Wedding Ceremonies

The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s office performs civil ceremonies Monday through Friday, from 8:30am until 3:30pm.

Please click here to book an appointment.  We make an effort to accommodate walk-ins; however, we do not guarantee the ability to perform any ceremony on a walk-in basis.  If you wish to be considered for a walk-in ceremony, please arrive no later than 3:00pm.  If you need further assistance, contact our office at (925) 335-7900 to speak to a representative.

Limited translation services are available, upon request, at no additional charge.

We accept cash, credit and debit cards.  Credit and debit cards are subject to an additional service fee. Checks are not authorized for marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies.

If a public license has been obtained, the couple must have at least one witness for the ceremony. The witness may be any age, but must be able to understand what they’re signing and be able to sign their name.  Our office does not provide witnesses.

Guests are permitted, but space is limited to 24 people, seated. We have two rooms where ceremonies are held. The smaller room seats 17 and the larger room seats 24 guests.  We cannot accommodate more than 24 people.

A Deputy Commissioner is granted authority by the Clerk-Recorder to perform a civil ceremony. An individual may apply for, and be granted, a deputy commission for a specific ceremony for a specific couple. In order to obtain a deputy commission, it is required that one of the parties involved (the person performing the ceremony or either spouse to be) must be a resident of Contra Costa County. Only one (1) ceremony (for a specific couple on a specific date) may be performed for each deputy commission granted. The ceremony does not have to take place in Contra Costa County, it may take place anywhere in California. The Deputy Commissioner is responsible for returning the marriage license to the county in which it was purchased within ten (10) days from the date of the ceremony. For information, please call the County Clerk-Recorder’s office at (925) 335-7900 and ask to speak to someone about the Deputy Commissioner program. You may also locate more information in the Deputy Commissioner for a Day packet in the Forms tab under Birth/Death/Marriage.   The filing fee to obtain a deputy commission is listed on our fee schedule. Long-term deputy commissions are no longer granted.

Couples getting married at the Clerk-Recorder’s office can now exchange vows in front of beautiful stained glass windows.   The windows, serve as privacy panels to obscure the street view.

Trees in autumn colors, embellished with jewels from an old carousel ride and vibrant blue birds, blend together to span two large windows facing Castro Street.  A smaller set of panels add to the ambiance of the larger ceremony room by elegantly framing a Longfellow quote, “…And the song from beginning to end, I found in the heart of a friend.”  Read more…

Small Ceremony Room

Large Ceremony Room