Why Valentine’s Day Is Now the Most Popular Day to Get Married in Ventura County.
Sylvie Belmond 
On Feb. 14 in Ventura County, Love Won’t Be Abstract. It Will Be Signed, Witnessed And Said Out Loud
(CLAIR | Ventura County, CA) – Even though Feb. 14 falls on a Saturday, those in Ventura County ready to make the commitment will be able to say “I do.” The clerk-recorder’s office will open for a special group ceremony on Valentine’s Day, a date long associated with romance and already the busiest wedding day of the year at the office.
On a typical weekday, about ten civil marriage ceremonies are performed. On Feb. 14, that number can climb to 40.
People arrive early. Some dressed casually. Others in wedding attire. Rings in pockets. Smiles exchanged while waiting their turn. The process is efficient, but the feeling in the room is unmistakably joyful.
Rather than let the date pass, Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion made room for it. For a few hours that morning, the Hall of Administration at the Ventura County Government Center will open for the group ceremony, giving participants the chance to marry on a date that already means something to them.
Couples show up for many reasons. There’s love, of course, but there are also real, practical benefits that come with marriage: smoother access to health and retirement benefits, tax considerations, legal protections for children, and shared decision-making authority when life gets complicated.
Those who marry can add a spouse to insurance plans, make medical decisions for one another, and enjoy federal and state tax advantages.
Nationwide, marriage remains a common life step. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 2 million marriages in the U.S., with a marriage rate of about 6 per 1,000 people. The general trend in the U.S. shows marriage rates climbing slightly while divorce rates have fallen in recent years.
In California, the marriage rate has traditionally been lower than the national average, at about 5.5 marriages per 1,000 people, in a state where people tend to marry later in life.
Ventura County mirrors the state’s mixed picture of family life. About half of adult residents are married. The county’s population is about 840,000, with a median age near 39, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Americans are also tying the knot later than they did decades ago, with first marriages now typically occurring in the early to mid-30s for women and slightly later for men, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
How couples mark the occasion varies, shaped by tradition, timing and finances. For some in Ventura County, this Valentine’s ceremony will be the entire wedding. For others, it’s the legal beginning before a larger celebration later.
Social science surveys suggest emotional security and legal protection rank high among motivations for marriage, even for those who already live together or share finances.
Each wedding carries its own story, even when they happen back to back. Here are things to know for those planning to take part in the Feb. 14 ceremony in Ventura:
- Marriage licenses must be obtained in advance and must be issued by Ventura County no later than the day before the ceremony.
- Participants must bring valid photo ID when they check in that morning.
- Each couple may bring up to eight guests, a limit set by space in the Hall of Administration.
Ceremonies are performed in the order participants check in. Afterward, certified copies of marriage certificates can be purchased the same day, and the fee structure is straightforward.
The ceremony fee is $60, payable by cash, check, or credit card (a $2.50 processing fee applies to each credit card transaction) and is due at check-in. Certified copies of the marriage certificate are available for $19 each after the ceremony, according to the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
For those still deciding, the path is simple: register online, secure the license, arrive at check-in with ID, bring the rings and the people who matter most.
