reception) on the same day, do take note of the respective attendance caps for solemnisation and reception each.
• Remember: Solemnisations are capped at 250 pax and receptions are capped at 100 pax.
• If couples wish to host the entire event (solemnisation & reception) in the same venue, places of residence and ROM(M) buildings are not feasible since receptions are still prohibited at those venues. 
• Receptions are only allowed in controlled external venues and prohibited in places of residence and ROM(M) buildings.
• Therefore, if couples wish to host the entire event (solemnisation & reception) in the same venue, homes and ROM(M) buildings are not feasible since receptions are still prohibited in those venues. 
• The bride and groom must use either face masks or face shields throughout the ceremony, only removing it temporarily for key moments such as the exchanging of vows, rings, to kiss, and during march-ins/outs. 
• HOWEVER, the bride and groom must maintain a 2-metre distance from the rest of the attendees whenever their masks and face shields have been removed. All other attendees must have their masks on throughout.
• Event emcees and persons making speeches on stage may wear face shields in lieu of face masks when speaking on stage, if they are standing in a fixed position and maintaining at least 1-metre distance from all other persons, in line with MOH’s guidelines for the use of face masks and shields issued on 1 Jun 2020.
• Live performances or activities involving singing, dancing or loud talking/shouting are NOT permitted at wedding receptions.
• All attendees MUST take their temperature, check in and out via SafeEntry before entering the premises using either the TraceTogether app or your TraceTogether token for the duration of the reception.
• Attendees’ arrival and departure timings should be staggered where possible, and queueing in groups should be discouraged.
• Cultural rites are subject to the safe management guidelines for receptions (e.g. no intermingling between the wedding party and other groups of guests or between groups of guests). 

In places of residence, ROM(M) building, and other locations that ROM is operating out of

• Entirely not allowed. You may only hold your reception in controlled external premises (outside of home and the ROM(M) Building) that can accommodate receptions with safe management measures implemented and enforced.

In other external venues

• From 21 June onwards, wedding receptions are permitted again. But they can only be held at external venues (i.e. outside the ROM/M Building or a place of residence)
• Guests must be split into fixed groups of 5; no intermingling or mixing between groups.
• Self-service buffets or staff-served food lines are NOT allowed. 
• Food and beverage MUST be served to seated attendees. 
• Sharing dishes and platters are strongly discouraged. No sharing of cups, cutlery or utensils are allowed. 
• You can play video screenings and/or projections of wedding photos during the reception, but there must be no live singing, cheering, loud toasting or shouting during the reception.
• A stage can be set up as part of the ceremony, but no intermingling is allowed between the wedding party and other groups of guests, or between groups of guests. 
• A reception table is allowed if it is to receive guests when they arrive. 
• However, interactions should be minimised and e-check-in or other contactless methods of registration should be adopted where possible.
• On-site cooking is allowed as long as the kitchen staff/personnel remain masked and separated from the guests (similar to a restaurant kitchen). All respective Singapore Food Agency and Food & Beverage sector guidelines must be adhered to.

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* If your solemnisation and reception are held separately, they need not be the same attendees (capped at 100 pax).
** Refer to solemnisation table above for max. number in each zone and staggering timeslots. For more details, refer to Section 7 & 8 of the Wedding Advisory.

*** If your solemnisation and reception are held separately, they need not be the same attendees (capped at 100 pax).