Contact: Mark Church, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Chief Elections Officer
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Asst. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer
(Redwood City, CA) – For those looking for an auspicious day to tie the knot, look no further. The Department of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County is ready to celebrate 2024 with a procession of new marriages. The department’s office in Redwood City, located on the first floor of the 555 County Center Building, will extend its calendar hours on February 2, 14, 24, and April 2, 4, and 24 to perform in-person civil ceremonies for couples wanting to marry on any of these special days. Wedding ceremonies will be performed at the department’s Clerk-Recorder’s Office every half hour, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“Although Valentine’s Day is the most popular wedding day of the year, this year there are five more days that couples may consider extra special,” according to Mark Church, San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer. “February 2, 2024 (02022024), February 14 (Valentine’s Day), February 24, 2024 (02242024), April 2, 2024 (04022024), April 4, 2024 (04042024) and April 24 (04242024) are very special days, and we will be extending our calendar hours to accommodate the increased demand for wedding ceremonies,” stated Church.
The County Clerk’s average number of weddings is four per day, which can double on the auspicious days. These special days are expected to be fully booked for the 2024 celebration.
San Mateo County offers a 25-minute civil wedding ceremony, which provides unique amenities not typically found in a standard rented location. For an additional fee of $50, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office provides a webcast service so that the ceremony can be seen electronically by invited loved ones viewing from anywhere in the world. Online guests will receive an e-mail invitation with instructions for a live viewing of the ceremony. The fee for the webcast includes a USB of the wedding ceremony. A long stem red rose will also be presented to all couples who will wed on these special days.
Ceremony reservations are required in advance, including reservations for the officiant’s availability. Couples can make prior arrangements with the County Clerk for the ceremony to be performed by a person of their choice — a friend, family member, or colleague — who must be an ordained officiant or deputized by the County Clerk. The chapel is located at 555 County Center, First Floor, in Redwood City. The small room has eight (8) seats, and the occupancy limit is 25 occupants (Deputy Marriage Commissioner/Officiant of Marriage, Bride, Groom, and 22 additional guests [including the witnesses]).
Hopeful couples are reminded that a marriage license is required for a wedding to be performed. The license application may be completed in the Clerk-Recorder’s Office (public terminals are available) or be submitted online. The couple must appear in person before the County Clerk and provide a valid government-issued ID to obtain a marriage license. The marriage license application process takes about 30 minutes and costs $79 for public or $80 for confidential, plus $17 for a certified copy.
To schedule your special wedding ceremony, please visit the County Clerk’s website at https://apps.smcacre.org/marsched/schedule.aspx.