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More photographs and marriage
Jul. 21st, 2008 09:55 pmBecause one does not document a marriage with only one entry! Plus, we went honeymooning afterwards. Various technical problems (computer refusing to read CDs and a lost/stolen camera, mainly) have prevented me from providing the range of photographs I would have liked, but my father kindly emailed me the pictures he took, so I provide you here with a slideshow of sorts that resembles what an ideal world would have allowed me to exhibit.
What happens if you go to the Alameda County Clerk's Office to get married is an encounter with a system very similar to the DMV. Daniel and I went up to the main desk, showed our marriage license, and got a number (W304. Imagine, if you can, an image of us happily displaying our slip with a number on it in front of a board displaying which numbers are now being served. The image exists on a CD right by my elbow, which my computer has decided it no longer reads.) After a while, which we spent taking pictures in the lobby (few of which turned out well), the number was called and we went up to a little desk to sign paperwork and present our witnesses. We had my sister and Daniel's brother serve as witnesses, but they did not need any identification or anything, so I imagine some bum on the street would also have worked*. We did the signatures, and were then sent out into the lobby to wait again**. Eventually the deputy marriage commissioner in a black robe called our names and brought us up to a little room with some benches, which was unexceptional except for a little area in a corner that was all prettied up, I assume for the purpose of photographs. The picture below shows the extent of the little area, as well as the deputy marriage commisioner, and the standard-issue window coverings on the walls of the rest of the standard-issue room. Oh, yes--it also shows ( Daniel and me getting married )
*Furthermore, on our pretty little marriage certificate which we received afterwards, the witnesses' addresses were so absurdly wrong that I cannot imagine how they could have come up with information so faulty. Fortunately, on the actual legal documents that matter, everything was correct.
**I will take this moment to point out that while we were waiting we saw the lesbian couple ahead of us get called in, and as we were finishing up we saw the gay couple after us waiting for their appointment to be married. This made us very happy, and if any Californians are reading this, allow me to encourage you strongly to strike down that ridiculous proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage this November.
What happens if you go to the Alameda County Clerk's Office to get married is an encounter with a system very similar to the DMV. Daniel and I went up to the main desk, showed our marriage license, and got a number (W304. Imagine, if you can, an image of us happily displaying our slip with a number on it in front of a board displaying which numbers are now being served. The image exists on a CD right by my elbow, which my computer has decided it no longer reads.) After a while, which we spent taking pictures in the lobby (few of which turned out well), the number was called and we went up to a little desk to sign paperwork and present our witnesses. We had my sister and Daniel's brother serve as witnesses, but they did not need any identification or anything, so I imagine some bum on the street would also have worked*. We did the signatures, and were then sent out into the lobby to wait again**. Eventually the deputy marriage commissioner in a black robe called our names and brought us up to a little room with some benches, which was unexceptional except for a little area in a corner that was all prettied up, I assume for the purpose of photographs. The picture below shows the extent of the little area, as well as the deputy marriage commisioner, and the standard-issue window coverings on the walls of the rest of the standard-issue room. Oh, yes--it also shows ( Daniel and me getting married )
*Furthermore, on our pretty little marriage certificate which we received afterwards, the witnesses' addresses were so absurdly wrong that I cannot imagine how they could have come up with information so faulty. Fortunately, on the actual legal documents that matter, everything was correct.
**I will take this moment to point out that while we were waiting we saw the lesbian couple ahead of us get called in, and as we were finishing up we saw the gay couple after us waiting for their appointment to be married. This made us very happy, and if any Californians are reading this, allow me to encourage you strongly to strike down that ridiculous proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage this November.