Weddings can be expensive. That’s why the special first annual Valentine’s Day Wedding Marathon is being offered on Friday, Feb. 14 at the historic Whitmore Mansion.
Ceres City Clerk Diane Nayares-Perez will perform non-denomination wedding ceremonies at the mansion in downtown Ceres from 12 noon to 3 p.m. with each ceremony lasting about 30 minutes.
“The staff at the Whitmore Mansion is dedicated and committed to ensuring that ceremonies are all that you imagined it would be,” said Lisa Mantarro Moore of the Whitmore Mansion Foundation Committee. “This is a great alternative to getting married at the courthouse and is perfect for couples looking to have an intimate, elegant, and affordable wedding that can be shared with up to 10 closest family and friends in an upscale venue at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding.”
Couples may get married for $75 with the “No Fuss” Valentine’s Day wedding package that only includes the City Clerk officiating the ceremony.
Two other packages are offered:
• The $150 “Our Valentine’s Day” package which includes: the city clerk officiating and exclusive use of the venue for 30 minutes. The couple may invite up to 10 guests. A red rose and baby breath bouquet will be provided for the bride and boutonniere for the groom. Also included was a champagne or sparkling cider toast for the couple and guests, wedding ceremony flowers, toasting flutes for the couple, cupcakes and unlimited digital photography and videos sent which are emailed. Photography service (with option to purchase additional).
• The $100 “I Do + You” wedding package that includes the city clerk officiating, and exclusive use of the venue for 30 minutes. Five guests are allowed. Included is a champagne or sparkling cider toast for the bride and groom, ceremony flowers, cupcakes for the bride and groom and a wedding planner to assist with ceremony. Couples may purchase champagne or sparkling cider and cupcakes for guests at $10 per person).
Couples must apply for a marriage license before the Valentine’s Day ceremony and be required to present the marriage license and identification (driver’s license or passport) to the city clerk prior to getting married. Couples will also receive a special commemorative marriage certificate which can be picked up after the ceremony. The official Certificate of Marriage will be signed by the wedding officiant and mailed to the county clerk on behalf of the couple.
Marriage license information may be found at the County Clerk’s website at www.stancounty.com/clerkrecorder/clerk/marriage-license.shtm
To register for a wedding at the mansion on Feb. 13, contact Lisa Mantarro Moore by email at info@cereswhitmoremansion.com or by phone/text at 918-9988.
In September 2014, the state passed legislation AB 1525 to give City Clerks (elected or appointed) within California the authority to solemnize civil marriages. Prior to the law going into effect in 2015, marriages could only be performed by members of the clergy, members of Congress, legislators, constitutional officers, justices, judges, magistrates, county clerks and supervisors or an elected city mayor.
Nayares-Perez performed Ceres’ first-such ceremony in November at the Community Center after attending training offered by the Stanislaus County Clerk’s office. She is the first city clerk in Stanislaus County to take advantage of the change in law.
