Fancy Nancy

Ceremonies, and the paperwork behind them

Civil ceremonies, elopements, and the notarial work that makes a marriage license possible when one party cannot get to the County Clerk.

Civil ceremonies and elopements across Orange County
Weekday and weekend dates, by appointment
Marriage licences completed and filed on time
Affidavit of Inability to Appear notarized for inmate and hospital marriages

Get a quote 562-287-4047

Two ways I help

Whether you're getting married or making it possible

Couples book me to officiate. Other officiants and families book me for the notarial work when one party cannot get to the County Clerk.

Civil ceremonies

Short, warm ceremonies for two people and a witness where the licence requires one. The ceremony is the part you remember. The licence is the part that actually makes you married, and it is the part that gets fumbled.

Ceremonies from $200.

Weekday, evening, and weekend slots by appointment
Public and confidential licences both handled
Returned to the county within the required window

Affidavit of Inability to Appear

When one person is incarcerated or hospitalized and cannot reach the County Clerk, their signature on the affidavit has to be authenticated by a notary before the licence can be issued. I do that, including inside select correctional facilities.

From $225 for facility visits. Prepayment required, non-refundable.

How inmate marriages work

Before your appointment

A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID is required for all notarizations. These are the forms accepted:

Driver's licence
State identification card
U.S. passport
Military identification card
Permanent resident card (green card)

Please have your ID ready before the appointment. An expired ID is the single most common reason a signing cannot go ahead.

One rule worth knowing up front. California county clerks are explicit that the notary public who authenticates the signatures on the affidavit cannot also be the person who solemnizes the marriage, citing Government Code 8224(a). So if I notarize your affidavit, a different officiant performs your ceremony. If you would rather I officiate, a different notary handles the affidavit. I will tell you which role I am filling before you book, because getting this backwards can invalidate the licence.

FAQ

Ceremony questions

What kind of ceremonies do you perform?

Civil ceremonies, elopements, and courthouse-style weddings across Orange County. Small and warm rather than elaborate, with the marriage licence completed and returned to the county correctly afterward.

Do we need witnesses?

A public marriage licence requires one witness to sign. A confidential licence does not. Check which one the county issued you, because people frequently do not know, and it changes who needs to be in the room.

How far in advance should we book?

For a weekend date, a few weeks. For a weekday elopement, often within the same week. The licence has to be in hand before the ceremony either way.

Who files the licence afterward?

I complete and return the licence to the issuing county within the required timeframe. You will want a certified copy afterward for name changes and immigration purposes, and if that copy is going abroad, that is when the apostille conversation starts.

Next step

Tell me the date, or the facility

Whether you need someone to officiate or an affidavit notarized, send the details and you'll get the price and a realistic window back.

Start my quote 562-287-4047

Travel is included in every price. Nothing is booked before you hear the number.