LightMikey · Mar 31

If they are following cruise ship guidelines, the actual paperwork and certification is done on shore (In VA), while the ceremony is aboard a ship in port (DC).

Tim Shaw · Mar 30

I believe this is true. Years ago, before people could marry who they wanted in VA, I suggested I would put a colleague and her woman fiance in my canoe with an officiant and get married in DC with the party hung out on the ALX shoreline. They didn't take me up on it, much to my disappointment.

Kenneth Deuel · Mar 30

There is if I understand correctly a fairly long history of legal fights over the Virginia/Maryland/DC river border, with the complications of retrocession and filling in a bunch of stuff in the 19th century, which also, iirc, was re-litigated a decade ago...

William F. Yurasko · Mar 30

I'm pretty sure it requires a DC marriage license

Byron Peebles · Mar 31

Honestly my guess is they actually do the legal marriage before or after on dryland. Afaik it's pretty simple in VA for an officiant to approve a license so not a big deal.

@alx-b.bsky.social · Mar 31

I got married on the Cherry Blossom paddlewheel boat. If you're docked in Alexandria, you need a VA marriage license, on the river it's a DC license (before the WW bridge, MD license south of the bridge).

Ryan Belmore · Mar 30

Tall Ship Providence does have a liquor license from DC for 0 Cameron Street in Alexandria. Fascinating. Guess I’m giving myself work. It was meant to be just a thought

Ryan Belmore · Mar 30

Background on why I was thinking of this… thezebra.org/2026/03/30/t...

Stephanie Elms · Mar 31

DC also has an option for a “self-officiant” wedding where you don’t need a traditional officiant or witnesses (my oldest did this).