Marriage Ceremonies

This page provides information about scheduling a civil marriage ceremony and getting married in the Clerk-Recorder's office.

General Rules 

  • Appointments are required prior to arrival (ceremonies will not be performed without an appointment). Please provide the confirmation email or confirmation number given at the time of scheduling upon arrival. 
  • You must have a marriage license prior to the ceremony. Please visit our self-service portal to complete the online license application and come 30 minutes prior your ceremony appointment to have a license issued. 
  • Applicants must bring their own witness to the ceremony.
  • We offer indoor ceremonies and seasonal rooftop ceremonies on select Fridays. Click the service you are interested in for more information. 
  • Please arrive on time for your scheduled ceremony and allow extra time for parking in our bustling downtown office area. Please be aware that our office does not have dedicated parking. Arriving late may lead to cancellation or re-scheduling of your ceremony. 

Who is eligible?

You must be at least 18 years of age and meet the marriage license requirements to be able to marry.

Is there a charge for this service?

Yes. Please refer to the Clerk-Recorder's Fee Schedule.

When and where is this service offered?

Please call our office at 805-781-5080 to schedule an appointment. 

 

Appointment times are as follows:*

Call for Availability

Spanish speaking service offered on Wednesdays between 9 – 11am

*Ceremony Appointments may not be offered during elections

Location, directions and hours of operation

Click on location name to show hours of operation, directions and phone information

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM* Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM* *Last transactions processed 30 minutes prior to closing


1055 Monterey Street Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Tel: (805) 781-5080

Fax: (805) 781-1111

FAQs

Typically you may purchase a certified copy of your marriage certificate within 24-48 hours of your marriage license being recorded. Arrangements may be made to purchase a copy the same day on a case by case basis because of extenuating circumstances.

Persons under 18 with written consent from at least one parent (or legal guardian) AND permission from a California Superior Court Judge may marry. Emancipated minors are NOT exempt from this process. Contact the County Superior Court at (805) 781-5243 for further information regarding these requirements.

Due to the limited space in our ceremony room, we limit the number of people to eight (the couple and 6 guests).  If you find your guest list is larger, you may want to consider using our Deputy Marriage Commissioner For a Day Program. This provides more flexibility on the location and number of guests for your ceremony.