The legal part of getting married in California is genuinely simple, but the wording on county websites makes it sound harder than it is. Here is the whole process in plain language.
What you need, in order
- Both of you appear together at a San Diego County office
- Valid photo identification for each of you
- The current fee, which the county publishes and updates
- Your license, issued the same day, valid for 90 days
- An officiant to perform the ceremony and return the license
You do not need to be a California resident, and there is no waiting period. You can collect the license in the morning and marry that afternoon if you want to.
Public or confidential
California issues two kinds of license. A public license requires one witness at the ceremony and becomes part of the public record. A confidential license requires no witness and is not publicly searchable, but it does require that you already live together. Couples marrying with two guests present often choose the confidential license for exactly that reason.
Who can legally marry you
An ordained officiant, a judge, or a commissioner of civil marriages. Camille is an officiant, so the ceremony and the paperwork are handled in the same place on the same day rather than split across two appointments.
Fees and office hours change, so check the San Diego County Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk website for current details before you go. This post is here to explain the shape of the process, not to stand in for legal advice.