County Magazine

There’s no appointment needed to get married in Rockwall, but that doesn’t mean County Clerk Jennifer Fogg and her team aren’t waiting on you and your sweetie.

Fogg is the latest in a long line of Rockwall County officials who love love. During the 1940s, the county hired a night watchman, Deputy Clerk Gene Payne, who allowed marriage licenses to be issued at all hours. A local doctor kept his office open late to provide the blood tests that were required before a license could be issued. Later, Justice of the Peace Mildred Barnes, one of only a few women in the state to serve in that role at the time, officiated the weddings of more than 6,000 couples during her tenure from 1952 to 1957.

Though state law eventually required the county to return to regular business hours, the magic never left. Rockwall has continued to draw soon-to-be-wed couples from all over the country. Some come for the history, others for the bustling wedding industry. This small suburb east of Dallas has nearly 30 wedding venues and multiple bridal stores.

And then there are the licenses themselves: The county offers five designs, including an heirloom motif inspired by a certificate that Fogg found in the local archives that dates back to 1911.

“People come from all over Texas and outside of Texas to get these marriage certificates,” Fogg said, including a long-distance couple who drove from Vermont and Colorado to get theirs in Rockwall last year. “Even in our digital world, we like to have something that we can put our hands on.”

In May 2025, the Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 (SCR 6) made Rockwall’s status as the “Marriage Capital of Texas” official, stating “WHEREAS, Rockwall County has long served as the setting where couples have shared their vows and embarked upon a momentous journey together, and it is indeed fitting that the county be formally recognized for its special connection to the institution of marriage, both historically and in the present day.”

When Fogg first started in the clerk’s office, she heard stories from some of the long-time employees who remembered the 24-hour days and when the state required couples to get their blood drawn before tying the knot.

These days, the process is fairly simple: Couples must appear in the office before their wedding ceremony to complete the application. The license costs $81, and lovebirds can get $60 of that waived by attending a premarital training class that’s part of a statewide program called Twogether in Texas.

Fogg didn’t set out to be her own version of a modern-day cupid, but now it’s her favorite part of the job. “I had an earlier career in real estate that didn’t go far,” she said. She applied for a deputy clerk job in 2009 and slowly climbed the ladder until 2021, when Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her as County Clerk. She has since been elected and is seeking a second term.

In addition to marriage licenses, the county clerk’s office is responsible for adoption papers, birth certificates, property deeds, warrants and even cattle brands.

Fogg is particularly proud that her team helped set a new county record last year, issuing more than 3,200 marriage licenses. That’s almost 150 more than the record set the year before.

Every day is different for her and her team of 18, who are sworn in and deputized, swearing to uphold an oath not unlike those that their couples take.

“Our oath should hit home, and I want them to take it to heart,” Fogg said.

She said there are busier-than-usual wedding dates, including Valentine’s Day, Halloween and any numerically special date, like 12/12/24. But even though helping couples on their happily-ever-after journey is considered business as usual, she still gets emotional.

The office keeps a stash of Kleenex on hand. “I have my own special box.”