After 48 years, marriage found unofficial

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REDLANDS, Calif., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A California couple said they had to have a second wedding after discovering their 48 years of marriage were not legally official.

Bob and Norma Clark of Redlands said they were preparing legal paperwork to get their affairs in order and soon discovered the San Mateo County Hall of Records had no documentation of their Aug. 29, 1964, ceremony, the Redlands Daily Facts reported Monday.

The couple said the church where they held their wedding had a copy of the certificate, but they were unable to file it because it had been more than two years since the wedding.

The Clarks said they went down to the county Hall of Records on San Bernardino's Hospitality Lane Nov. 21 with the bride's siblings, Deanna Silvestri and Bill Thrall, as witnesses for the filing of their new marriage certificate.

"I got her a nice bouquet, and it was just a hoot," Bob Clark said. "There were about 35 people there who were asking us why we were there. We told them that we've been married ... and we brought along a book of all our pictures and showed them [off]."

Bob Clark said he abided by a man in the crowd's suggestion that he "kiss the bride" when the filing was done.