Many couples are opting for a last minute legal wedding for a multitude of reasons. Here I have three examples of these types of weddings I have officiated myself that turned out really lovely despite the last minute stress. Two of these couples had much larger weddings later.
I did a similar thing with my second husband. First we had a sunrise wedding in June 1989, overlooking the ocean at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach. Our 2 best friends and fellow Eckists witnessed while our Eck pastor conducted and filed our legal ceremony. To find out more about Eckankar click HERE. Then in August 1989 we had a much bigger church wedding with many friends and family members flying in from Northern California.
This was held at St. Francis By The Sea in Laguna Beach. It was a big show at this tiny church with many lovely photos and a fantastic reception afterwards in Costa Mesa. To find out more about St. Francis By The Sea, click HERE. By coincidence this post was published on our August 13th wedding anniversary! This was also the wedding date of the couple in Twilight. That was also a coincidence as the movie came out long after our wedding. I was a big fan of the Twilight series.
1. Sandy and Mike’s Ocean View Wedding, May, 2009
Laguna Beach Montage Resort, Near Rock Arch
They worked together for over 20 years as friends in the Bay Area, Northern CA but Mike always knew she was the one for him. She was a very shy bride, so they flew far from their home to a vacation destination wedding here with only one friend as the witness. An associate minister had given me the officiant job the day before this wedding as he was unavailable. This venue was supposed to have a paid permit but I didn’t know that at the time. The late afternoon was gloomy and cold, so maybe that’s why no permit police were on patrol.
My talented son was the paid photographer and captured the couple beautifully in this super magical location. Hundreds of glowing orbs appeared in the photos which included the huge natural stone arch in the nearby cliff. I did research to help them find where to buy a wedding dress and wedding rings the day before. I also suggested this nearby venue within walking distance from where they were staying in a darling little hotel across the street from the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. We walked back to their hotel room to sign the legal documents.
2. Farah and Jorge’s Family Wedding, April 2021
Laguna Hills County Recorder Office Gardens
Apr 30, 2021 5 Star Yelp Review by Farah, the Bride
Our ordained person contracted COVID-19 the day before our wedding on April 28th. Kathleen Shannon answered my desperate phone call at 7:00 PM. I asked if she could marry my husband and I. I was desperate, all I wanted was for her to sign the documentation and turn it in. Kathleen went ABOVE AND BEYOND. Without any preparation she created an entire ceremony in less than a 24 hour notice. She was MAGICAL! Her kind words brought my husband and I to tears. Seriously, she is the absolute best. She had so many ideas and truly made the ceremony so special.
May 3, 2021Wedding officiant Reverend Kathleen Shannon
Thank you so much, Farah, for your super kind review. I was really honored to marry you and Jorge. Thank you for posting this gorgeous photo, too. I was impressed how beautiful it was at the Orange County Recorders offices. I’m glad you both chose to have a wedding outdoors in nature, especially on such a lovely Spring day. Congratulations and many beautiful blessings!
Notes on This Wedding
Farah’s father was able to attend at the last minute and give her away! She was very emotional that this was made possible. Their 8 month old baby Elija was also in attendance, he’s the one looking at the camera in the featured photo above. Many of their family members, old and young, were here to witness the happy ceremony outdoors in the sunshine instead of in the tiny county offices. In the center of the gardens was a large impressive fountain where many of their photos were taken.
3. Jackie and Trey’s Family Wedding in Aliso Viejo
New Years Eve 2022 at the Groom’s Parent’s Home
These two young and gorgeous U.S. Marines lived together in Oceanside very near the base at Camp Pendleton. The bride called me on Dec. 30, wanting to be married on New Years Eve. I quickly created a wedding script and showed up in the late afternoon drizzle at the groom’s parent’s beautiful home in Aliso Viejo. This joyful, very crowded, family wedding was supposed to be held outside on the lawn but the rain decided it needed to be indoors instead.
We walked around the house to search for the perfect spot. The family room near front door next to the staircase was large enough to hold everyone with the bride able to come down the stairs to make her grand entrance. There were many small children in the front row absolutely entranced by the whole spectacle, so they were very quiet and respectful. The wedding party played the Beatles “Here Comes The Sun” at the end of the ceremony while taking photos and videos of the wedding party.
