266 couples have civil weddings on Valentine’s Day

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department married a record number of couples on Valentine’s Day, according to a recent news release.

In all, 266 pairs said their vows at the department’s three marriage locations, in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Laguna Hills, after Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen and his deputies expanded their hours of operation to handle all the nuptials.

That number broke Orange County’s record of 173 civil ceremonies on Valentine’s Day in 1997, according to Nguyen.

“With Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday and before a holiday weekend, we knew demand was going to sky rocket,” he said in the release.

Although Valentine’s Day is typically the most popular day for civil marriage ceremonies in the county, Dec. 12, 2012, holds the all-time record with 283 pairs marrying.

The clerk-recorder’s office also issued 310 marriage licenses on Feb. 14, according to Nguyen’s announcement, well more than last year’s 224.

County officials also got an assist from two Harlem Globetrotters this year. Wun Versher and Thunder Law handed out roses and served as witnesses for one couple at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana.

“It was an honor to have such special guests,” Nguyen said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck