It was a fun, festive, and emotional day for many San Diego couples at the County Administration building downtown. That's where the number of public wedding ceremonies double on Valentines Day.
As if on cue, the sun broke through the clouds making this day for lovers extra special. Even the deputy commissioners were dressed to the nines, top hat included. About 170 weddings were scheduled this Valentines Day.
"There's a lot of color out there today, a lot of red and white," said Ernie Dronenburg the County Tax Collector. On this day he's wearing his Commissioner of Civil Marriages hat. "I have a lot of special deputies to handle the work load. I normally have about 12 deputies throughout the county that are performing marriages."
It all starts rather quietly when couples register and pay their $70 license fee then proceed downstairs and outdoors for the ceremony.
Jose Torres-Quiroz and Cecelia Hernandez are tying the knot after being together for 18 years. They were joined by their extended families and the 16-year-old daughter they had together, who was dressed in Valentine red.
"This is an important day for us because we love you very much," Hernandez told her new husband.
The record for the most weddings in one day was set in 2002 in San Diego. That's when 189 couples said "I do." It takes about 7 to 9 days for couples to receive their official marriage license in the mail.
