Couples tie knot as Palm Springs offers marriage licenses, ceremonies

It’s official, couples wanting to tie the knot can now get a marriage license and have their civil marriage ceremonies at Palm Springs City Hall at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon.

To celebrate, Mayor Steve Pougnet and other city leaders officiated the first set of weddings Friday morning.

“For years it’s been a great destination to get married. We just made it easier,” said Pougnet.

“We got married, after 17 years, finally husband and husband,” said Richard Bartholomew-Young, of Rancho Mirage.

The wedding ceremonies will only be offered on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 760-863-7505.

It’s a county and city effort to make it possible for couples to marry moments after landing at Palm Springs International Airport and make Palm Springs even more of a wedding and tourist destination.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to help,” said Pougnet. “It’s almost like one-stop shopping, come here get their license and get married, and have a great weekend.”

Robert Grill and Richard Zopatti said their vows just an hour or so before flying home to New York.

“We got married! It’s the end of a weeklong vacation,” they said.

A marriage license costs $90 and the ceremony costs an additional $75. Until now, couples had to go to the County Clerk’s Office in Palm Desert or Indio.

“It’s convenient. It’s local. You just come to Palm Springs and say ‘I do’ and walk out,” said Wise.