SINGAPORE: Come 2029, couples tying the knot in Singapore will be able to exchange their vows in a greater range of scenic spaces, as the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) return to a new building at their original Canning Rise site.
Unveiling the first look at the redeveloped ROM and ROMM on Sunday (Feb 8), Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said the new and larger building will be a blend of heritage and modernity that would give couples more ways to personalise their solemnisation experience.
Set amid the greenery of Fort Canning Park, the revamped building will feature a rooftop garden terrace for outdoor ceremonies, a grand staircase for photo taking, and spacious indoor rooms with warm timber finishes and garden-facing backdrops.
Its distinctive pitch-frame facade will be retained as a nod to the site’s architectural heritage, having been the home of ROM and ROMM since 1983. Both registries had been relocated to Esplanade Mall since April 2025 to facilitate the redevelopment at Canning Rise.
The building, which is undergoing a four-year redevelopment, will see its gross floor area expand to 3,755 sq m – about 60 per cent larger than its original footprint.
A two-storey rear extension will also increase the number of available solemnisation slots, said the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
Masagos gave the update on the redevelopment at the Golden Jubilee Wedding Celebrations 2026 on Feb 8, held at Fairmont Singapore. The annual event, jointly organised by the Families for Life Council, ROM and ROMM, honours couples who have been married for 50 years or more.
“Our vision is for the ROM and ROMM building to not just be a venue for registration of marriages. It is also the start of a lifetime of shared happiness, and where a strong foundation for marriage and family is created,” he said.
For instance, in addition to ceremony spaces, the redeveloped building will include purpose-built facilities for marriage preparation programmes and relationship-strengthening workshops, reflecting a broader push to support couples beyond their wedding day, said Masagos.
Operational changes have been introduced to make the marriage process more convenient for couples during the redevelopment period. Since April 14, 2025, ROM and ROMM solemnisations at Esplanade Mall have been open for Saturday bookings, and close to 6,000 solemnisation ceremonies have taken place at the interim venue, said MSF.
Paying tribute to the gathered couples, Masagos said strong marriages have always been the bedrock upon which families flourish.
“Marriage extends far beyond the vows exchanged on the wedding day. It is a deliberate decision made every day to support, forgive and cherish our loved ones,” he said, noting that one couple at the event had marked 67 years of marriage.
“Couples do not walk this path alone,” said Masagos, adding that he has been encouraged by positive feedback from marriage mentoring programmes that equip couples with practical tools to align expectations, resolve conflict and build confidence.
In 2025, MSF announced higher rebates for selected marriage preparation programmes, including making them free for lower-income couples. Besides reducing costs, the ministry has also broadened the offerings beyond formal workshops to include bite-sized talks and interactive activities to suit different preferences.
The ceremony, attended by guest of honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, saw 184 couples renew the vows they had made decades ago, and receive Golden Jubilee Commemorative Packages that comprise a certificate, gold medallion, congratulatory note and photo memento. More than 1,000 guests were also present.
Among the couples were Lim Hee Yeo, 85, and Ler Sock Eng, 81.
Introduced by a matchmaker in the 1970s, they have been married for six decades, and raised five children - four daughters and a son. They have 10 grandchildren.
Their secret? Give and take, understanding and patience, Lim said in Mandarin.
Another couple was Kasinathan Logasan, 81, and Manoranjitham Ramasamy, 83. In the early 1970s, he was a policeman in Singapore and she a nurse in Johor Baru, and they were introduced by her mother.
Despite early challenges such as travel and housing uncertainty, they have been together for 56 years and raised three children. They have eight grandchildren.
Asked what advice he has for couples, Kasinathan grew emotional and said: “Sincerely love each other. Then it’s wonderful.”
For Abdullah Abdul Talib, 78, he first noticed Rahmah Kamil, 69, in his 20s, as they would take the same crowded bus to work every morning. For about a month, he would offer her his seat, but they lost touch when she then changed jobs.
As fate would have it, his uncle later introduced her as a potential match. They married in December 1974, raised three children and now have nine grandchildren.
Reflecting on their 52-year marriage, Abdullah said communication was key. “You must communicate,” he said, adding that couples should be quick to apologise.
“One day, one of us will leave,” he said. “We have very fond memories. To me, she’s the only one.” - The Straits Times/ANN
