Marriage in 2001

[Bride to be]

I am planning to get married in Singapore at the end of next year.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has got married here/planned a wedding here - also advice regarding cost. I'd like to have quite a small event and I'm not religious so it won't be in a church - also I was wondering where else you can get married apart from the Registry Office.  Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Congrats]

Great news! I was married in Singapore as well. You don't have to go the ROM route if you don't want to be married in a church.

Go down to ROM and register. Then, get a copy of the Singapore Government Directory (they didn't use to volunteer this info at the ROM) which you can buy at MPH. Look up the section for Justice of the Peace. Then get one of them to agree to marry you on your selected date.

Meanwhile, sort out where you'd like to have it. We had ours at Raffles Hotel and had a lunch reception. It was gorgeous. Make an appointment, go in, and they will review budget etc. etc. they did everything including flowers for us.

When you've got your location and JP lined up, go back to the ROM and ask for a change of venue (i.e. from the ROM to wherever)

And voila, you're done.

You will need to collect the marriage certificate a few days before the ceremony, and need to bring two adults I/C or passports with you. They didn't tell me this at the time but it turns out those are your two official witnesses and their names are typed on the document. They don't need to go with you to collect, but you need their documents and they have to be present at the marriage.

I don't know if the procedure is different now, but that's what we did.

Good luck and have fun planning!

[Jo]

yup...that's the same info I got as well.  But not having a big do here...it's going to probably be a tiny gathering of mom and dad, brother, and very close friends...so it won't be a do at exclusive function venues like hotels.  We do plan to do the ROM route..it's much easier..then just get these close group of family and friends for dinner at Siggi's at the Beaufort and we'll stay for the weekend until we take off to the UK for the big do with his family.

Am currently in planning stage as well...and probably as clueless as you...do email me and I could share some information that I have so far collated...bagpipers inclusive...

[evehow]

A list of JPs is available on the notice board of the ROM.  At least it was, when I was there last Aug - Sept.

You will need to provide details of your witnesses in advance but I don't recall needing the ORIGINAL identification documents.  One of our witnesses is my husband's father, and he was in Malaysia.  We just provided his i/c number and name, that's it.  Perhaps also a photocopy of the i/c.

Check out the http://www.gov.sg  website for more information.

As for cost, it depends on where you want to hold your events and how lavish you want it to be.  The simplest would be just the ROM - you two, the JP and the witnesses.

[span]

My friends got married last year. They were officially married at the Reg. Office then had another ceremony and reception at The Banyan Tree in Bintan. I have got to say it was one of the best weddings I have ever attended. They actually had quite a limited budget but it was all beautiful. They were 26 of us and we stayed at various hotels in Bintan depending on our budgets. We all had breakfast at Raffles then headed to Tanah Merah for the ferry. In the afternoon we had drinks and the ceremony. After this we swam or jacuzzied (a word??!?) and then had a fanastic buffet and bbq in the evening. It really was a wonderful day. Sorry to rabble on but it is an idea that you might like to consider. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time!

[Jo]

Oh no...plans changed...am having it here now...anyone know any Justice of the peace personally?  The thought of getting a total stranger to solemnise the marriage freaks me out.

[To Jo]

We had Dr. Ivor Thevathesan (sp?) he is a paediatrician with Raffles Medical Group in Millenia Walk or at least was at the time. Wonderful, warm man.

[Flower power child]

Congratulations on your wedding. I've met Dr Thevathasan before - professionally and personally and he is the nicest bloke. He's also a practicing GP and president of the Vintage Car owners society -  an interesting bloke indeed.

On another note, there is a service in Singapore (I suspect there are several now) where this girl does EVERYTHING you want in one package - from cards, invites, venues, wedding dress etc. Apparently she's  very good and I am sorry I don't have a name! Apologies

[Jo]

I tried to call Dr Thevathasan at that clinic...they said no such doctor...is there anyone else you might know?

[v. curious]

Jo, Would Dr Thevathasan not be a total stranger to you as well ?  He might not be on this Expat board and has no iota who you are...  just curious

[To Jo]

Try the general number for RMG but perhaps he is not practicing anymore. This was over four years ago. His current contact number would be on the list of Justice of the Peace that seems to be available at the ROM as I believe the list is updated annually if he is still registered to perform marriages.

At the time, there were only 6 or 7 JP's in Singapore so you don't have a lot of options unless there are suddenly hundreds. To be honest, we selected randomly from the list and he was the first we spoke to so we weren't exactly picky. But we were very happy in the end and it was as much because of his kind nature as the fact we didn't have to do it at the ROM.

Either way .. he'll be a stranger or it will be a stranger at the ROM so it's just a matter of whether you want to do it off-site.

Good luck to you

[Jo]

v curious, I would rather go for a JP who is recommended by someone who has used him/her than someone I pick randomly off the board at ROM.  A friend of mine picked one off the board who was deeply religious and extremely conservative that when he found out that she was a lapsed Christian, can't remember what denomination she is, he came over to see the couple like 4 times a week to try to get them to go to that church and spent a couple of hours each time preaching to them.  Needless to say, my friend and her husband was so petrified everytime he phoned.  It made the entire ceremony so awkward for them.
That's just an isolated experience anyhow.  But like I said, like a gynae, a dentist or even a swimming instructor, I would rather get someone who is recommended personally to me.

[To Jo]

Sorry dear girl, then I can't help. Met the man for a short while at his office, then he came to what we would call the 'engagement dinner' (two days before the wedding) then he married us. Never saw him again.

We were thrilled. He is in our photos but we never thought much about what he might or might not have said about religion because we could not recall at the time .. we wanted to be married, were not getting married in a church, and he provided a friendly alternative service.

Honestly I think at that stage it's totally luck.

If you want the completely personal touch you might want to take a wee bit of time in getting to know your JP. One person's passion is another's poison (or something?)

Or totally depersonalize (is that a word?) the wedding bit and have a terribly romantic lunch and/or honeymoon?

Depersonalize was the wrong word. I hope you caught my drift.