Don't know how it is done in Cali but here in NY, you have to go to the city hall/marriage license bureau and apply for a marriage license. you have to take proof of ID (eg. birth certificates, passports, driver's license) and a money order for the appropriate fees. In NYC, it is required that you wait 24 hours after acquiring the marriage license before getting married. Then you can go back to the courthouse, any church or chapel and have the ceremony performed. My husband and I did this earlier this year and we took our families with us to the civil ceremony. You only need one witness but we took 12!
We intend on renewing our vows next year in church but this year we did it throught the courts. Best wishes to the both of you.
