OC Braces for 12/12/12 Wedding Boom

On the plus side, it'll be easier to remember the anniversary date.

Orange County's Clerk-Recorder office will double its staff Wednesday in anticipation of a record number of marriages at county offices as the calendar reads 12/12/12.

Valentine's Day is usually the busiest day of the year for weddings in the clerk's three Orange County locations -- Santa Ana, Laguna Hills and Fullerton -- where ceremonies are held and licenses provided, said Christina Aguilar, supervisor of the clerk-recorder's marriage-license unit.

"This is definitely double our regular Valentine's Day," Aguilar said of the 229 appointments scheduled for Wednesday.

The clerk-recorder expects 98 couples to get hitched at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, 67 in Laguna Hills and 64 in Fullerton, according to Jean Pasco of the clerk-recorder's office. That's roughly 200 more ceremonies than a normal day.

The office's previous top day for marriages was Aug. 8, 2008, when 187 couples were married, Aguilar said. That date was a Friday.

"Fridays are always big for us, so that was like a double whammy," Aguilar said.

On July 7, 2007, a Saturday, the clerk-recorder opened its doors to wed 156 couples, Aguilar said.

Couples could not get married on Nov. 11, 2011, because the office was closed for Veteran's Day, or on Oct. 10, 2010, a Sunday.

On Sept. 9, 2009, there were 132 marriage ceremonies, Aguilar said.

"Right now, our appointments are 90 percent marriage ceremonies," Aguilar said, adding the rest of those with appointments will get licenses with the 12/12/12 date on it.

On a regular day, the clerk will see about 20 to 25 marriages.

Couples shouldn't worry about long waits as there will be extra rooms available for ceremonies, Aguilar said.

"We're ready to rock," Aguilar said. "We've been anticipating this day for months."

-- City News Service