Getting married at sea

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Getting married at sea

A wedding on a cruise ship can mean several things: a symbolic ceremony during the voyage, a legally valid marriage performed on board, or a civil wedding on land followed by a celebration on the ship. You should distinguish between these options before planning your trip and celebration.

Ceremony or legally valid marriage?

In a symbolic ceremony, couples make a promise to each other without changing their marital status. It can also be a renewal of wedding vows. A commemorative certificate from the event provider documents the celebration, not a marriage registered with the state.

A legally valid marriage, by contrast, requires that the necessary personal conditions be met and that a person authorized under the applicable law solemnize the marriage in the prescribed form. Cruise operators may offer both options. However, the fact that a captain leads the ceremony does not, by itself, establish a general authority to officiate at weddings: the authority and legal effect depend on the applicable jurisdiction and how the ceremony is conducted.

Flag, location and responsible authority

On the high seas, a ship is generally subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its flag state; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides for exceptions. This does not automatically mean, however, that a marriage can be performed on every ship or that the captain is authorized to do so. A ceremony in port or in coastal waters may also be subject to other local rules. Some providers expressly point out that legal weddings may require additional documents or must take place in certain ports.

A ship’s national affiliation is linked to its registry. The national requirements for registration differ between open and closed registries; classifying the registry modeldoes not, however, replace checking which law applies to the marriage.

For couples with ties to Germany: A marriage performed abroad is generally valid under German law if the substantive requirements were met for both partners under the laws of their respective home countries and the formal requirements of the law where the marriage took place were observed. Subsequent registration in the German marriage register is not required for the marriage to be valid. For a wedding on a ship, you should therefore clarify in advance which authority will perform the specific marriage as a legal act and what document it will issue.

What to clarify before planning your trip

• Is the ceremony explicitly intended to be symbolic, or is it to be a legally valid marriage?
• Which ship and location are planned: at sea, in port or on land?
• Which authority or official is responsible for this specific procedure, and which law governs the formal requirements for the marriage?
• What documents, translations, deadlines or appointments are required for both partners? Ask the responsible authority to confirm the information; requirements vary from case to case.
• What official marriage certificate will be issued, and what steps are needed to use it in your country of residence?

Only the authority that is to perform the marriage can provide binding information about the required documents and formalities. The Federal Foreign Office explains the requirements for marriages abroad; for a specific date, you should also contact the responsible officiant and your local registry office.

Combine your wedding celebration and honeymoon

If your main priority is celebrating at sea, you can have the legally valid marriage separately on land or at another time, and use the cruise as your honeymoon. This lets you plan the onboard celebration to suit your wishes without assuming that a particular ship or captain has the legal authority to solemnize the marriage.