Planning your 2009 Wedding

2009 should be a busy year. As many couples plan their Holy Unions and Civil Ceremonies for 2009 we can only hope Prop 8 will be over turned.

If you are planning to get married in 2009 give us a call. We have many great locations we can recommend. We have both religious and Civil Ceremonies to choose from.

Kind words from a couple married on the first day same sex marriage was legal in California

Dear Rev. David,
It's been months since you married my partner Drew and I out on the cliffs at Palos Verdes. That was the very first day that gay weddings were allowed in California. You probably remember us, we were the couple that flew in from Texas, and were second in line to get married! The sad news today that Prop 8 passed has brought you to our minds.

Even though the battle over the legality of our wedding will likely continue, we both know that our love is real, and that our commitment to each other is eternal. I personally wanted to thank you for everything that you did for us that day.

Your kind spirit helped to ease our nerves. After all, it was a big day! The ceremony and location were beautiful and your words were perfect. You really helped to make it a special day that we will remember forever.
We'll keep you in our prayers!

Eric & Drew

We can not issue marriage licenses

As of 11/5/08 we have been stopped from issuing the license to same sex couples.

We will however continue to do Holy Unions in our chapel and at outside locations.

Same Sex marriages put on hold in California

To date we have married over 200 same sex couples since June 17th. Couples have come from all over the US to get married in California since the ban was lifted.

The Los Angeles County recorders office has told us that all marriages performed will remain legal and can not be overturned. Anyone married between June 17th and November 4th, 2008 will have legal marriages recognized by the State of California as legal and binding.

We will continue to update our blog with news as we get it from the recorders office.

Couples rush to get married before November 4th Election

Couples from all over the United States have been calling us regarding the up coming election.

The Los Angeles County Recorders office is urging all couples to get married before the election. Any marriage license issued to a same sex couple and not used prior to Nov 4th might be declared invalid. If declared invalid they will not record it when the couple is married after November 4th.

If you are holding a marriage license now you should get married so you do not lose your only change to get married legally here in California.

If you have a big wedding planned and just need to get married now to beat the deadline call us and we will handle all the necessary paperwork.

We will stay open late that night to accommodate all the couples wanting to get married. If you buy your own license at any of the county offices and want a quick no wait wedding we can help.

Our chapel is perfect for just the couple or up to 30 guests.

Get Married before November 4th

Election News:
We have a proposition on the November 4th ballot that would make same sex marriage illegal in California. All couples are urged to get married before the election.

If Prop 8 wins we will no longer be able to issue licenses to same sex couples. If you live in California and are registered to vote please vote NO on Prop 8.

Many County offices are booked for the month of October and if you have purchased your license and can not find a place to get married give us a call. We are open 7 days a week and will help you get married before the deadline.

We also issue the Los Angeles County Marriage license and you do not need to go to the County office and stand in long lines. The County offices have a long wait time and it can take as much as 3 hours to get a marriage license in Norwalk.

We can issue the license and marry you in under 1 hour.Make your plans now and give us a call if you have any questions.

GayDays at Disneyland Oct 3-6 2008

If you are going be in town for GayDays you might want to get married while you are here.

Give us a call we are only 15 minutes from LAX and around 30 minutes from Disneyland.

Get married in California.

WE DON'T NEED PROP. 8

Prop. 8 is an unnecessary measure that does not address the pressing needs of California's families like the slowing economy, foreclosure crisis and $15 billion deficit we face. California has more people serving and dying in our armed forces than any other state. That's why Gov. Schwarzenegger calls Prop. 8 a "waste of time."

Throughout our history, our Constitution has guaranteed and protected our basic rights. If passed, Prop. 8 would mark the first time that our Constitution was amended to eliminate civil rights.

To see more about this issue please visit the No on Prop 8 website. http://www.votenoonproposition8.com/arguments.html

Spielberg donates money to support gay marriage

LOS ANGELES - Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, are the latest celebrity donors to the fight against California's November ballot initiative that would overturn the state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

Spielberg and Capshaw have donated $100,000 to fight Proposition 8, they announced in a statement Monday.

"By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation," the statement said. "Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other."

Also known as the Marriage Protection Act, Proposition 8 would amend the state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman. If passed, it would overturn the court decision that made the state only the second in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage.

Brad Pitt gave the same amount to the cause last week.
___
On the Net:
http://www.votenoonproposition8.com

What is the difference between the Public and Confidential License?

I am authorized to issue the Confidential Marriage License for Los Angeles County as a Notary Public. This makes it very convenient for my couples as they do not have to stand in line at the County Recorder?s Office. However, I also issue licenses to couples I am not marrying.

Please call my office for details on this process. In California we have two types of Licenses the Confidential and the Public. The Confidential was originally started for couples who had been living together and wanted to avoid the dreaded blood test. So starting around 1969 many couples avoided the blood test by taking out a Confidential License, stating that they had been living together.

In 1970 California began to allow Notaries Public to issue the Confidential Licenses as a convenience to the public. You could still get the other license (with the blood test) if you went to a County office. However, in 1995 California did away with the Blood Test entirely and you still have the option to buy either license.

The advantage now of the Confidential license is that it is a "Sealed" document and only the couple can get a copy of it from the County Recorder. In this day of identity theft, many couples opt for the Confidential License. A disadvantage is that it must be used in the County in which it was issued - this does not mean you must have the ceremony performed only in that county.

But, Los Angeles is a very large County and this usually isn't a problem for my couples. So it is up to you to decide which license best suits your needs - both types are available at a County Office - you are just as married with either type of license. Of course if I am marrying you in Orange or any other County (except LA), you will have to obtain your own license.

Long Beach Wedding Locations ~ Lighthouse Park

Long Beach has some great locations for your wedding. Many couples planning to cruise from the Long Beach port get married in the park before the cruise.

We handle all the details and then you go on your honeymoon.

Elope in style and get married in California.

Gay and lesbian couples stage 'wedding march' across Brooklyn Bridge

By Stephanie Gaskell DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Gay and lesbian couples marched across the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday for the fifth year - vowing not to give up until they can marry in New York.
"Wedding March" protesters hoofed it across the bridge to urge the state Legislature to pass a bill legalizing gay marriage.
A gay marriage bill cleared the Assembly, but it hasn't been put to a vote in the GOP-run state Senate.
"There is nothing better we can do to help the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community than to win back the state Senate," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a Democrat who is also openly gay.
In May, Gov. Paterson issued an order recognizing gay marriages performed outside New York - and a court upheld it.
"Little by little, we are moving forward," said City Controller William Thompson, a Democrat who is considering a run for mayor. "I don't think we're that far away."
Gay couples said New York is more accepting of them than most places are, but they want the full legal benefits of marriage.
"Most straight people don't realize how many rights we don't have," said Gerry Greene, a 56-year-old retired Wall Street executive who wed Darrell Greene in Massachusetts last month.

California Same Sex Weddings are recognized by New York and several other states.

Get Married before November 4th

To date we have married almost 100 same sex couples since June 17th.

Couples have come from all over the US to get married in California since the ban was lifted. Get married now before voters have a chance to change the constitution here in California. The Los Angeles County recorders office has told us that all marriages performed before November will remain legal and can not be overturned.

But if voters change the constitution in November then no more licenses will be issued to same sex couples. So anyone married between June 17th and November 4th will have legal marriages recognized by the State of California as legal and binding. New York state currently recognizes California Same Sex marriages. So if you wait you may miss your chance to be legally married here in California.

We will continue to update our blog with news as we get it from the recorders office.

Say "I Boo" at the Wedding Chapel on 10/31/08

The Wedding Center is having a Halloween Special.

Free 8x10 picture for each couple that gets married on Halloween.Come dressed in a costume or traditional wedding outfits. It will be a fun day at The Wedding Center.

Trick or Treat at The Wedding Center, we will be giving candy out too.

California Destination Wedding Experts

Plan your Gay & Lesbian Destination Wedding