Requirements for solemnizations
7A.—(1)  A celebrant must postpone proceedings to solemnize a marriage under the Administration of Muslim Law Act or the Women’s Charter if —
(a)[Deleted by S 868/2020 wef 03/10/2020]
(b)the proceedings are attended in person by —
(i)where the proceedings are held —
(A)in a place of residence or on board a pleasure craft — more than the maximum permissible group size for a solemnization of a marriage in a place of residence or on board a pleasure craft; or
[S 669/2020 wef 04/08/2020]
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
(B)in any other premises or on board a harbour craft — more than the maximum permissible group size for the premises or on board a harbour craft; or
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
(ii)any individual who has not been notified to the celebrant by or on behalf of the bride or groom not less than one day before the date of the solemnization.
[S 473/2020 wef 19/06/2020]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(1A)  An organiser of a solemnization of a marriage must not hold the solemnization in a place at which a retail liquor business is for the time being carried on or on board a vessel that is not a harbour craft or pleasure craft.
[S 983/2020 wef 03/12/2020]
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
(2)  An organiser of a solemnization of a marriage taking place in any room or place that is a place of residence must take (or cause to be taken) all reasonably practicable steps —
(a)to establish and apply appropriate procedures and controls (jointly with another or otherwise) during the solemnization of the marriage that enable or facilitate contact tracing of —
(i)every guest of the solemnization of the marriage who enters the room or place; and
(ii)every permitted enterprise (and its permitted enterprise workers) engaged in providing at the room or place authorised services for the conduct of proceedings in the solemnization of the marriage;
(b)to ensure that the gathering of individuals attending the solemnization of the marriage in the room or place does not during the solemnization of the marriage exceed the maximum permissible group size for the solemnization of the marriage in that room or place;
(c)to ensure that no food or drink is supplied or consumed in the room or place during the solemnization of the marriage;
[S 983/2020 wef 03/12/2020]
(ca)to ensure that none of the following activities are engaged in during the solemnization, by the guests or otherwise:
(i)any variety act or singing or dancing in person or any performance of music in person by playing any wind musical instrument;
(ii)any performance of music in person by playing a musical instrument that is not a wind musical instrument otherwise than in a substantially stationary position;
(iii)any organised competition of games of skill or chance; and
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
(d)to ensure that a party to the marriage maintains an appropriate longer distance than one metre from any guest of the solemnization of the marriage, and any other individual, in the room or place when the bride or groom is, with reasonable excuse, not wearing a mask and face shield during the solemnization of the marriage.
[S 669/2020 wef 04/08/2020]
(2A)  An organiser of a solemnization of a marriage taking place in any room or place that is not in a place of residence must take (or cause to be taken) all reasonably practicable steps —
(a)to establish and apply appropriate procedures and controls (jointly with another or otherwise) during the solemnization of the marriage that enable or facilitate contact tracing of —
(i)every guest of the solemnization of the marriage who enters the room or place; and
(ii)every permitted enterprise (and its permitted enterprise workers) engaged in providing at the room or place authorised services for the conduct of proceedings in the solemnization of the marriage;
(aa)not to permit a guest to enter or remain in the room or place if the guest has not been notified to the celebrant under paragraph (1)(b)(ii);
[S 868/2020 wef 03/10/2020]
[S 983/2020 wef 03/12/2020]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(ab)where more than 48 guests are invited to attend the solemnization of the marriage —
(i)to comply with the enhanced entry controls;
(ii)to not permit to be present in the room or place a number of uncleared juniors which is more than 20% of the number of guests invited (rounded down to the nearest whole number); and
(iii)to establish one or more segregation zones in the room or place, with each zone providing for not more than 50 individuals (if they are guests or parties to the marriage) to be seated within the segregation zone;
[S 584/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
(b)to allocate guests of the solemnization of the marriage into the respective segregation zones (where applicable) and then into either of the following cohorts, and to arrange for them to be seated accordingly:
(i)the solemnization special cohort at the solemnization of the marriage;
(ii)a cohort of —
(A)2 guests as if each were a dining-in activity cohort for a retail food and drinks establishment that is not a community eating place, where there are more than 48 guests attending the solemnization of the marriage; and
[S 715/2021 wef 27/09/2021]
(B)2 guests in any other case;
[S 584/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
[S 715/2021 wef 27/09/2021]
(ba)to ensure that any guest of the solemnization of the marriage (even if a member of the solemnization special cohort) who is allocated a seat within a segregation zone (where applicable) does not, during the solemnization, enter another segregation zone at that same solemnization;
[S 868/2020 wef 03/10/2020]
(bb)to establish and apply procedures or controls so as —
(i)to ensure that a guest allocated a seat in a segregation zone does not physically interact with another guest allocated a seat in another segregation zone when the guests enter or leave each guest’s allocated segregation zone; and
(ii)to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 between guests in different segregation zones;
[S 868/2020 wef 03/10/2020]
(c)to minimise physical interaction during the solemnization of the marriage between guests of the solemnization of the marriage unless they are —
(i)all from the solemnization special cohort; or
(ii)all from the same cohort allocated under sub-paragraph (b)(ii);
(ca)[Deleted by S 584/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
(d)to ensure that the composition of guests attending the solemnization of the marriage does not change during the solemnization of the marriage;
(e)to ensure that the gathering of individuals attending the solemnization of the marriage in the room or place does not during the solemnization of the marriage exceed the maximum permissible group size for the solemnization of the marriage in that room or place;
(f)to ensure that regulations 10B(1)(k) and 12 are complied with during the solemnization of the marriage as if —
(i)the room or place were permitted premises, every guest attending the solemnization of the marriage were a customer and the organiser were a permitted enterprise;
(ii)the reference to 2 individuals in regulation 10B(1)(k) were a reference to the solemnization special cohort and the cohort allocated under sub-paragraph (b), respectively; and
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
[S 309/2021 wef 08/05/2021]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
[S 371/2021 wef 14/06/2021]
[S 536/2021 wef 22/07/2021]
[S 584/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
[S 715/2021 wef 27/09/2021]
(iii)the reference to 2 individuals in regulation 12(1)(a)(ii) were a reference to the solemnization special cohort and the cohort allocated under sub-paragraph (b), respectively;
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
[S 309/2021 wef 08/05/2021]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
[S 371/2021 wef 14/06/2021]
[S 536/2021 wef 22/07/2021]
[S 584/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
[S 715/2021 wef 27/09/2021]
(g)to ensure that no food or drink is supplied or consumed in the room or place during the solemnization of the marriage;
[S 983/2020 wef 03/12/2020]
(ga)to ensure that none of the following activities are engaged in during the solemnization, by the guests or otherwise:
(i)any variety act or singing or dancing in person or any performance of music in person by playing any wind musical instrument;
(ii)any performance of music in person if the solemnization of a marriage is taking place in any place that is an open space which is not roofed or is not enclosed on at least 2 sides;
(iii)any performance of music in person by playing a musical instrument that is not a wind musical instrument otherwise than in a substantially stationary position;
(iv)any organised competition of games of skill or chance; and
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
(h)to ensure that a party to the marriage maintains an appropriate longer distance than one metre from any guest, and any other individual, in the room or place when the bride or groom is, with reasonable excuse, not wearing a mask and face shield during the solemnization of the marriage.
[S 669/2020 wef 04/08/2020]
(2B)  An individual who is a guest at a solemnization of a marriage taking place in any room or place that is not in a place of residence must, during the solemnization of the marriage, minimise physical interaction with any other guest at the same solemnization —
(a)who is not in the solemnization special cohort at that solemnization, if the individual is allocated under regulation 7A(2A)(b)(i) to the solemnization special cohort; or
(b)who is not in the same cohort that the guest is allocated to under regulation 7A(2A)(b)(ii).
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(2BA)  An individual who is a guest at a solemnization of a marriage or has been allocated a seat in a segregation zone under regulation 7A(2A)(b) must not enter any other segregation zone at the same solemnization.
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(2C)  To avoid doubt —
(a)paragraph (1) applies with respect to proceedings to solemnize a marriage under the Administration of Muslim Law Act or the Women’s Charter even where —
(i)those proceedings take place concurrently with or in a manner indistinguishable from an organised gathering made in connection with the celebration of a marriage; or
(ii)those proceedings at any premises are followed immediately or without a break by an organised gathering made in connection with the celebration of the marriage at the same premises (whether or not in the same room or place);
(b)an individual does not attend a solemnization of a marriage by reason only of being —
(i)engaged to organise the solemnization, or to provide authorised services for the conduct of proceedings in the solemnization of the marriage or for celebration arrangements made in connection with the marriage; or
(ii)employed or engaged by a person in sub-paragraph (i) and at work in relation to the solemnization; and
(c)this regulation does not derogate from any other requirements in these Regulations applicable to an organiser who is a permitted enterprise unless expressly stated.
[S 669/2020 wef 04/08/2020]
(3)  In this regulation —
[Deleted by S 868/2020 wef 03/10/2020]
“place of residence” includes a pleasure craft;
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
“room or place” includes a room or place on board a harbour craft or pleasure craft.
[S 1070/2020 wef 28/12/2020]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
[Deleted by S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
[S 329/2021 wef 16/05/2021]