Just Filed My Notice of Marriage with ROM !

I just filed my Notice of Marriage with ROM for our wedding on January 26th 2013.

For newbies and the newly engaged.. here's a break down of what you need to know when filing your marriage at ROM and conducting your marriage ceremony outside of ROM.

You Need To:
1. Get a JP/Grassroots leader who will solemnise your marriage. You can get friends to recommend you one or, be like me and just go through this list of Licensed Solemnisers. 
2. Book your venue ( It has to be within Singapore, you cannot get the solemniser to marry you in another country)
3. Once you have secured a solemniser and venue,meet him to sign this Invitation to Solemnise Marriage.

Filing Notice of Marriage (online)

• One of the parties to the intended marriage must file a Notice of Marriage with the Registrar online at File Notice of Marriage.
• A 15-day continuous residence in Singapore is required of one of the parties to the proposed marriage before the Notice of Marriage can be filed. The day of arrival in Singapore is not included and the 15 days need not be continuous or immediately preceding the date of Notice of Marriage.
• After the Notice has been filed, there is a 21-day waiting period while the banns are published. Parties to the proposed marriage need not be present in Singapore during the 21-day waiting period.
• If you are marrying a foreigner with an S-Pass or Epass, no special documents needed. If you are marrying a foreigner on Work Permit, you need to check with Ministry of Manpower, there are additional documents needed.

* The 15-day residency period can be waived, and/or the 21-day waiting period can be shortened for "good cause."

Obtaining Marriage License

• Both parties to the proposed marriage need to go to the Registry of Marriages where Verification of Documents (V/D) is performed and a Statutory Declaration (SD), indicating that all the legal requirements for a marriage are met, is taken.
• A Marriage License can only be issued after the 21-day Notice of Marriage period. So you cannot get married less than 21 days after filing.
• A Marriage License is only valid for 90 days from the date the Notice of Marriage is issued. So you must get married before 3 months from the date of filing.
• The Marriage License fee in Singapore dollars is between $26-$298. Ours was $26. It's $26 as long as one party is a Singaporean. If both are foreigners, the price goes up significantly especially if you're getting married on weekends or popular dates.
• A blood test is not required.
• Consent is required for marriage of a minor (under 18 years old). Further information can be found at Legal Provisions for Minors.

Getting Married

• The civil (solemnization), religious and/or customary wedding ceremonies can be performed simultaneously in the venue of the couples’ choice. A customary or religious ceremony cannot happen before the civil marriage ceremony.
• The marriage ceremony must be performed in the presence of a licensed solemnizer and 2 witnesses above 21 years old (can be foreigners). My witnesses are both our fathers.
• At the end of the ceremony, the solemnizer hands the bride a copy of the Certificate of Marriage.
• The marriage ceremony must be within the legal time frame, i.e. after 21 days and within 3 months of the date the Notice of Marriage is issued.
• If the marriage does not take place within 3 months of the date the Notice of Marriage is filed, the Notice of Marriage and all related proceedings are voided, and a new Notice of Marriage would need to be filed.