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In hopes of accommodating couples as they tie the knot or renew their vows this Valentine’s Day, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen extended ceremony hours at the Anaheim, Laguna Hills, and Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana for marriage services.
“Valentine’s is just so beautiful and romantic,” said Nguyen. “Couples bring their families and I just enjoy seeing their smiles. I know our staff go above and beyond to make a couple happy for the most important day of their lives.”
In an attempt to make the ceremonies as special as possible, Nguyen also notes how a recently renovated ceremony room and live streaming for family members who can’t attend in person helps create lasting memories.
“A lot of neighboring counties don’t do walk-in [weddings]. I believe we’re here to serve the people of Orange County and we’re a government agency and what’s better to do than allow them to take appointments or walk-in [marriages] at any time,” said Nguyen.
With a public marriage license cost of $61 and confidential marriage license cost of $66, the clerk recorder office has the lowest cost for a civil marriage ceremony at $28.
Nguyen’s office does more than just oversee weddings. As the clerk-recorder, he is also responsible for safeguarding important documents for all of Orange County.
The Clerk-Recorder Department consists of a total of approximately 117 employees that perform various services including recordation of real property transactions, issuing marriage licenses, performing civil marriage ceremonies, issuing birth, death, and marriage certificates, maintaining registration of notaries, and processing applications for fictitious business names and passports.
Not only does the department maintain and safeguard sensitive personal information contained in public records, but they play a key role in archiving and cataloging historical records with long term historical value.
With an annual budget of approximately $18 million, Nguyen notes that they strive to be as cost-effective as possible with automated processes and digitizing documents to make it easier for businesses and the public to access documents.
Many couples took advantage of the Valentine’s holiday to schedule their wedding ceremony on a day many considered unforgettable.
Christian Munson and Elizabeth Barden met at Woody’s Wharf in Newport Beach during COVID-19 and have been dating for four years. They chose to get married on Valentine’s Day for its convenience and ease of remembrance.
They plan to celebrate with a low-key weekend in Laguna Beach, with a larger ceremony scheduled for later in the year. They opted for a courthouse wedding followed by a secondary ceremony to keep the focus on each other with Elizabeth’s parents in attendance.
“It just seems easier to break it up [into two ceremonies] and you get to focus on each other more,” said Barden. “A big ceremony is great, but there’s everyone else and all the other details. Whereas, this is just a little more personable.”
Nicholas Stanczyk and Maria Marchan are both from Tustin, Calif. and met while working as cashiers at a restaurant. They have been dating for almost two years and decided to have a small courthouse wedding with close friends and family.
Both Stanczyk and Marchan brought along their families to the ceremony at the courthouse and plan to celebrate over a meal with their families before a weekend getaway.
David and Michelle Mai, originally from Anaheim, Calif., shared their modern day love story. They met on the dating app Hinge and celebrated their first date on New Year’s Day.
David proposed on Valentine’s Day, a day now significant to them as it marks the beginning of their life together. The ceremony they conducted at the courthouse on Valentine’s Day symbolizes their commitment and represents the start of their new life as a married couple.
“It’s more than just a holiday for us now, it’s a representation of the rest of our lives,” said Michelle Mai.
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