Couples hoping to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day will need to look beyond Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk offices, which will be closed Saturday because the date falls on a weekend.
“Unfortunately, we will not be able to have any of our offices open to conduct or perform any of the same day Valentine’s Day activities like in years past when it falls on weekdays,” Mike Sanchez, spokesman for L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office, told City News Service. “This is consistent with our practice. When Valentine’s Day would fall on a Saturday or Sunday, our offices, unfortunately, would be closed, and we would not have any type of special event.”
Sanchez estimated the last time Valentine’s Day fell on a weekend and offices were closed was about five to six years ago.
Last year, when Valentine’s Day fell on a Friday, a total of 286 couples were married at the county clerk’s four offices, including 113 at the Norwalk headquarters.
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said last year, “Valentine’s Day is a beautiful reminder of love and commitment, and our department is honored to be a part of such a special moment in people’s lives. Helping couples begin their journey together is a privilege we cherish, and we take pride in making the process as seamless and memorable as possible.”
Riverside County’s Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s Office will also be closed Saturday, but county clerks in Orange and San Diego counties are making accommodations despite the weekend timing.
Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen said offices in Anaheim, Santa Ana and Laguna Hills will be open Saturday to meet the demand for Valentine’s Day nuptials.
The offices at 222 S. Harbor Blvd. in Anaheim, 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., in Santa Ana, and 24031 El Toro Road in Laguna Hills will be open from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. Saturday. Couples can obtain marriage licenses, hold ceremonies or renew vows.
Nguyen told City News Service that the last time his office handled Valentine’s Day weddings on a Saturday was 2015 when 223 marriage licenses were issued and 187 ceremonies were conducted.
“That was kind of cool, but I think we’ll beat those numbers,” Nguyen said. “As of today, we have 305 appointments already for Valentine’s, so I think we’ll break the record. Ninety percent of the people will get married so I think we’ll beat those numbers.”
Nguyen said his staff has specially decorated the offices for the day.
“For us in the Orange County Clerk-Recorders Office it is the most romantic day of the year for us, and my staff do amazing work to make it a special day for the couples coming in,” he said. “I will be doing some marriages myself to help out because they’re so busy. We’re going to make it a wonderful day for all the couples coming in.”
More than 150 couples are expected to be married through San Diego County’s Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Office, which opened its popular downtown ceremony location at the historic County Administration Center for the occasion.
Of 165 available appointments, only seven remained as of Friday.
Although Valentine’s Day is among the most popular dates for civil ceremonies, Los Angeles County offers weddings year-round. Civil ceremonies cost $35, while marriage licenses are $91, or $85 for confidential licenses.
No appointments are required, though couples are encouraged to complete an online application in advance to expedite the process.