How to Officiate a Wedding in Oakland, California

A few years ago, all the cool kids started leaving San Francisco and moving to Oakland. It certainly helped that you could still afford an apartment in Oakland without having to sell your kidneys, but there was something else that attracted these refugees – Oakland’s vibrant culture, community, and way of life.

That’s because from its pristine parks, majestic redwoods, of ocean vibes and inland spaces, and a huge lagoon right in the middle of town, Oakland can go toe-to-toe with any other American city, without selling its soul.

That’s also why it’s the perfect city for your non-traditional (or traditional) wedding because whatever vibes you want to create, Oakland makes it possible.

 
But before you start exploring Temescal’s boutique shops, vintage stores, and killer eateries, there’s the bureaucratic stuff like getting ordained (if you’re the minister) or the marriage license process (for the couple) that we need to get out of the way. So, let’s cover that, and then we can talk about cool venues and the like.

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries 

California State marriage laws apply in Almeda County California, where Oakland is situated. The law states that the following people may solemnize marriage:
 

• A priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination who is 18 years of age or older,
• A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant - commissioner of a court of record in this state,
• A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office,
• A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court,
• A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of the United States Congress,
• A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court,
• A United States magistrate or retired magistrate,
• A Member of the Legislature or constitutional officer of this state or a Member of Congress of the United States who represents a district within this state,
• A person that holds or formerly held an elected office of a city, county, or city and county, or a city clerk of a charter city

 
Once you get ordained with American Marriage Ministries, you become a minister in good standing with our church which puts you in the, “priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination” category. That could be you in just a few minutes. Click here and get ordained with AMM.

Once you are ordained, we recommend purchasing your ordination documents from our store. These official documents could be requested by government officials, and are an easy way to prove that the marriage was legal. They can be shown to couple, other wedding professionals, the venue, or even the San Francisco City and County Clerk may ask for proof of your status as an ordained minister.
 

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in Almeda County 

Great, you’re ordained. Congratulations! Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but doing it well takes some research and planning. Check out our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly and that you feel confident up there.

Our website has everything you might need to officiate, from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License 

 Taking care of the marriage license is one of the most important parts of the wedding process, because it's what makes the wedding legal and officially recongized by the state. It is the couple’s responsibility to obtain and complete the marriage license from the Almeda County Clerk’s office, but just be sure to double check that they have done so before performing the ceremony.

Once the ceremony is over and the marriage license is properly signed, you have successfully performed all of your functions as the wedding officiant. In Oakland, the signed marriage license must be returned to the county clerk, or county recorder’s office in-person or by mail within ten (10) days after the ceremony.

It’s pretty easy and affordable to get married in Oakland, depending on what route you take. But as far as getting the marriage license, Oakland makes it pretty easy, allowing couples to start the process online, and then show up to get the paperwork later. Remember, there are limits on how the license may be used. The license may be used only in California, and is valid for 90 days from the date it was issued. Plan your location and date accordingly.
 
In order to obtain a marriage license, the couple must appear together in person and be 18 years of age and older. The following bullet points detail the rest:

•  Parties must present valid government-issued photo identification as proof of name and date. (Acceptable forms of Identification include a Driver's license or State Identification, Passport, Military I.D., Consulate Card)
• Applicants must be unmarried. If previously married, you will have to provide the date of the previous marriage or SRDP ended and how it ended (death, dissolution, divorce, or annulment).
• The fee is $81.00 for a public license and $90.00 for a confidential license. The fee is $17.00 for one certified copy of the marriage certificate. Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office accepts cash, checks and debit cards (no credit cards).
• Marriage licenses are issued at: Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office, 1106 Madison Street, Oakland Ca 94607 or 7600 Dublin Boulevard, Dublin, CA 94568.
• No appointment is needed to apply for a marriage license. Requests for marriage licenses must be made before 4:00pm.

Couples can submit their application online and appear in person to complete the process within 15 days of submittal: Click here for a link to start the process.

The Basics

Oakland has more personality than your average city, and that means you’ve got options when it comes to planning your wedding. In practical terms, that means you can choose from glitzy wedding halls, or pay a taco truck to pull up for your back yard wedding and you’re going to have an awesome time either way.

 September and October are the most popular months for Bay Area couples to tie the knot, and that means there might be increased competition for public venues and higher prices. Check if there are any larger public events (festivals, parades, sporting events, etc.) that might disrupt your plans or drive up prices if you’ve got a lot of friends visiting from out of town. That’s because hotel availability, traffic, and flights into town could be affected, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Transportation

Oakland has great connectivity and airlines like Alaskan, Southwest, and most other US carriers offer cheap flights into the city if you plan ahead – which is why we’re doing this well in advance, right?

The BART transit system connects Oakland to San Francisco, where a lot of your guests might be staying. Beyond that, there are the usual rentals, rideshares, and taxis but traffic can get pretty dismal so take that into consideration.

Weather

Oakland has brilliant weather most of the year, which expands your options. Even winter months average in the 50s and 60s, but there’s still going to be a damp chill in the air on some days, so be careful what sort of outdoor weddings you plan for February. That said, with so many awesome parks, Oakland is a great outdoor wedding sort of a place.

That said, you aren’t going to get that “California Weather” that you’d expect in places like Los Angeles. For much of the year, you can expect sunny, gentle warmth.