Ship Captains: Wedding Officiants At Sea And Beyond

Getting married at sea with the ship's captain officiating the ceremony might seem like a romantic idea, but in most cases, ship captains are not legally allowed to perform weddings. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. For instance, in Japan, ship captains can legally marry couples if they are Japanese nationals with valid Japanese passports, and the ship is registered in Japan. Similarly, in Bermuda, captains can officiate weddings if their ship is registered in Bermuda. In the United States, some cruise ship captains sailing Alaskan routes or travelling to Bermuda can obtain temporary licenses to perform weddings in specific waters, but the certificate must be mailed to a local courthouse to legalise the marriage. While the notion of captains marrying couples at sea is a pervasive myth, it is mostly just that—a myth.

In most countries, ship captains cannot perform weddings

In the United States, for example, the Navy Code of Federal Regulations explicitly states that a wedding officiated by an American captain is not legally binding. Captains who perform such weddings risk reprimand, fines, or even jail time in certain states like New York. Similarly, in Great Britain, captains are expressly forbidden from performing marriages.

To legally officiate a wedding, a ship captain must also hold a position that falls under the category of "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" as prescribed by the laws of the state or country they are in. This typically includes individuals such as active or retired justices, judges, ministers, priests, or rabbis.

There are, however, a few exceptions to the rule. In Japan, ship captains can perform weddings as long as they are captaining a Japanese ship and the couple has Japanese passports. Similarly, in Bermuda, captains of ships registered in Bermuda are allowed to perform weddings. In these cases, the weddings are typically held in international waters, and the marriage certificates must be mailed to a local courthouse for legal registration.

While ship captains generally lack the legal authority to perform weddings, some choose to obtain additional certification to offer this service as a way to earn extra income or attract wedding parties to their ships.

Captains who are also judges or ministers can officiate weddings

While it is true that ship captains do not have any inherent authority to officiate weddings, there are some exceptions to this rule. Captains who are also judges, justices of the peace, ministers, or officially recognised officiants such as a Notary Public, can perform wedding ceremonies.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for example, "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" include:

> - Active or retired justices, judges or magisterial district judges of the Commonwealth.

> - Active or senior judges or full-time magistrates of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.

> - Mayors of any cities or boroughs of the Commonwealth.

> - Ministers, priests or rabbis of any regularly established church or congregation.

In addition, Japanese ship captains are permitted to officiate weddings, as long as they are sailing on a Japanese ship and the couple has valid Japanese passports. Similarly, Romanian law allows aircraft captains to officiate weddings. Bermuda also allows ship captains to perform weddings, provided the ship is registered in Bermuda.

It is worth noting that, despite the legal restrictions, some people have chosen to have their weddings officiated by ship captains who are not legally recognised as officiants. The courts have been inconsistent in ruling on the validity of these marriages, with some recognising them as valid, while others do not.

Therefore, if you are planning a wedding at sea and want the ship's captain to officiate, it is important to ensure they have the necessary qualifications and legal authority to do so.

Japanese captains can marry couples with Japanese passports

While it is believed that weddings at sea are a common occurrence, they are actually quite rare. A ship's captain does not usually have the legal right to officiate a wedding at sea. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Japanese captains are permitted to perform weddings at sea, but only if the couple has valid Japanese passports. This means that both parties must be Japanese citizens.

In most parts of the world, a ship's captain does not have the authority to officiate a wedding by default. Their role is often revered, commanding respect and authority, but this does not include the power to legally marry couples. This belief that captains can officiate weddings is largely influenced by popular culture, such as movies and television shows, where this scenario is frequently portrayed.

To legally marry a couple, a ship's captain must also hold another position, such as a judge, a justice of the peace, a minister, or an officially recognized officiant like a Notary Public. Some captains may choose to obtain additional certification to perform weddings, especially if they are looking to earn some extra money or attract more passengers.

If you are specifically seeking a wedding at sea officiated by a Japanese captain, it is important to ensure that both parties have valid Japanese passports. This requirement must be met for the captain to have the authority to perform the marriage legally.

Additionally, it is worth noting that certain cruise lines offer weddings officiated by their captains, but this may depend on the package chosen and the ship's registration country.

Some US cruise captains can get temporary licences to marry couples

While it is believed that captains can legally marry couples aboard their ships, this is not the case. As a general rule, with a few exceptions, sea captains do not have any authority to officiate weddings. In the United States Navy, for example, captains are expressly forbidden to perform marriages.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. In the US, a few cruise ship captains of Alaskan routes can obtain temporary licences to perform marriages within designated Alaska waterways. After the wedding, the captain must mail the certificate to the local courthouse to be legally registered on-site before the wedding is valid.

Similarly, captains of cruise ships that travel to Bermuda can perform marriages with licences issued in Bermuda, but only when the ship is in international waters.

If you want to get married at sea, it is important to note that most cruise lines will require you to leave the ship, swear before a judge, and then return to the ship for your ceremony.

It is possible to get a souvenir wedding certificate signed by the captain

While it is a romantic notion, a ship captain is not generally permitted to officiate a wedding at sea. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. Captains of Japanese ships can perform weddings as long as the couple has valid Japanese passports. In the United States, some captains of Alaskan cruise routes can obtain temporary licenses to perform weddings in certain waters off the coast of Alaska. After the wedding, the captain must mail the certificate to the local courthouse to be legally registered. A similar exception is made for captains of cruise ships travelling to Bermuda. They can perform weddings with licenses issued in Bermuda, but only when the ship is in international waters.

If you are set on a wedding at sea, it is important to check the credentials of your ship's captain. While they may not be able to legally marry you, some captains have obtained the extra certification required to officiate weddings.

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