San Mateo County Clerk Offering Extended Hours on Valentine's Day

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA -- The San Mateo County Clerk’s Office will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year by staying open extended hours to accommodate couples looking to tie the knot.

The department's main office, located on the first floor of the San Mateo County Clerk’s Office at 555 County Center in Redwood City, is extending its hours on February 14 to perform civil ceremonies for couples wanting to marry on the special holiday.

On Valentine's Day only, the County Clerk’s Office will perform a ceremony every half hour from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

The County Clerk’s daily average of weddings is four per day, and that number can double on Valentine’s Day. In 2018, 18 weddings were performed on Valentine’s Day, and it's expected to be fully booked for the 2019 holiday.

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 $50 fee, the County Clerk’s Office provides a webcast service, so that the ceremony can be seen electronically by invitees viewing from anywhere in the world.

The fee also includes a DVD of the wedding ceremony, and a long stem red rose will also be presented to all couples who wed on Valentine’s Day.

Ceremony reservations are required in advance. 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.

Wedding ceremonies cannot be performed without a marriage license. The license application may be completed in the County Clerk’s office or be submitted online. 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 a special Valentine’s Day ceremony, visit the County Clerk’s website at https://apps.smcacre.org/marsched/schedule.aspx.

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