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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 23, 2025
In Love in Oregon:
Clackamas and Marion County Officials offer wedding ceremonies to residents on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14
Oregon City and Salem, OR – Celebrate being in love in Oregon! Marion County Judge Justin Kidd and Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen will officiate wedding ceremonies at their offices all day on Friday, Feb. 14. Oregon was granted statehood Feb. 14, 1859, so the day marks not only Valentine’s Day but also Oregon’s 166th birthday. Judge Kidd and Clerk McMullen have both cleared their calendars and will be officiating weddings the entire day, recognizing the equal right to love and to marry in Oregon and in the United States.
Marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies are open to everyone. “This is one of the most joyful aspects of clerk work,” McMullen reports, “the couples are happy, and my offices serves everyone in our community with dignity and respect.” McMullen has officiated ceremonies for more than 180 couples on Wedding Fridays, since beginning to offer the service in June 2023.
The Oregonian dubbed Judge Kidd the marrying judge of “Marryin’ County.” He can perform marriages in English, French, Russian, and Spanish. "This court is here to serve our entire community,” said Kidd, “and wedding ceremonies in a couples’ preferred language make the courthouse accessible to people who have not always felt welcome in our court system.”
“It’s important to celebrate the equal dignity of every marriage. Couples come from all over Oregon to celebrate in ‘Marryin’ County’ -- inside and outside the courthouse, we performed more than 365 weddings in 2024.” said Kidd. The judge celebrates a wedding almost every day at 4:00. “After a day full of conflict, a wedding is the very best way to finish day,” said the Judge.
In Clackamas County, Clerk McMullen will offer appointments and take walk-in couples all day on Friday, Feb. 14. The office will be decorated and include a photo booth station. To reserve your time and schedule a Valentine’s Day wedding, please call the Clackamas County Recording Division at 503.655.8551. Ceremonies last about 15 minutes and couples should plan to be at the Recording Division at 1710 Red Soils Ct. in Oregon City for up to an hour. Walk-in couples will be taken as space allows. Wedding guests are limited to ten, including two required witnesses. The office can conduct wedding ceremonies in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese and additional languages can be available with support from video remote interpretation.
The Marriage Application https://apps.clackamas.us/recording/Marriage can be completed by couples online in advance of the appointment. Couples must bring photo identification for both members of the couple and the two witnesses. Marriage licenses are $60, $15 for the wavier of the 3-day waiting period, wedding ceremonies are $117, and certified copies of the marriage license upon completion are $7.75 for the first and $4 for each additional certified copy. Couples can successfully get married for less than $200.
In Marion County, Judge Kidd is offering appointments throughout the day for courtroom ceremonies. Said Kidd, “The clerks are decorating the courtroom for the big day, and we’ll be playing the Wedding March for fourteen happy couples. We’re also providing free cupcakes and a loaner bouquet to make the day extra special. This event is open to all couples, but I especially encourage couples of modest means to participate.” Fee waivers are available for qualifying couples. Couples should obtain a license from any of Oregon’s 36 county clerks and should call 503.576.7200 to schedule an appointment.
Contacts:
Clackamas County: Catherine McMullen, County Clerk CountyClerk@clackamas.us or 971.438.9457 Tiffany Staten, Recording Manager 503.655.8551
Marion County: Judge Justin Kidd, Justice of the Peace justicecourt@co.marion.or.us or 503.576.7200
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