Marriage ceremony clarification needed

[rocket34 0]

Hi everyone - My fiance (K1) and I would like to have our marriage ceremony immediately after obtaining our marriage license from the county clerk office (California). However, I'm not having much luck finding out online or by phone how to set up an ceremony appointment or finding more details.

Our particular office (beverly hills) performs ceremonies on Wed and Fridays. Is the marriage ceremony appointment set up after you receive the marriage license at the county clerk office? Would a wedding officiant be assigned to you by the office? Or do we need to find a wedding officiant prior to going to the office before obtaining the marriage license?

Rules also state one witness is requireed to be present at your wedding ceremony. Does this mean we need to have a friend come with us to the office that day or can we just ask any one (say at the office) to be our witness?

Thanks in advance!

[jared619 0]

I'm pretty sure this link answers every question you have. http://rrcc.lacounty.gov/clerk/marriages.cfm

[awaywego 28]

The procedures differ by office. I'm surprised that they can't answer your questions, since the questions center on how their office does things. What a pain.

If it helps, we did not marry at our County Clerk's Office (also in CA), but weddings were occurring when we picked up our license. Those couples had made their appointments to pick up the license and marry at the same time. The office provided the witness (a staff member) for at least one of the weddings, but there might have been a fee. For that office we had to call to make our license appointment about a week in advance.

Every office is different, though, so the best place to get answers is really directly from them. I hope you manage to reach someone who knows what's actually up.

(Edited because VJ ate my paragraphs)

Edited February 18, 2014 by awaywego

[rocket34 0]

Thanks Jared - I have seen this link. It doesn't say how a wedding officiant is to be provided. Meaning, if i arrange to have an appointment will the office provide one or would i have to get one prior.

awaywego - Thank you for the message. Yes it's a pain not being able to contact them via phone. I still haven't found out how appointments are made. May have to drop by the office.

[jared619 0]

Right under the section "Civil Ceremony" it states, "Marriage ceremonies conducted by the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriage are performed at the following offices of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk." The officiant would be the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, so yes, they provide the officiant. Also that link gives phone numbers for all the local offices so you can contact them via phone. Good luck!

[rocket34 0]

Thank you Jared, I didn't carefully read that part - thanks for pointing it out. I tried calling the number but am getting a recorded message.. Guess I'll try calling those days.