Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor - County Clerk - Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Asst. Chief Elections Officer & Asst. Assessor - Clerk - Recorder
(Redwood City, CA) – With Valentine's Day approaching, the San Mateo County Clerk's Office is extending its hours on Wednesday, February 14, to accommodate couples wishing to marry on this special day. Civil ceremonies will be conducted every half hour from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
"Valentine's Day is the most popular wedding day of the year," says Mark Church, San Mateo County's Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer. "To accommodate the heightened demand for wedding ceremonies, we are extending our office hours on this special day," added Church.
San Mateo County offers a 25-minute civil wedding ceremony with unique amenities beyond those of a standard rented venue. For an additional $50 fee, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office provides a webcast service, allowing invited loved ones to watch the ceremony live from anywhere in the world. Online guests receive an email invitation with viewing instructions, and the service includes a USB recording of the ceremony. Additionally, all couples marrying on these special days will receive a long-stemmed red rose.
Ceremony reservations must be made in advance, including securing the officiant’s availability. Couples may arrange with the County Clerk to have their ceremony performed by a chosen officiant, such as a friend, family member, or colleague, provided they are ordained or deputized by the County Clerk. The chapel, located on the first floor of 555 County Center in Redwood City, offers seating for eight and accommodates up to 25 people, including the Deputy Marriage Commissioner/Officiant, the couple, and 22 guests (including witnesses).
Couples planning to marry must obtain a marriage license before the ceremony. The license application can be completed at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office using the public terminals or submitted online. Both partners must appear in person before the County Clerk with a valid government-issued ID to receive the license. The application process takes approximately 30 minutes and costs $79 for a public license or $80 for a confidential one, with an additional $17 fee for a certified copy.
To book your wedding ceremony, visit the County Clerk’s website at https://apps.smcacre.org/marsched/schedule.aspx.