Hidden Gems: Meet Arsen Arakelyan of Fast Marriage Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arsen Arakelyan.

Hi Arsen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I never expected that one day I would be helping couples start one of the most important chapters of their lives.

Before founding Fast Marriage Center, I was involved in developing a software platform designed to help people prepare their own divorce paperwork. The goal was to make a complicated legal process more accessible and affordable. Working on that project gave me valuable insight into how technology and simplified processes can help people navigate important life events.

As I worked on that project, I found myself thinking about the opposite side of the equation. Instead of helping people end a chapter in their lives, what if I could help them begin one?

That idea stayed with me. Through my involvement in the local community, I realized there was a significant need for accessible marriage services, especially among Armenian and Russian-speaking communities. Many people were unfamiliar with the process, faced language barriers, or believed they had to travel long distances to get married quickly.

At the time, it was common for many couples in our community to drive to Las Vegas when they wanted a simple and immediate marriage experience. What many didn’t realize was that there were local options available that could provide the same convenience without requiring hours of travel or turning a wedding into a logistical challenge.

As I researched the field further, I became an Authorized Notary authorized by Los Angeles County to issue Confidential Licenses and Certificates of Marriage. I quickly discovered that many people were unaware that services like this even existed. Couples often assumed they had to navigate government offices on their own or travel outside Southern California to have a simple, fast, and private wedding experience.

That realization became the foundation of Fast Marriage Center.

I founded the business in 2024 with a simple mission: to help couples get married easily, legally, and without unnecessary stress. Today, Fast Marriage Center serves not only local residents from Glendale and surrounding communities, but also couples who travel from other counties and even other states because they are looking for a streamlined and professional marriage experience.

One of the things that makes our service unique is our ability to communicate with clients in English, Armenian, and Russian. For many people, being able to discuss such an important life event in their native language makes a tremendous difference. We often work with couples who feel more comfortable speaking Armenian or Russian, and being able to guide them through the process in a language they understand helps remove anxiety and confusion.

Another important part of our philosophy is flexibility. Life doesn’t always happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and weddings certainly don’t follow a standard schedule. We do our best to accommodate couples when they need us, including evenings and weekends, because many people cannot easily take time off work. Whether someone is planning an intimate elopement or simply needs a convenient appointment outside traditional business hours, we try to find a solution that works for them.

Some of the most rewarding moments come from helping people during truly meaningful circumstances. I remember one couple who came to me on a Friday evening because one was scheduled to leave for the Navy and the other for the Marines the very next day. They had been unable to find anyone else who could help them get married before they left for service. Being able to make that happen for them was both an honor and a privilege. Knowing that they were able to begin that chapter of their lives together before answering their call to serve their country is something I will always remember.

There have also been lighter moments along the way. One New Year’s Eve, I helped a young couple get married while surrounded by a group of friends dressed in clown costumes. It was unexpected, fun, and a reminder that every couple has their own story and their own way of celebrating love.

Although Fast Marriage Center is still a young business, having started in 2024, it has been incredibly rewarding to see how quickly it has become known within the community. The trust people place in us is something I never take for granted.

Of all the businesses and professional roles I have had throughout my life, this is the one I enjoy the most. Every day I have the opportunity to help people during one of the happiest moments of their lives. I get to witness excitement, love, hope, and new beginnings. Being a small part of those moments is a privilege, and it’s what motivates me to continue growing Fast Marriage Center and serving our community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most small businesses, the road has definitely not been completely smooth.

One of the biggest challenges was simply educating people that this type of service exists. Many couples are familiar with traditional marriage licenses issued through government offices, but far fewer know that Los Angeles County authorizes certain notaries to issue Confidential Licenses and Certificates of Marriage and perform the entire process in a more convenient setting.

Another challenge was changing habits within the community. For many years, it was common for people who wanted a quick and simple marriage experience to drive to Las Vegas. Many didn’t realize that they could accomplish the same goal much closer to home. Building awareness required a lot of conversations, community outreach, and earning trust one couple at a time.

As a relatively new business founded in 2024, another challenge has been establishing credibility. When people are making decisions about something as important as marriage, trust is everything. We had to demonstrate that we are professional, knowledgeable, and committed to providing excellent service. Fortunately, every happy couple became an ambassador for our business, and word-of-mouth referrals have played a significant role in our growth.

There have also been the normal challenges that come with building any business from the ground up—creating systems, learning marketing, developing an online presence, and continuously improving the client experience. Because our goal is to accommodate couples whenever possible, that sometimes means evenings, weekends, and adjusting our schedules to meet clients’ needs.

At the same time, those challenges have also been the most rewarding part of the journey. Every couple we help reminds us why we started Fast Marriage Center in the first place. Seeing the business become known and trusted in the community in such a short period of time has been incredibly encouraging.

The experience has taught me that building a successful business is not only about offering a service. It’s about solving a real problem, earning trust, and consistently showing up for people during important moments in their lives.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fast Marriage Center?
Fast Marriage Center is a marriage services company based in Glendale, California, specializing in helping couples get married quickly, legally, and with as little stress as possible. We provide confidential marriage licenses, marriage ceremonies, and guidance throughout the entire process.

One of the things that makes us unique is that we are able to offer services in English, Armenian, and Russian. Southern California is home to many diverse communities, and we frequently work with couples who feel more comfortable discussing important legal and personal matters in their native language. Being able to communicate clearly and guide clients through the process in a language they understand helps create a more comfortable and welcoming experience.

Our business was founded in 2024 after I recognized a need within the community for a simpler and more accessible way to get married. For years, many people who wanted a quick and uncomplicated marriage experience often believed they had to travel to Las Vegas. Others were intimidated by government procedures or unsure where to begin. I saw an opportunity to create a local service that could provide convenience, professionalism, and flexibility while keeping the process straightforward.

As an Authorized Notary authorized by Los Angeles County to issue Confidential Licenses and Certificates of Marriage, I am able to assist couples through a process that many people don’t even realize exists. One of our goals is educating the public about the options available to them and helping them understand that getting married does not have to be complicated.

What truly sets us apart is our flexibility and personal approach. We understand that life does not always fit within traditional business hours. Many of our clients work full-time, have family obligations, or need accommodations that larger institutions cannot easily provide. We often work evenings and weekends to help couples schedule their ceremonies at times that are convenient for them.

More than anything, we are proud of the trust we have built in a relatively short period of time. Although Fast Marriage Center is a young company, we have already helped couples from throughout Los Angeles County, neighboring counties, and even other states begin one of the most important chapters of their lives.

What I am most proud of is not a particular milestone or achievement, but the opportunity to play a small role in some of the happiest moments people will ever experience. Every couple has a unique story, and it is an honor to help them take that next step together. That commitment to professionalism, accessibility, and genuine care is what defines the Fast Marriage Center brand.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One thing that often surprises people is that before founding Fast Marriage Center, I spent approximately 15 years working in the banking industry, including more than 14 years in management positions and the last 7 years in executive leadership roles focused on digital banking and technology transformation.

Most people who know me today through Fast Marriage Center see me helping couples get married and assume I have spent my entire career in the wedding or legal services industry. In reality, much of my professional background was spent leading large-scale technology, operations, and transformation initiatives within a global financial institution.

Looking back, that experience has had a significant impact on how I approach my business today. Banking taught me the importance of customer experience, operational efficiency, compliance, attention to detail, and building processes that make complex tasks easier for people. Those same principles are at the core of Fast Marriage Center.

Another thing many people don’t know is that before entering the marriage services industry, I was involved in developing a software platform designed to help people prepare their own divorce paperwork. That experience gave me a unique perspective on major life transitions and ultimately inspired me to focus on the opposite side of the journey—helping people begin a new chapter rather than end one.

What surprises people most is that after spending years working on large-scale digital transformation projects, the work I enjoy most today is often the simplest and most personal: helping couples during one of the happiest moments of their lives. There is something incredibly rewarding about being able to make an important day easier, less stressful, and more memorable for the people we serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fastmarriagecenter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastmarriagecenter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583893123492#
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8hAWd6J5GwynQcxGA