What could be more romantic than a wedding on Valentine's Day?

Even if you are a last-minute planner, it's possible you can still get married this Feb. 14. As of last week, the Alameda City Clerk's office still had some open slots for Valentine's Day civil marriage cermonies at City Hall.

Ditto for Feb. 29, a chance that only comes around once every four years. That might be especially appropriate if the bride-to-be did the asking. According to folklore cited on the City of Alameda's wedding information page, Scotland passed a law in 1288 that allowed women to propose marriage during Leap Year. If the man declined, he had to pay a fine — though the tariff could be as modest as a kiss. 

According to City Clerk Lara Weisiger, couples who get married at Alameda City Hall often feel like it's a bit more personalized than a typical civil ceremony.

"At other places, it's a quick ceremony," she said. "So if a guest is late, the ceremony goes ahead anyway."

"Here we tried to set up the fees so we didn't have to be on such a tight schedule. If the bride's mother is a few minutes late, we can wait."

Until last fall, you had to be an Alameda resident to get married at City Hall. Then Weisiger proposed — and the city council approved — a plan to open up marriage ceremonies to non-residents. She also added some wedding bells and whistles: personalized vows, photos, decorations, room for up to 100 guests.

Alameda City Hall weddings have been popular. In the past, city officials performed an average of 15 marriages a year. In just the last seven months, that number has climbed to 29, with more weddings scheduled this month, Weisiger said.

And you can't tell who might show up. Weisiger said Mayor Marie Gilmore stopped by to observe one ceremony, and city council member Beverly Johnson was a witness at another. (She knew the bride and groom.) Council member Doug deHaan even officiated at one wedding.

The city clerk's office offered a range of wedding options and prices. For details, visit the city's civil marriage ceremonies page or call 510-747-4804.