https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Q&A/Webcasts give high-tech twist to civil weddings

Q&A/Webcasts give high-tech twist to civil weddings

Last Valentine's Day, San Mateo County, Calif., began broadcasting local weddings on the Internet as a service to residents whose families could not attend
  • Written by Lindsay Isaacs, Associate Editor
  • 1st January 2002

Last Valentine’s Day, San Mateo County, Calif., began broadcasting local weddings on the Internet as a service to residents whose families could not attend ceremonies. The county promotes the free service by handing out flyers to people who visit the courthouse to get marriage licenses, and couples who take advantage of the service receive a CD with a copy of the broadcast. Theresa Rabe, deputy county clerk recorder, estimates that the county broadcasts one ceremony a week.

Q: How did the idea to start the Web casts come up?

A: My boss, Warren Slocum, has a father who lives somewhat far away, and he was helping his father hook up his computer at home. They were talking about trying to keep in touch even though they’re far away. (It was on Valentine’s Day that they were having this conversation.) It just popped into his head that it’s so sad that families can’t always be together [especially when couples get married].

Q: What audience are you trying to attract with the Web services?

A: We’re trying to attract all of our constituents. We would like everyone who gets married to be able to do this. That’s why, at present, we’re not charging. We’re still trying to promote [the Webcasts], and we probably only get one a week. A lot of people are married civilly for privacy reasons or timing reasons, and a lot of people don’t necessarily need or want the wedding on the Web.

Q: What equipment is involved?

A: We have a digital camera hooked up inside the chapel. The digital camera streams the video to the Internet server. Visitors go onto our [secure] Web site with a special password and log on. Each wedding [password] is different.

The couples that are getting married give us a list of e-mail addresses of those people they want to electronically invite. Then we send a very pretty, flowery, wedding-type electronic invitation to those e-mails. The invitation tells them the date, the time, the log on and password, and that they need a RealPlayer. Then we have a link to download [RealPlayer] for free.

Q: What do viewers see when they’re watching a wedding?

A: The camera is behind some flowers up a little bit high on the wall. [It] is looking down at the back of the marriage commissioner and the podium, so the couple’s faces are showing. Our chapel seats about 20 people, so the viewer can see the entire room, but they’re mostly looking at the faces of the wedding couple.

Q: Has anything unusual happened at any of the services that have been broadcast?

A: No, we haven’t had any issues or problems. We’ve got some sweet stories that people have told us. An 80-year-old woman in Florida actually was able to watch her son get married. A family in Mexico was able to watch their daughter get married. So we’ve received several sweet messages about how this was very important to them, and they appreciated it.

Q: Do you have any advice for other counties that might be interested in starting the service for their residents?

A: Our initial broadcast was a little choppy. You would see 20 seconds, and it would cut for 2 seconds. Then it would flow for 12 seconds and cut for 2 seconds, so the digital camera quality is important as well as the streaming on the Internet. Even though the number of weddings we’re [broadcasting] is small, people have truly appreciated what we’ve done. That, in itself, is worth the little bit of money and time that we’re putting into it.

Tags:

Most Recent


  • When spending federal stimulus dollars, local governments are considering long-term, community impact
    From staffing constraints to budget shortfalls and an unprecedented pivot into the digital realm (driven by the pandemic), local governments have confronted myriad challenges over the last few years. But in this, there’s a bright spot: The federal government is investing an unprecedented amount of money into local governments. “The covid pandemic shuffled the deck […]
  • Reno, NV
    In Nevada county, data underpins efforts to address climate change
    Across the United States, cities and counties are doing their best to confront climate change in myriad ways—from bolstering seawalls to updating electrical grids and everything in between. But in order for communities to best direct their efforts and responsibly spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars, administrators need data. In Washoe County and Reno, Nev., for example, […]
  • $52B semiconductor investment intended to rejuvenate American manufacturing
    Three decades ago, American manufacturing dominated the semiconductor industry, producing about 40 percent of the global supply annually. But over time, companies shipped business overseas looking to cut costs, and today, the nation produces only 10 percent of all semiconductors. It’s something the Biden Administration is trying to change through CHIPS and Science Act. “There […]
  • How capital improvement project prioritization helps secure infrastructure funding
    Trillions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding have been made available to state and local governments across the U.S. since early 2020. This money has been allocated to address the nation’s aging infrastructure, much of which is at or near the end of its useful life, and to bolster the U.S. economy in the wake […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Lessons from your friendly neighborhood public service employees
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions

White papers


Modern American Perspectives on Law Enforcement

14th July 2022

Reimagine the Employee Experience

12th July 2022

How to Assemble a Rockstar Website Redesign Steering Committee

7th June 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

When spending federal stimulus dollars, local governments should consider long-term, community impact dlvr.it/SWXJWZ

12th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

In Nevada county, data underpins efforts to address climate change dlvr.it/SWTGHy

11th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

$52B semiconductor investment intended to rejuvenate American manufacturing dlvr.it/SWPqHQ

10th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

How capital improvement project prioritization helps secure infrastructure funding dlvr.it/SWLQB7

9th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Climate bill lauded; predicted to reduce nation’s carbon foot print by 40% within decade dlvr.it/SWHGQL

8th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Partnership launches no-cost wastewater monitoring service for local governments dlvr.it/SW7N74

5th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Investing in America’s onsite wastewater treatment systems for equity and sustainability dlvr.it/SW4Mb9

4th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

With passage of PACT Act, veterans service officers are preparing for an influx in applicants dlvr.it/SW4KTg

4th August 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X