Be Mine . . . and Mine

Eighty-one couples made a sentimental journey to the Orange County clerk-recorder’s office Monday to get married on the first Valentine’s Day of the millennium. That’s about four times the number of weddings on a typical day, but not unusual for Feb. 14.

“On this day, we always have to get extra people,” county employee Irene Flores said. Five extra employees came in to help process the paperwork as couples said their vows in the small office, decorated with pink and red hearts for the occasion. Couples came in through the day, with a last-minute flurry just before closing time at 4:30 p.m.

Anaheim residents Michele Ramsey and James Rankin, both 34, shared their special day with friends and their six children--three boys and three girls, ages 2 1/2 months to 9 years. For the brief ceremony, the family wore Hawaiian dresses and shirts--the children in red and the parents in turquoise.

The couple chose to marry on Valentine’s “because it’s a day of love,” Michele said. She met James at a party 11 years ago when they shared a class at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside.

“They have been looking forward to this for a long time,” said James’ mother, Maria Stewart. “They have been busy raising a family, and they finally had time to do this.”

Another longtime couple tying the knot were Julia Gonzalez and Alexander Valdez.

“We have been together for six years,” she said, and had discussed marriage for several months before deciding that Valentine’s Day 2000 would be the moment.

“It’s a special day for not just us but for our son, too,” Julia said. “If we didn’t do it this day, we would have never done it.”

The Internet brought one couple together. Linda and Andrew Ferng met online about a year ago, then later met in person. Linda, 23, from Taiwan, traveled to the United States on Thursday to marry Andrew, 34, a Costa Mesa resident.

The couple are planning a large wedding in Taiwan next year but wanted to make it official now.

“Even though we grew up in pretty much different backgrounds, we still have the same values,” Andrew said. “We share the same thoughts. We share the same dedication.”