This article is part of our Planning a Wedding in a Pandemic: Covid-19 series.
Updated as of 10 Jul 2021
Couples in Singapore can host only one reception and the final number of guests allowed depends on the venue’s safe capacity when requirements such as zoning and grouping of guests are put in place. Here is a quick outline of the current requirements from the official GoBusiness Singapore website:
| From 14 Jun 2021 to 12 Jul 2021 | From 12 Jul 2021 | |
| Solemnisations | ||
| Home | Up to 10 attendees or up to 5 visitors (whichever is higher) | Up to 10 attendees or up to 5 visitors (whichever is higher) |
| ROM/M Building | Up to 10 attendees | Up to 10 attendees |
| External venues | – Up to 50 attendees (no pre-event testing (PET) required); or – From 51 to 250 attendees, with PET required for all attendees | – Up to 50 attendees (no PET required); or – From 51 to 250 attendees, with PET required for all attendees |
| Wedding Receptions | ||
| Home and ROM/M Building | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| External venues | Not allowed | – Up to 50 attendees, with PET required for wedding party (of up to 20 pax); or – From 51 to 250 attendees with PET required for all attendees |
As we keep our eyes and ears peeled for any changes or updates along the way (and our noses ready too, haha), here’s all you need to know about PET.
- Who needs PET
- What are the types of PET
- Where to get PET (on-site and off-site)
- When is PET done
- How is the PET process like
- Other things to note
WHO needs PET?
| Event Type requiring Pre-Event Testing (PET) | WHO needs to be tested? |
| Solemnisation ceremony with 51 to 250 attendees | All attendees |
| Wedding receptions with 1 to 50 attendees | Wedding party for up to 20 persons (including the wedding couple) |
| Wedding receptions with 51 to 250 attendees | All attendees (including the wedding couple) |
For solemnisation ceremony with 51 to 250 attendees, a Pre-Event Testing (PET) will be required. For wedding reception with 1 to 50 attendees, PET will be required for members within wedding party for up to 20 persons (including the wedding couple).
Only individuals who are fully vaccinated in Singapore (with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccination) at least 14 days before the wedding date will be exempted from PET.
Vendors are not required to undergo PET.
Here’s a summary extracted from MOH:
WHAT are the types of PET?
There are 2 types of PET – Antigen Rapid Test (ART) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test.
Between the two, the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) is a more ideal option for wedding events due to quicker turnaround time of about 30 minutes from swab registration to notification of results. (PCR tests can take up to 48 hours).
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WHERE to get PET?
PET can be done on-site at your wedding venue or off-site at a MOH approved COVID-19 test provider’s clinic. These are some medical groups who have responded to our request for information:
| Medical Group | Cost per test (excluding setup fees) | Contact |
| DoctorAnywhere (DA) | On-site $29 per ART test Off-site (at 8 DA clinics) $32 per ART test | askus@doctoranywhere.com |
| Kingston Medical Group | Contact Kingston Medical Group for rates | enquiry@kingstonmedical.com.sg |
| Minmed Group | On-site $28 per pax ART, min of 30 pax Off-site (at 8 Minmed clinics) $28 per pax ART, min of 30 pax Hybrid (Combi of On-site & Off-site) $28 per pax ART, min of 30 pax | Minmed ART for Weddings |
Other clinics known to provide PET include:
WHEN is PET done?
Timing and Validity of Test
PET should be done at most 24 hours before the end of your wedding program i.e., if your wedding banquet is expected to end at 11 pm on 10 July 2021, the earliest the test should be taken is 11 pm on 9 July 2021. The timeframe for the test to be taken is between 11 pm on 9 July 2021 to 6 pm on 10 July 2021.
The validity of a COVID-19 test result is 24 hours from the time an individual is registered in-person at the testing premise.
Duration of Testing Process
For group on-site ART, the table below indicates how long a typical session will take to complete based on the number of guests. Note that the duration may differ across different providers depending on the size of the testing team. Some medical groups may be able to provide a larger team (subjected to larger space available) to reduce the amount of time required.
| Number of guests | Estimated duration to complete tests for all guests |
| 50 | 1 hour |
| 100 | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| 250 | 2 hours |
For individual off-site ART, the general duration from registration to the notification of result will take 30 minutes.
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HOW is the PET process like?
On-site PET
A typical on-site ART process would look like this, again, it may differ depending on the medical group providing the service:
| Step 1 Arrival & Registration | – Taking of temperature – Receive a form for registration – Scan QR Code on the form for e-registration – Provide Full Name, NRIC/Passport Number, HP Number – SMS confirmation may be issued for some medical groups |
| Step 2 Standby | – Wait to be ushered if there is a queue – Proceed to the ART/swab station |
| Step 3 Swab | – Hand registration form to swabber – Swabber will tear and retrieve the bottom half of the form – Top half of the form will be handed back to you – Get swabbed – Exit to holding area |
| Step 4 Wait & Receive Results | – Wait for 15 – 30 mins – Scan QR code on the top half of form for results; or – Receive result via SMS which will be valid for 24 hours |
Off-site PET
| Step 1 Arrival | – Register at clinic |
| Step 2 Swab test | – Swab will take place in clinic room |
| Step 3 Wait for results | – Wait for 15 – 30 mins in the clinic – Receive result via SMS – Leave the clinic |
Other Things to Note
Here are other things to note about PET
- The cost of tests will be borne by the couple/organizer or guests
- For on-site testing, your venue may require setting aside a few rooms to facilitate the testing. Rooms set aside are used as waiting, testing and holding areas and the use of these rooms may be subjected to cost at the venue’s discretion. Therefore, you need to work closely with your venue provider to determine the logistical requirements and costs.
We hope the above helps with your understanding of PET for your wedding. Please write to us here if you have any questions or if you have more information to share on behalf of the medical groups.