The Woodstock Town Board appointed deputy town clerk Michelle Sehwerert as marriage officer last week in order to keep up with an increasing demand for marriage licenses and officiants. Many town clerks’ offices remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Town clerk Jackie Earley had been the only person on her office authorized to issue marriage licenses and officiate over ceremonies for the Town of Woodstock. This was adequate in a normal year. “To this date, we have issued 50-plus licenses when our average over the past few years has been 40 over the entire year,” Sehwerert reported at the September 15 business meeting of the town board.
The town clerk’s office has seen a lot of people from the New York City metropolitan area wanting to get married but finding it is difficult. “New York City has a major backlog of marriage license requests. They have stopped issuing licenses through the end of the year,” Jackie Earley said in a written statement. “People are coming from Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Westchester, etc. When people travel two to four hours to get a license, they are anxious also to get married after the 24-hour wait period in town so they can go back home with their license in hand.”
The marriage bureau of the New York City clerk’s office is closed until further notice, though licenses can be issued via videoconference through projectcupid.cityofnewyork.us.
Sehwerert said she can help meet the increased demand in Woodstock, and the town clerk’s office can become a one-stop destination for all the marriage necessities. “Our office could basically deliver the full package,” she said. “By becoming appointed officiant, I could facilitate the whole process for these couples. A lot come up just for the weekend and want to go back home as a married couple.”
A 24-hour waiting period is required between the time a marriage license is issued and the couple gets married. Normally, that means if a couple gets their license on a Friday, they might have to wait until Monday for the ceremony.
That won’t stop Sehwerert, who is willing to step in and act as officiant at a wedding on a Saturday or Sunday. “The town clerk’s office has always had an open-door policy, meaning if we can help you, we absolutely will,” she said.
The town’s two judges can also officiate at weddings, but sometimes the couple needs more. “We have already had a lot of people ask us or request if there’s a woman officiant in the town. We’ve seen an increase also of people asking us if there’s a bilingual officiant. So, right here, you’ve got two for one,” said Sehwerert, who is fluent in Spanish.
Woodstock will join only a handful of municipalities in the area, including Esopus, that will issue in-person marriage licenses and officiate at ceremonies. Esopus charges between $75 and $100 for a ceremony. Woodstock would charge a similar fee.
Sehwerert will need to complete training before she can officiate at wedding ceremonies.
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