Last Monday's Weddings

I just realized I never posted about the weddings last week.  Sorry about that.  It was a slow day, which I sort of liked.  With the weddings spaced out, I didn't get so tired.

There were some good looking clothes on the men and the women:
One bride wore a cream colored crocheted sheath with little cap sleeves.  It was very simple yet elegant at the same time.  The dress had rows of design that were about 4 inches tall.  Each row met up perfectly at every seam. That dress cost big bucks.

Another bride wore a sleeveless sheath dress that was heavy brocade with a black trim at the hemline and black mesh from the top of the bust to her neck.  The brocade design was tiny silver and gold squares.   Her groom wore a blue shirt and tie with a grey vest and grey slacks. He wore grey lizard pointy toe shoes.  They were stunning.

One couple each wore black slacks  and white shirts.  At first I thought very casual, and then I looked again.  She wore a black shrug over her shirt.  When she turned the back was lace.  His plain white shirt had a surprise too.  The buttons down the front, on the cuffs, and on the pockets had tiny tiny brilliants around the edge.  Not gaudy, you had to look twice to realize they were there.

My favorite wedding of the day was for two men.  This was a destination wedding.  They were from Florida and had wanted to be married in San Francisco City Hall.  Now that is a fabulous venue, but it  is almost impossible to get an appointment.  There is often a 6 weeks waiting period or more, and then you wait a month or more to get your certified copy of the license.  They called all over the Bay Area and studied options on the Internet.  They picked us for the services we offer.

When they saw our lovely wedding room they were blown away.  It is a pretty room.

Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern art

 Rich wood paneling and pews

 

The men asked if they could use their own vows, and I of course said yes.  One man's vows were very sweet and personal.  But the other man had me in tears.  He said he couldn't sing, but he had written a song.  Then he sang it and the words were so loving.  These men were so amazed at how nice, how caring, how special people at Alameda County made their wedding.  They hugged me over and over before they left.  They kept thanking me for giving them such a wonderful wedding.

 

I am proud of our clerks for their caring and kindness to our two grooms.  I'm so glad we all made a special day for a couple who could not marry in their home state.  And I  am so glad that in doing this special wedding, we did our routine jobs.  We care about all who want a special wedding.

Thanks, but no thanks

This morning I was in the pool walking my laps and doing my arm exercises.  Marty comes down to the edge and says my phone rang and it was San Diego County.  Then he holds out the phone, over the pool , to me who is shoulder deep in the pool!  I told him to get my towel and I got out of the pool. (I drowned one phone here a year and a half ago.) If you missed a blog two back click here for background.   It was the clerk who had interviewed me and piled on all the paperwork.  Her supervisor told her that my blogging was a conflict of interest.  Thank you for offering to volunteer. 

Well, I wasn’t surprised.  I knew they couldn’t make an exception for me.  I do find it strange San Diego has all these restrictions, rules, medical checkups, and background checks. 

In Alameda County all the way to the top they know I blog.  I have given the link to some high ups.  The clerks know I blog and some read the blog. They know I won’t hurt the County’s image.  They have read enough to know I tell how hard the clerks work, how they handle the public (which is just a little difficult).  I try to share the joy of the weddings, the zany couples, and the sometimes sadness of the weddings.  I try to show my respect and love for the wedding business.

I admit I have gone off on a clerk or two.  But never have I identified who ticked me off or the Clerk from Hell.  And to give that clerk credit, she has improved. 

The staff in Vitals is stellar.  They handle everyone with respect and kindness.  They strive to do a good job and usually succeed.  I miss my Vitals’ crew, the deputies, the staff I pass in the hall who thank me for volunteering.  I miss everyone at the Alameda County building.

 

WEDDINGS AND THINGS

When I arrived at the County Building on Wednesday, I asked a clerk for some help. A friend had been notified about a tax lien on a house he sold years ago. Nothing made sense. I asked what he should do, which department and or building he should go to. And she said call him and get the info from him. Before I was off the phone, she and another clerk had pulled up documents he would need, printed them, and certified them. After I got home he had more info from the title company that conflicted with what we had found. The next morning I called one of the lead clerks and asked her what we should do. She pulled it all up, told us about the new problem, and told us where to go for help. The clerks did me such a gracious service. They saved my friend hours of time. He now knew what to do, and where to go to accomplish it.

Thank you Clerks of Alameda CountyVitals.

Wednesday was a slowish spaced out day at the marriage factory. I only did four weddings. They were four lovely, deeply in love couples. After the trash on Monday, I needed sweetness in the marriage room.

Some couples were dressed up. One couple the bride was in a beige chiffon dress,with a slip on thank you very much. He had on a really good looking shirt and dress slacks. I started the ceremony and he started tearing up, and then went into tears overflowing. I handed them tissues and she wiped his eyes throughout the ceremony. I love to see the big burly guys get emotional.

Another couple gave me a little worry. She had on a pink and brown silky, diagonally striped dress. He had on a suit. She was cute and bubbly, until I began the ceremony. She immediately became very still and very very pale. I was afraid she was going to hit the ground. I kept watching, asked if she was OK. She hung in there and made it through, upright. The second I pronounced them married, the groom swept her up above his head and swung her around. They were both laughing and hugging. Such joy, such obvious love. Made my heart happy.