Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Assistant Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
(Redwood City, CA) – On the auspicious day of February 20, 2020, the San Mateo County Clerk’s Office at 555 County Center in Redwood City will extend its hours to perform civil ceremonies every half hour from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
San Mateo County offers a 25-minute civil wedding ceremony that offers unique amenities not typically found in a standard rented location. Here, an Internet broadcast (webcast) service is available, so that the ceremony can be seen and heard by electronically invited loved ones viewing from anywhere in the world. There is a $50.00 fee for the webcast which includes the DVD as a keepsake for the happy couple. Online guests will receive an e-mail invitation with instructions for live viewing of the ceremony.
Ceremony reservations are required in advance. Wedding ceremonies are usually performed by volunteer wedding commissioners duly authorized by the County Clerk. Most of the volunteers do it as a labor of love. 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 deputized by the County Clerk. The county chapel can accommodate up to 25 people and is located at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, in Redwood City.
Hopeful couples are reminded that a marriage license is required for a wedding to be performed. The license application may be completed in the County Clerk’s office or be submitted online (in-office public terminals are available). The couple must appear in person in front of the county clerk and provide a valid government-issued ID. The marriage license application process takes about 30 minutes and costs $79 for public or $80 for confidential, plus $15 for a certified copy.
To schedule your special February 20, 2020 ceremony, please visit the County Clerk’s website at www.smcacre.org/marriage-licenses-ceremonies.