This past Twos Day, better known as Tuesday, February 22, 2022 (2-22-22), Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen offered extended hours at his offices ready to help couples tie the knot on a once-in-a-lifetime, palindrome and lucky date. Little did he know that he would be hosting one of the busiest days for marriage services in the department’s history. The department issued a record-breaking 335 marriage licenses and performed a record setting 327 civil marriage ceremonies. These numbers shattered the previous record, set on Valentine’s Day in 2014, of 310 marriage licenses issued and 266 civil marriage ceremonies performed.

“Couples were choosing 2-22-22 as their day to tie the knot since it is a once-in-a-lifetime date and many also believe it is a lucky date,” said Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen. “I knew we would be busy, but it also turned out to be a fun and romantic day for all! Not even a little rain stopped the couples from getting married on this unique day. I would like to thank my staff for all the hard work they put into making this day special for the couples.” he added.

There were many things that made this past Twos Day special. This once-in-a-life time date is considered lucky in some cultures due to its all even numbers. In some Asian cultures, this date is considered an auspicious wedding date which refers to a favorable day for a couple to hold the wedding. It is believed that if you hold the wedding on such a day, you will enjoy a happy and harmonious marriage. It is also a palindromic date, meaning the date can be read the same way backwards and forward in the format mm-dd-yy. This unique date fell on a Tuesday, the second day of the week in many cultures around the world. This has prompted the media to call the day Twos Day.

This was also the second time the department offered candlelit ceremonies inside the courtroom located on the third floor of the Old Orange County Courthouse. This added a sense of allure for couples to choose this date to exchange their vows. Couples were treated to a backdrop of rich woods, an ornate judge’s bench, period chandeliers, and high ceilings for their special night. Adding to the appeal, the courthouse has been featured in movies and television shows since 1915. It can be seen in the films Frances, Catch Me If You Can, and Legally Blonde to name a few.

For more information about the Clerk-Recorder Department or about the services offered by the department, please call the information line at (714) 834-2500 or visit OCRecorder.com. The department’s information line is available Monday – Friday, except holidays, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.