February 8, 2018

Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Assistant Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Chief Elections Officer

(Redwood City, CA) With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the San Mateo County Clerk's Office has extended its hours on Wednesday, February 14th, to perform civil ceremonies for couples wanting to marry on this special day. From 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Clerk’s Office will perform a ceremony every half hour.

"Valentine's Day is the most popular wedding day of the year," reports Mark Church, San Mateo County's elected Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer. "It is a very special day and we will be extending our office hours to accommodate the increased demand for wedding ceremonies," stated Church.

The Clerk’s daily average of weddings is four per day, and that number can double on Valentine’s Day. Last year, 22 weddings were performed on Valentine’s Day and 15 weddings have already been scheduled for this year’s celebrations.

San Mateo County offers a 25 minute civil wedding ceremony which provides unique amenities not normally found in a standard rented location. For an additional fee of $50, the County Clerk’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 DVD of the wedding ceremony. A long stem red rose will also be presented to all couples who wed on Valentine’s Day. 

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 chapel is located in Redwood City’s County Center, on the first floor of the 555 Building. The County chapel can accommodate up to 25 people.

Hopeful couples are reminded that a wedding cannot be performed without a marriage license. The license application may be completed in the 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 proof of identification. The application process takes about 30 minutes and costs $79, plus $15 for a certified copy.

To schedule your special Valentine’s Day ceremony, please visit the County Clerk’s website at http://www.smcare.org/clerk/marriage/default.asp.


The press release is displayed in its original format. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections website now resides at www.smcacre.org

Related Contacts

Mark Church

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988

Jim Irizarry

Asst. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988