Wittness at City Hall

On June 3rd at 11:00 PM, Zoe was double-checking her reservation. You have to make sure you make 2 separate appointments: one for the registration, the other for the ceremony. “Wait a min…” Zoe says nervously. “I can’t seem to find the receipt,” she says, tiptoeing around the possibility that the reservation wasn’t made. “What’s the matter?” Udi asks her as he walks into the living room fixing the tie around his neck. “I made a reservation for the ceremony, but I think something went wrong! I can’t seem to find the reservation for the registration!” A sudden panic comes over the room and no one seemed to know what to do. Well, why would we? None of us have ever been to a City Hall wedding before.

 

At 08:00 AM the next morning, we got into the car, wearing our coordinated wedding outfits, and rushed to the San Francisco City Hall. Who knows…? Maybe these two will get married today! We walk into City Hall and find our way to the Marriage licensing office. Painted walls, large ceiling-murals, sculptures and busts, flashy designs… this didn’t seem like City Hall. After all, where I come from, City Hall looks more like a storage room that is actually in a ‘Hall’-way. This seems more like… a museum! We got to the counter, filled with Jubilee, and Zoe gives the guy behind the counter a BIG smile and says, “Hi! We’re here to get hitched!”

“Do you have an appointment?” the man asks with a polite smile. Zoe replies, “Sure!” He fingers through his papers and lists, to find that the adorable couple and the two bow-tied groomsmen behind them may not have a reservation. He turns around and says to his superior, “Can these two get married today?” The boss looks up at the potential bride and groom, who are smiling wide and holding one another, and after a few moments says, “Yup!” 

"Marriage Licensing Form"

So far in my life I have been to a countless amount of wedding ceremonies. Some fancy, some shmancy… But I have never been to what felt like an Instant Wedding. Open the box and… PUFF! Judge, fancy words, some pictures and you’re married! How special! I’ve come to realize that the most beautiful ceremonies I have been to have never followed the traditional guidelines of what the wedding planner suggested. It’s not about the food, the gifts, or the social commitment of inviting everyone you know to the 3^rd degree. It’s about your life changing forever. It’s about commitment. Its about (dare I say it?) Love!   And this ceremony had PLENTY of Love.

What an honor it was for Yona and I to be witnesses at such a meaningful event. Two of our best friends are getting married – and it’s to each other! The five of us, including our judge, walked towards the Retunda room where we stood close and listened to the Law shed light on the union of Zoe and Udi. It was actually kind of… magical? I was standing behind Udi creating obnoxious ChekChak sounds with the camera. I was taking photos of Zoe’s face staring into Udi’s eyes with an honest smile. Although this ceremony was similar to the 1000’s of ceremonies that occurred in between these walls before, this one must have been a little bit more special than them all. Strangers began to circle us as we got closer to the final words. “I now pronounce you Man and Wife!” said the judge with a big smile on his face. He then leans in close and whispers “I’m not supposed to say this, but… Mazal Tov!”

"By the power vested in me by the laws of the state of California..."

As Zoe and Udi begin to kiss for the first time as a married couple, I turn to the crowd of strangers surrounding us and declare, “Ladies & Gentleman, The Newlyweds!” And just like that, people began to applaud and Zoe and Udi stood before them, in love.

Well, If we’re already here… Photo-shoot anyone?