When it comes to life events like marriage, SCERS doesn’t expect to be invited to the wedding, but we do want the details. For the retirement system, that means beneficiary designations, marriage certificates, and birth certificates will be needed in order to process retirement benefits one day.

But before any couple can get married, they need to obtain a marriage license first, which is issued at one of the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder (CCR) offices. CCR provides vital documents besides marriage licenses, such as birth and death certificates and property records, but issuing marriage licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies keeps CCR staff busy throughout the day.

Out of approximately 9,000 marriage licenses issued in Sacramento County last year, 4,721 of those couples were married at a CCR office. On a typical day, they can perform up to 25 ceremonies. Love was in the air when SCERS stopped by CCR on a recent Friday in late January to take photos for this article. But the busiest day of the year is Valentine’s Day, with as many as 70 civil marriage ceremonies conducted between 8 a.m. to the extended closing time of 8 p.m.

With the costs of so many things on the rise lately, cutting expenses wherever possible is a common theme, even when it comes to marriage. According to Nerd Wallet, the average price of a traditional wedding in 2022 was a whopping $29,195. At CCR’s new office located at 3636 American River Drive, ceremonies are performed for a fee of just $49.

This wallet-friendly option for a marriage ceremony is available to all. Civil ceremonies may not be for everyone, but they can offer couples an intimate experience and free up more money for a reception, honeymoon, mortgage down-payment, or even retirement.
 

“We provide three different areas for ceremonies at our new location—small and large ceremony rooms and an outdoor area that will be ready for use later in the year,” said Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder Donna Allred. Couples are given 20 minutes in the ceremony room, allowing them time to celebrate and take photos after the ceremony is completed.

“At times, different cultures bring in something symbolic to their ceremonies,” Ms. Allred said. “Some couples bring photographers or items such as flowers, rugs, and brooms.” Whether couples arrive in limousines wearing gowns and tuxes, or show up wearing jeans, T-shirts, and flip flops, they can bring as much excitement and joy as they possess, but may not bring rice, food, alcohol, confetti, bubble machines, and other potentially unsafe items.

The new centralized CCR facility opened to the public in December and is home to nearly 70 full-time employees, consolidating the former downtown and Fair Oaks locations.

“We are excited for this change!” said Ms. Allred. “This new location will provide a more streamlined customer experience in an updated and more spacious facility.”

Ceremonies are performed by a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages and are conducted on weekdays on a walk-in basis or by appointment, and on Thursday evenings by appointment only.

To learn more about CCR’s services, visit ccr.saccounty.gov.