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San Diego County exact answer

Who can perform a marriage ceremony for a license from San Diego County?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In San Diego County, the ceremony must be performed by someone authorised to solemnize marriages in California. The County Clerk performs civil ceremonies by appointment for $107, indoors or outdoors, but only in English or Spanish — staff will not perform a ceremony in another language because they could not confirm what is being said. A friend or relative can be deputised to officiate anywhere in California through the office's Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day programme. Outside décor, backdrops, arches, furniture, live or amplified music, item-tossing and alcohol are not permitted at County Clerk ceremony locations. The two steps the office publishes are: obtain a license before the ceremony, and have the ceremony officiated by someone authorised to solemnize marriages.

Published rule and conditions

Officiant and ceremony rule
The ceremony must be performed by someone authorised to solemnize marriages in California. The County Clerk performs civil ceremonies by appointment for $107, indoors or outdoors, but only in English or Spanish — staff will not perform a ceremony in another language because they could not confirm what is being said. A friend or relative can be deputised to officiate anywhere in California through the office's Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day programme. Outside décor, backdrops, arches, furniture, live or amplified music, item-tossing and alcohol are not permitted at County Clerk ceremony locations.

The two steps the office publishes are: obtain a license before the ceremony, and have the ceremony officiated by someone authorised to solemnize marriages.

Official requirement

You must do two things to be legally married: 1) Obtain a marriage license before having a ceremony; and 2) Have a ceremony that is officiated by someone authorized to solemnize marriages.

Issuing office

San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, Office of the Recorder | County Clerk

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Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage License & Civil CeremonySan Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Both parties must appear together at their appointment. There is no residency requirement. Parties can get married as soon as the marriage license is issued. Marriage licenses expire after 90 calendar days from the issue date. A ceremony must take place within 90 days of the license issuance and within the State of California. $129 Public Marriage License $144 Confidential Marriage License. For a Public Marriage License, you must have at least one witness present at your ceremony. No more than two witnesses sign the official marriage license. For a Confidential Marriage License, no witnesses are required to be at your ceremony. No witnesses sign on the marriage license.

  • Application for License and Certificate of Marriage (MAR590)San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage (VS 123) — Confidential marriage licenses may only be issued to unmarried parties who are at least 18 years old and have been living together as spouses. You may be married anywhere in California by a person authorized to perform marriages in California pursuant to Family Code Section 400. Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You must be married on or after the issuance date, and on or before the expiration date of the license. Licenses not used within this timeframe are void.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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