The couple would either have to be under jurisdiction of a state that recognizes common-law marriage or the person doing the marrying captain or not has to be a clergy member or JD or other qualification recognized by the state. This being a free country Magenta ships captains are allowed to marry anybody they want to. Emma S Head Omg Killy I Love You And Im Gonna Marry You Need To Ask Me Right Nooowwwwww Captain Swan Love Is Not Enough Once Upon A Time And unless they are ordained clergy or a justice of the peace neither do captains on a ship. Can a captain marry you . The only reason a ships captain can marry people is because its an old custom from when people would be at sea for months and years at. Earning the position of ships captain does not automatically give you the right and responsibility to serve as a wedding minister. I was very surprised to find that Im allowed to do it myself. So far as I can tell sea captains in the United States cannot now and have not ev...