Boat Captain: Can They Be Your Wedding Officiant?

Boat captains are often portrayed in popular media as being able to officiate weddings. However, in reality, the legality of boat captains performing weddings is more complicated and varies by jurisdiction. While boat captains may not have the inherent authority to officiate weddings in many places, there are exceptions and workarounds that allow them to do so in certain circumstances. For example, in some countries like Japan, Bermuda, and Romania, boat captains are permitted to officiate weddings under specific conditions. Additionally, boat captains can obtain additional certification or ordination to legally perform weddings in certain regions. The recognition of weddings performed by boat captains may also depend on the laws of the couple's home country or state.

Sea captains can marry same-sex couples in 11 US states and many foreign ports

Sea captains are not legally permitted to officiate weddings in most parts of the world. However, there is a widespread cultural association between sea captains and weddings, which has been perpetuated by Hollywood. This association is so deeply ingrained that both the United States and British navies have issued explicit reminders to their officers that they are not allowed to perform weddings at sea.

Despite this, sea captains can marry same-sex couples in 11 US states and many foreign ports. In some states, like California and Massachusetts, a sea captain can obtain a 24-hour marriage-performing license. Additionally, the Universal Life Church claims that every US state except Pennsylvania and Virginia will legally recognize marriages performed by one of its 18 million clergy members, which may include sea captains.

In other parts of the world, there are also exceptions where sea captains are given the authority to perform marriages. For example, in Bermuda, ship captains can officiate weddings as long as their ship is registered in Bermuda. Similarly, Japanese sea captains can officiate weddings as long as the couple getting married is Japanese. In Romania, both sea and aircraft captains are given the authority to perform marriages.

While sea captains may not have the legal authority to officiate weddings in most places, it is still possible for them to do so. Some sea captains may obtain additional certifications or become ordained to perform weddings. Alternatively, they may simply officiate the wedding ceremony without signing off on any legal documents, leaving it up to the couple to finalize the marriage through a legal process.

The US Navy forbids captains from performing marriage ceremonies

> "The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft."

This regulation is included in the US Navy's Code of Regulations, which also states that captains cannot permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the United States. The only exception is if there is a registered official on board who can perform a legally binding marriage and all relevant permits and permissions have been obtained according to the local laws of the couple.

The US Navy is not alone in this prohibition, as the British Navy has also issued similar rules. This is likely due to the widespread romantic notion, perpetuated by Hollywood, that sea captains have the authority to officiate weddings. In reality, sea captains do not have any inherent authority to officiate weddings, with a few exceptions in certain countries like Japan, Bermuda, and Romania.

While some captains may choose to obtain additional certification to perform weddings, it is not a power granted to them by virtue of their maritime license. In the United States, each state has its own list of job titles authorised to solemnise marriages, and "salty sea-dogs" are notably absent from these rosters.

Captains can't marry couples at sea or on land with a maritime license alone

While boat captains are the highest authority on their vessel, their power is limited. The United States Navy has explicitly stated, "The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft." This regulation also forbids captains from allowing others to perform wedding ceremonies while at sea, likely due to the legal complications of marrying in international waters.

Non-Navy captains cannot perform marriages at sea or on dry land with a maritime license alone. No state has enacted a statute explicitly authorising ships' captains to officiate marriages. However, if a captain also falls into one of the categories of "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" prescribed in the laws of the state they are in, they are permitted to officiate weddings. For example, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, qualified persons include active or retired justices, judges, ministers, priests, or rabbis.

Despite the legal restrictions, some people have chosen to marry on boats officiated by captains without the proper qualifications. 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. In contrast, in the case of Norman vs. Norman, the court ruled that such a marriage was not valid.

Therefore, while boat captains may be romantic figures to officiate weddings, they cannot legally marry couples at sea or on land solely by virtue of their maritime license. Couples seeking a wedding at sea should ensure their captain is qualified to perform the ceremony or be prepared to face potential legal complications.

Japanese captains can marry two Japanese people

While the idea of a boat captain marrying two people is often popularised in books and movies, the reality is a little more complicated. In most parts of the world, a ship's captain does not have the authority to officiate a wedding. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

Japanese law allows Japanese captains to officiate weddings between two Japanese citizens. This is a legal marriage, and the ceremony can be performed while the ship is in Japanese waters.

To be legally recognised as married in Japan, the couple must register their marriage at a Japanese municipal government office. This is the only way to be legally married in Japan, and any religious or fraternal ceremonies are not considered legal marriages.

For Japanese citizens, both partners must be 18 years of age or older, and any person under 18 must have parental approval. Most people related by blood, adoption, or other marriages cannot marry in Japan.

To marry in Japan, foreigners must prepare a sworn Affidavit of Competency to Marry from their country's embassy or consulate in Japan, affirming their legal ability to marry. This document is valid for three months.

After obtaining the Affidavit, the couple must fill out a Kon-in Todoke (request of registration of marriage) with two signatures from witnesses of any nationality over 18 years old. This document is then submitted to the appropriate Japanese municipal government office, which issues a "Certificate of Acceptance of Notification of Marriage" (Kon-in Todoke Juri Shomeisho). This certificate is the only proof of marriage and can be obtained in two versions: a large, fancy version for around 1,400 yen, and a regular A4-size version for 350 yen.

While the romantic notion of a boat captain marrying two people may not be a reality in most places, it is indeed possible in Japan, as long as both parties are Japanese citizens and the proper legal procedures are followed.

Some captains get extra certification to officiate weddings

Boat captains cannot perform weddings 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 weddings. However, some captains get extra certification to officiate weddings.

In some states, like California and Massachusetts, captains can come ashore and file for a 24-hour marriage-performing license at their local courthouse. In other states, captains can get ordained online, sometimes for free, to officiate weddings.

In some countries, captains do have the authority to officiate weddings. For example, Japanese captains can marry couples as long as they are both Japanese citizens. Similarly, Romanian law gives aircraft captains the authority to officiate weddings. In Bermuda, ship captains can officiate weddings as long as the ship is registered in Bermuda.

Some cruise lines offer wedding service packages where a certified individual is onboard to officiate the wedding. This way, the couple gets the sea captain wedding ceremony they wanted, along with the legally binding ceremony.

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