The Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office will perform a very special Destination Weddings “Scaremonies” at the Port Costa School for up to 14 couples on Friday, October 31, 2025, offering a fun twist to traditional wedding ceremonies. “Scaremonies” are wedding ceremonies officiated by County Clerk staff in costume, for those customers who are interested. The Clerk’s office is partnering with the Port Costa Conservation Society to host Scaremonies this year at the historical Port Costa School.
“The Clerk-Recorder’s office is thrilled to be able to offer this very fun Halloween wedding venue for our special ‘Scaremonies’ weddings,” said Clerk-Recorder and Commissioner of Civil Marriages, Kristin B. Connelly. “Contra Costa County is home to many historical, hidden gems, and Port Costa School is a very special landmark that will most definitely provide a thrilling and unforgettable wedding experience on Halloween.”
The Port Costa Conservation Society takes pride in preserving the history of Port Costa through archival records, artifacts, and restoration efforts of the Port Costa School. This landmark, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, holds stories within its walls, echoing the charm and mystery of times long past. With its touch of the eerie, the school provides a unique setting, perfect for a Halloween wedding ceremony.
The County Clerk’s Office offers “Scaremonies” as a Halloween tradition, with County Clerk staff, some couples and even their guests dressing in costume for wedding ceremonies on that day. Staff in robes are also available for traditional ceremonies.
A limited number of wedding ceremony appointments are available, and interested couples should call the Clerk-Recorder’s Office as soon as possible at (925) 335-7900.
Couples must obtain a valid marriage license prior to their scheduled ceremony. Licenses can be purchased at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office in Martinez. The fee for a public marriage license is $95, and a confidential license is $100. The civil ceremony fee for Destination Weddings is $120.
For information about marriage licenses and ceremony services, go to www.contracostavote.gov or call the office at 925-335-7900 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.
