ROM, ROMM to begin Saturday solemnisations at Esplanade Mall interim site

Couples will be able to solemnise their civil marriages on Saturdays at the Esplanade Mall from May 17, and Muslim marriages at the same venue from October.

This comes as both the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) start their operations at the Esplanade Mall on April 14, while the current Canning Rise premises undergo redevelopment.

In a joint statement on April 14, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said the option to solemnise marriages on Saturdays at the interim site was introduced after couples said they preferred weekend ceremonies. These would allow their family members and friends to be present.

From May 17, Saturday ceremonies for civil marriages will take place between 9.30am and 11.30am, and from 1pm to 5pm. Couples may book their preferred time slots from April 14 via the Our Marriage Journey (OMJ) portal, up to six months in advance.

There are selected slots on Saturdays available for Muslim marriage solemnisations from October. Couples should check the OMJ portal for updates and should also consider community venues, such as mosques, for their ceremonies, said the joint statement.

According to the AskGov portal, solemnisation services at ROM were previously only available from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays that fall on weekdays.

Registrar of Marriages Timothy Pak said: "By introducing solemnisation services on Saturdays, we are giving couples more options. We hope this will enable them to have a memorable start to their marriage journey surrounded by family and friends."

Registrar of Muslim Marriages Nor Razak Bakar added: "As ROMM embarks on a new chapter at the Esplanade Mall, we remain committed to the needs of our Muslim community."

The Canning Rise site will undergo redevelopment from 2025 to 2028 to better meet the needs of couples as a solemnisation venue and to prepare them for their marriage journey, said the ministries in a previous joint statement on Jan 14.

Solemnisations held at external venues, including video-linked solemnisations, will not be affected, the two ministries said.

For more information, call ROM at 6338-7808 or ROMM at 6337-0207.