Boat Captain-Turned-Officiant: Can They Marry You In Canada?

Boat captains are not legally allowed to officiate weddings in most parts of the world. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as in Japan, Bermuda, and Romania, where boat captains are permitted to officiate weddings for citizens of their respective countries. In the United States, boat captains are prohibited from performing marriage ceremonies, as stated by the Navy. Despite this, some couples in the US have chosen to have their weddings officiated by boat captains, with varying rulings on the validity of these marriages. To legally officiate a wedding, a boat captain must also hold a position such as a judge, justice of the peace, minister, or a recognised officiant.

Boat captains can't marry people in Canada by virtue of their maritime license alone

Boat captains cannot marry people in Canada by virtue of their maritime license alone. In fact, in most countries, sea captains do not have the authority to officiate weddings. The United States Navy has explicitly stated that commanding officers are forbidden from performing marriage ceremonies on their ships or aircraft.

Non-Navy captains also cannot perform marriages at sea or on dry land by virtue of their maritime license alone. No state has enacted a statute explicitly authorizing ships' captains to officiate marriages. However, if a captain falls into one of the categories of "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" prescribed in the laws of the state they are in, then they are permitted to officiate a wedding. For example, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, qualified persons include active or retired justices, judges, or magisterial district judges of the Commonwealth, and mayors of any cities or boroughs of the Commonwealth.

Despite the laws, some people have chosen to get married by boat captains, and the courts have been inconsistent when ruling on the validity of these marriages. In the case of Fisher vs. Fisher, a court ruled that a marriage solemnized by a ship's captain was valid. However, in the case of Norman vs. Norman, the court ruled that a marriage performed by a boat captain was invalid.

Therefore, while it is possible for boat captains to obtain the necessary certification to officiate weddings in certain jurisdictions, they cannot do so solely by virtue of their maritime license.

Captains can officiate weddings in some countries, including Japan, Bermuda, and Romania

While captains generally do not have the legal right to officiate weddings, there are some countries that allow them to do so. This includes Japan, Bermuda, and Romania, each with their own specific requirements.

In Japan, captains are permitted to perform marriage ceremonies at sea, but only if the couple has valid Japanese passports. This means that Japanese captains have the authority to officiate weddings for Japanese citizens.

Bermuda law also allows captains to officiate weddings, as long as the ship they are captaining is registered in Bermuda. This has been a successful strategy to attract more cruise ships to register in Bermuda. Additionally, couples in Bermuda must be over the age of 21 and provide picture identification as proof of age.

Romanian law stands out by granting the authority to officiate weddings not only to sea captains but also to aircraft captains. This unique provision further emphasizes the country's recognition of captains as legal marriage officiants.

It is worth noting that captains in these countries possess the legal authority to solemnize weddings, which is a notable exception to the general rule that captains cannot perform this role. Their ability to officiate is not limited to specific locations, such as being at sea or on a ship, but rather extends to weddings held within their respective jurisdictions.

While the aforementioned countries provide legal recognition, it is always advisable to verify the most current laws and regulations pertaining to marriage requirements and officiants in each specific country.

In the US, captains can obtain extra certification to officiate weddings

Boat captains cannot perform weddings in Canada by virtue of their maritime licence alone. However, if a boat captain is also a judge, minister, justice of the peace, or a Notary Public, they may be able to officiate a wedding.

In some US states, captains can file for a 24-hour marriage-performing license

Boat captains cannot perform marriages in Canada by virtue of their maritime license alone. However, if a boat captain is also a judge, a justice of the peace, a minister, or an officially recognised officiant such as a Notary Public, they can officiate a wedding.

In some cases, captains can officiate a wedding ceremony, but the marriage won't be legally binding

Boat captains are not legally allowed to officiate weddings in Canada. While captains can perform wedding ceremonies, these marriages are not legally binding. This means that the couple will not be considered legally married after the ceremony.

To be able to officiate a wedding, a boat captain must also fall into one of the categories of "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" as prescribed by the laws of the state they are in. In most places, this includes officials such as judges, justices of the peace, ministers, or officially recognized officiants like Notary Publics.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, in some countries like Japan, Bermuda, and Romania, sea captains can legally marry couples as long as they are citizens of that country. Additionally, in some US states like California and Massachusetts, captains can obtain a temporary 24-hour authorization to perform weddings.

Despite the legal restrictions, some couples choose to have a symbolic wedding ceremony officiated by a boat captain. This is often done for romantic or sentimental reasons, with the understanding that the marriage is not legally recognized. In these cases, the couple typically completes the legal marriage process separately, either before or after their wedding ceremony at sea.

Frequently asked questions