ROM Ceremony in Singapore
ROM or Registering your marriage for many couples in Singapore is one of the first steps towards settling down with your partner. Your older generation may feel that the marriage is only recognised upon the completion of the wedding dinner and toast but in the eyes of the Singapore government, you are only legally married if you’ve completed the following steps
- File a notice of marriage online
- Go to ROM
- Do the Solemnization (Either on the ROM or Marriage Day)
Solemnization Options Available
You can do the solemnisation two ways.
- Registering the ROM and having the Solemnization happen on the same day
- Registering the ROM and having the Solemnization and Marriage on a later date
Advantages and Disadvantages
To have a Solemnization on your ROM date
- For a no fuss Solemnisation ceremony (It takes generally only 15 minutes)
- When you only want your significant family and friends to take part in this ceremony
- Photo taking is possible in Fort Canning Park after the Solemnization is completed (A good time to do your engagement photos if you haven’t actually done it yet)
- For an less stressful time on your wedding day
- More time to take outdoor photos with you and your significant other, the best men and bridesmaids on your wedding day
To have a Solemnization on your Marriage date
- You can pick and choose your favourite solemnizer. Not all solemnizer are created equally
- You can choose the venue of the Solemnization
- More detailed shots can be taken during the Solemnisation
- You can have it on a weekend
- Many more family and friends can witness the Solemnisation
- The tea ceremony (for Chinese couples) can be done immediately after your Solemnisation ceremony. Removing the need to gather them and ensuring that everybody will be there on time
- You can save money on not having to hire another photographer for the Solemnisation part as your actual day wedding photographer can take these shots for you
Ensuring you have the best pictures taken during the ROM Ceremony
The three major moments your photographer needs for the ROM ceremony will be the exchanging of vows, the exchanging of rings and the kiss to pronounce you husband and wife. During these three moments, I always tell my couple to do everything at a 0.7x speed to ensure better photos can be taken during the ceremony. I also let them know that this is a throughly candid moment and at no point during the ceremony are they supposed to look at me or the camera. Also the Solemnizer wouldn’t like it as well
Exchanging of Vows
Always look at your other half throughout your speech. Don’t look at the photographer, don’t look at the solemnizer. This moment is between you and your partner. And yes smile a little 🙂 Bonus points if you prepared your own speeches. Extra bonus points if you can make him/her cry during your speech.
Exchanging of Rings
The rings is supposed to be placed in the 4th finger of your left hand because fun fact, people believe that there’s a vein (called a love vein) that links directly from the fourth finger to your heart. When placing the ring, ensure your ring is directed towards the camera. Take your time adjusting the ring to give your photographer enough time to take both a close up picture of your ring being placed on your finger and a wider view of your partner putting on the ring for you. If you are the person receiving the ring from your partner, you would be gazing at him/her lovingly while he/she is putting the ring on for you.
The Kiss
This kiss is not a simple peck that you want to hide from your family and friends. This kiss signifies the very first kiss taken between you and your partner as husband and wife. Always remember to close your eyes, enjoy your moment and most importantly, take your time. Bonus points if you have friends and family cheering you on.
What’s next
If you are doing the Solemnization in ROM, you would be most likely chased out once the signing is done. No worries though, they have several locations for you to take more photos after the ceremony is done. Depending on the hours you’ve hired the wedding photographer for, you can then choose to have your engagement photos done after the ceremony in Fort Canning Park
Closing
Hopefully you will have more ideas on what to expect during the ROM ceremony on your wedding day. Feel free to ask me any questions down in the comment section below
