“My wedding day was the best day of my life,” says Humboldt County Clerk Recorder Juan Pablo Cervantes. This might be why he was so excited about the clerk recorder’s office offering a special opportunity for couples looking to wed on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, in civil ceremonies aboard the iconic Madaket or under the historic arches of the Humboldt County Library’s Humboldt Room.
“Part of the goal is to really showcase that we live in paradise,” says Cervantes. And what better way than tying the knot in these quintessential locales? Couples climbing aboard the storied Madaket vessel, built in 1910 and refurbished in 1989, for their special day are sure to encounter some of the county’s most romantic views. The tour offers couples the option to set out to a variety of scenic locations, such as Oyster Beach, Tuluwat Island and even close to the mouth of the bay. According to owner Dalene Zerlang, this craft, featuring California’s smallest bar, is no stranger to weddings. But this was the first time the company conducted multiple weddings in a single day with the recorder’s office allotting 45 minutes per couple.
Should a windswept, oceanic romance not strike a chord with a respective couple, they also had the option of the Humboldt Room, a delightful dark horse of a venue that offers elegant hardwood craftsmanship and mesmerizing views of the bay. Sandra Borba, senior recordable documents examiner (and “wedding guru,” according to Cervantes), has attended many weddings, some as officiant, and has long believed the Humboldt Room on the library’s second floor would be “an incredible location for a wedding.” High ceilings with wooden arches form a dramatic frame for a path toward a wall of glass that overlooks the natural beauty of the bay, surrounded by shelves of historic books. Couples who wedded there this year received a keepsake book with artfully folded pages and, of course, a stamped due-date card.
Beyond what is already clearly enticing about these ceremonies, Cervantes made it clear that these weddings are also about sustainability. Sustainability can be characterized by consideration of equity, economy and environmental impact; this goes for agriculture, business management and weddings. These local destination weddings cost a flat rate of $100, an accessible expense for a beautiful wedding. All other expenses related to the ceremony, other than the marriage certificate, are included and reused for all the day’s ceremonies to limit waste. This includes flowers provided by Pocket of Posies and decor from North Coast Events and Rentals, putting money into the pockets of purveyors in the local economy.
“A hundred dollars and it’s still as pretty as you can make it,” says Recordable Documents Examiner Brynn Ivy. Valentine’s Day is only one piece of the clerk-recorder’s vision of sustainable weddings. It has also conducted Halloween weddings and there are plans for a Winter Wonderland wedding promotion. In the bigger picture, Cervantes would like to see the office provide pop-up weddings in the far reaches of Humboldt’s rural communities like Alderpoint, Hoopa and Shelter Cove, so that celebrations of love can reach all corners of the county.
These civil wedding ceremonies can only be booked in person at the Humboldt County Clerk Recorder’s office, and couples must present a marriage license on the day of the wedding. For special events like Valentine’s Day weddings on the Madaket and at the library, spots are limited so make note of application deadlines. Spanish language services are available upon request at no additional charge.
Whether it’s this Valentine’s Day or any other day, the county clerk recorder’s office is committed to “figuring out what the community wants,” and making dreams come true. For more information, call (707) 445-7593 or visit HumboldtGov.org/Clerk-Recorder.
This article appears in 2026 Wedding Guide.
