If you are getting married within the next 30-90 days, it's imperative you log onto your County Clerk Recorder's Office website to get the latest updates on obtaining your marriage license. As of this printing, March 24, 2020, County Clerk's offices are not interacting with couples face-to-face given the Covid-19 pandemic therefore their procedures for obtaining a marriage license have changed temporarily.
In Alameda County, for now, they are utilizing the Affidavit of Inability to Appear process. This process means you start by applying for your public or confidential application online. You must identify who is officiating your wedding ceremony and provide their information along with your paperwork. You and your soon-to-be spouse must sign your marriage license in the presence of a notary and your officiant completes the paperwork by mailing it in along with your payment or leaving it in the county drop box outside their offices. The County will return the marriage license to your officiant.
At the time of this printing, it seems there is NO uniformity across County Clerk offices, so it is IMPERATIVE you work with your officiant to determine which County Clerk-Recorder's office has a process that will work for you and your fiance from a timing perspective. I've been in touch with clients from Southern California and the process being utilized in So Cal is different. In San Francisco County, their webpage indicates that "Services Not Offered During Office Closure" includes Marriage, Domestic Partnership and City ID.
Because of the Shelter-in-Place order know that gatherings of more than 10 people are currently NOT allowed in an effort to reduce the spread/impact. If you're thinking about or have already rescheduled your celebratory event but want to keep your wedding date for sentimental reasons give me a call. Together we can discuss the alternatives including the required social distancing but still allow you to have a memorable, heartfelt ceremony!
I urge you to connect with an experienced officiant that can help you given these unprecedented times. Most of all, take good care of yourself and those you love!
--Saundra I Do x Two - an experienced officiant cell/text: 510-813-2749