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 San Mateo County Clerk’s Office is ready to celebrate February 2023 with a procession of new marriages. The department’s main office, which is located on the first floor of the San Mateo County Clerk’s Office at 555 County Center in Redwood City, will extend its calendar hours on February 2, 3, 14 and 23 to perform in-person civil ceremonies for couples wanting to marry on any of these special days. Wedding ceremonies will be performed at the County Clerk’s Office every hour, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“Although Valentine’s Day is the most popular wedding day of the year — every year, in February 2023, there are three 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, 2023 (02022023), February 3, 2023 (02032023), February 14 (Valentine’s Day), and February 23 (02232023) 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 daily average of weddings is four per day, and that number can double on these days. It is expected to be fully booked for the 2023 celebration.
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 these three days.
Ceremony reservations are required in advance including the officiant for the ceremony. 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. Maximum of seven witnesses are allowed inside the County chapel to witness the ceremony.
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 (public terminals are available) or be submitted online. 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 $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.