Wedding traditions of Singapore

A wedding here

A Chinese Singaporean wedding includes the guo da li, the engagement gifts, the door games with the groom, the tea ceremony and a banquet in a hotel. Malay weddings have the akad nikah and a bersanding. Indian weddings have a procession and a fire rite or a thali. As of 2026, same-sex marriage is not recognised in Singapore, though the law on a sex act between men was repealed in 2022.

Where weddings happen

Hotels, restaurants and void decks, the open ground floors of housing blocks, where many Malay and Indian families hold a kenduri.

The season and the calendar

Many Chinese families check an almanac. The seventh lunar month, the Hungry Ghost month, is usually avoided. Weddings on 8 August, 8-8, or other numerically lucky dates are popular.

Wedding customs of Singapore

Chinese pre-wedding customsThe tea ceremony and the door games.Chinese pre-wedding customsThe betrothal gift exchange.

Also part of it, and being written: Malay wedding (The akad nikah and bersanding.), Void deck wedding (A wedding in the shared ground-floor space of a housing block.), Peranakan (The mixed heritage community.).

Communities and their weddings in Singapore

• Chinese Tea ceremony and a banquet.
• Malay The akad nikah and bersanding.
• Indian Hindu rites and a thali.
• Eurasian A Christian wedding with a dance.

A wedding trail idea for Singapore

1. Chinatown Complex and Pagoda Street Shops for wedding supplies and gold.
2. Arab Street A district for textiles and Malay wedding goods.
3. Little India A street of garlands, saris and gold.
4. Registry of Marriages, State Courts Where civil marriages are registered.