A Surprise Wedding?

A bride contacted me a few months back wanting to surprise her long-time boyfriend with a surprise wedding!  For some, this would be more risk than they would be willing to take, for others a challenge all in the name of love!   I explained, that in California, both parties to the marriage are required to sign a marriage license IN ADVANCE, and there was NO way of getting around that fact.  He would have to consent.  Sure enough, a week later, she called again and said a plan was in place.  I ran into them at the Alameda County Clerk's office on Valentine's Day and at that time he thought they were getting the license to satisfy the venue and would need to get a new one later; a California marriage license is only good for 90 days.  He thought their wedding date was in the Fall.  As you can surmise, there were a million more details in terms of how she pulled it off, but it worked and it was a wonderful, wonderful wedding.  Only the bride, her Mom and his Mom knew what was really a foot--all their other guests just thought they were coming to a surprise birthday party for the Groom!