I am a Notary from the State of Florida, and also an Airline Captain...The marriage ceremony consists of a "state official" (a Notary,for instance) "notarizing" a document (i.e.-marriage license) to make the document "legal"...
The unlucky groom must then make sure he grabs said document from the bride before she mails it to the Clerk of the Court form where it was issued otherwise once the Clerk records it, he's really scr@w@d....
So it can be done...but being the Captain has nothing to do with it....
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
Posts: 3,368
Not by virtue of being Captain.
I seem to remember easyJet registered all of their Captains as Celebrants so that they COULD perform legal marriage cerimonies on board- not sure if they still do,
There is (was? it was a long time ago) also a provision somewhere whereby a Captain can marry people outside of any territorial border (ie over the middle of the Atlantic). Governing law is that of the state of registry of the aircraft.
It's (apparently) from the same legislation that determines the nationality of a baby born outside state borders.
I seem to remember easyJet registered all of their Captains as Celebrants so that they COULD perform legal marriage cerimonies on board- not sure if they still do,
Do please elaborate on that little gem! Where/when did you hear that?
Maritime Captains can only conduct marriage on vessels where the flag state allows it (UK flag isn't one of them), part of the PR announced reason that Cunard flagged out to Bermuda.
I believe it's upto the country you live in to decide if any marriage "abroad" is legally recognised. Countries signed up to the 1961 Hague Convention will normally accept documents which have been notarised by a notary public and certified with an apostille stamp as evidence of the marriage.
However you need to be careful as I believe that only applies if the marriage would have been legal had it occured in your country. In many cases that would probably cover a marriage in international waters and registered in a country that allowed such marriages to be registered but you would need to check with your own country. For example some countries allow same sex marriage but I don't think other countries are obliged to accept those marriage certificates even with an apostille stamp.
This source suggests US Navy captains have only limited powers..
In fact, both the US and UK governments have specific regulations relating to marriage for the captains of military and civilian ships.
They are clearly forbidden to perform marriage ceremonies, and do not, and never have had, the authority to do so.
Let me give you a direct quote from the US Navy Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, Subtitle A, Chapter VI, Subchapter A, Part 700, Subpart G, Rule 716, also known as 32 CFR 700.716):
The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the territory of the United States, except: (a) In accordance with local laws … and (b) In the presence of a diplomatic or consular official of the United States.
Italian pilots can, but only in extreme cases/life or death scenarios.
From the "Codice della Navigazione"
Quote:
Titolo IX Degli atti di stato civile in corso di navigazione
Art. 834 - Matrimonio in imminente pericolo di vita (1)
Durante la navigazione e quando comunque sia impossibile promuovere l'intervento della competente autorità nella Repubblica o di quella consolare all'estero, il comandante dell'aeromobile può procedere alla celebrazione del matrimonio nel caso e con le forme di cui all'articolo 101 del codice civile. L'atto di matrimonio, compilato dal comandante, deve essere annotato sul giornale di bordo e consegnato nell'aeroporto di primo approdo alla struttura periferica dell'ENAC o all'autorità consolare, insieme con un estratto del giornale di bordo.
Loosely translated, airline captain may celebrate marriage in extreme cases where the competent authority/consular authority is unable to intervene, must be recorded on the log bla bla.
I'm wondering what the engineer's response would be on seeing such an entry...
The unlucky groom must then make sure he grabs said document from the bride before she mails it to the Clerk of the Court form where it was issued otherwise once the Clerk records it, he's really scr@w@d....
Jeez! Down in 3 Green, now why couldn't I have had you officiating at my ceremony...
In fact, both the US and UK governments have specific regulations relating to marriage for the captains of military and civilian ships.
They are clearly forbidden to perform marriage ceremonies, and do not, and never have had, the authority to do so.
Let me give you a direct quote from the US Navy Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, Subtitle A, Chapter VI, Subchapter A, Part 700, Subpart G, Rule 716, also known as 32 CFR 700.716):
The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the territory of the United States, except: (a) In accordance with local laws … and (b) In the presence of a diplomatic or consular official of the United States.
yeah you can see why, when a ship full of sailors away at sea for a long time docks in port, and eager to unload its seamen, ships would be homeward bound with either a huge number of fresh navy wives, or some going awol to be with their new wife.
Bejesus what do people think flying in an airliner is? You are in fragile machinery travelling at 500mph, in a sea of other unfortunates all around you travelling at 500mph in all directions at random, and somebody wants the captain to be standing outside a toilet door going through the 'do you, overweight, fat and sweaty (with wind), take overweight, fat and sweaty (with tattoes and probably wind) to be your lawful wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold......' whilst the other passengers are queueing for the toilets and getting angry and the cabin crew are trying to get the trolleys out to earn commission?
Last time I did the nuptuals myself, the deed was done somewhere slightly more romantic- the captain's cabin of HMS Warrior in Portsmouth Dockyard (to our colonial friends, the original Portsmouth please!). Hard to get more romantic than that! Still didn't bloody work though. My own opinion is marriage between opposite sexes should be banned, and you certainly don't want to marry what's left! Is it too late to reconsider?
Last edited by Notso Fantastic; 12th Oct 2012 at 09:30.
In Portugal, the Captain can perform marriage ceremonies. And while doors are closed, the aircraft is portuguese territory so portuguese rules apply. So even over international waters...as long as no-hone opens the doors.
