The Ultimate Guide to Nantucket Island Weddings

To plan a Nantucket wedding is to enjoy a carefully scripted love story full of coastal elegance and charm. Nantucket Island weddings offer a picturesque escape from the bustle of the city, with sweeping landscapes and historic character at very turn. Ideally situated off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket Island is easily accessible from New England, with a one-hour ferry ride separating visitors from the mainland until they arrive at the historic island.

Below, you’ll find the details needed to help you plan a noteworthy wedding in Nantucket. I’ve provided information on how to obtain your marriage license. You’ll also find a list of Nantucket wedding locations (including those with overnight accommodations). Finally, I’ve included details for sourcing a wedding planner and a Nantucket wedding photographer.

The Charm of Nantucket Island Weddings

As a New England wedding photographer, I’m drawn to the quiet elegance and coastal charm that make Nantucket such a special place to get married. Through Love, Jackie Weddings, I document weddings with an editorial eye and an emphasis on honest, emotive storytelling. Scroll through for more planning tips, venue ideas, and thoughtful vendor recommendations.

Planning Nantucket Weddings with Local Expertise

Known for its charm, history, and its old-world atmosphere, Nantucket is a small island with no connection via bridge to the mainland. That means all comings and goings must happen by plane or boat. Working with a skilled Nantucket wedding planner, one who knows the logistics of the island, will be essential to planning an event that embodies your love story. 

A wedding planner located on the island, or one with comprehensive experience working on the island, will be able to guide the planning process with precision and expertise, each step of the way. This goes far beyond providing your guests with details on lodging and accessing the ferry. An accomplished Nantucket wedding planner can coordinate rentals and floral arrangements needed for your day. Lastly, a Nantucket wedding planner can offer guidance and insight into the seasonality, landscape, and culture of the island.

Obtaining Your Nantucket Marriage License

A Massachusetts marriage license is required to make Nantucket Island weddings legally binding. This can be obtained even if you are not currently a resident of Massachusetts.

Apply in Person at the Nantucket Town Clerk’s Office

To apply for your marriage license in person, you must first call 508.228.7216 to make an appointment with the Town Clerk’s Office in Nantucket. For the appointment, you will both need to be present to fill out the marriage intention form and supplement. This comes with an application fee of $50, which can be paid by cash or check.

You will need to bring the following documentation & information

• Valid identification (passports, driver’s licenses, state IDs, or military IDs)
• Your Social Security number (if you do not have a Social Security number, you will need to provide a reason)
• Your legal names along with the last name you will use after marriage 
• Your current physical addresses
• Your dates of birth and where you were born
• The names of your parents (including maiden names) and whether or not your parents were married when you were born

There will be a mandatory three-day waiting period from the time you file your marriage intention to when you will be able to pick up your marriage license.

However, if you are unable to wait three days until your wedding, you can apply to the probate court for a ‘marriage without delay’ waiver. This will incur a $195 fee, which is to be paid by cash only. The court is located on the second floor of the town building. In order to file for a waiver, you will first need to complete your marriage intent form. Then you will be given a request form to present to the court to obtain your waiver. 

After your three-day waiting period has lapsed, you will need to pick up your marriage license before your wedding. Your marriage license is then valid for 60 days from the date you applied. You can then provide your marriage license to your officiant to fill out and return to the Town Clerk’s Office.

How to Obtain a Copy of Your Nantucket Marriage Certificate

After your wedding, once your marriage license has been filed, you will need to obtain a marriage certificate. This can be done three different ways.

In person

Town Clerks Office
16 Broad St.
Nantucket, MA 02554
508.228.7216
Open Monday – Friday 8 am – 3:45 pm

Online

You can submit a request for your marriage certificate online through UniPay.

By Mail

Fill out the mail order form (which can be downloaded here). Then submit it by mail along with a check in the amount of $15 (payable to the Town of Nantucket) and mail it to the Town Clerk’s office.

The Best Wedding Venues We Recommend for Nantucket Island Weddings

There are several Nantucket wedding venues worthy of writing the script of your love story. Below is a list of 8 noteworthy wedding locations in Nantucket. I’ve included wedding venues in Nantucket where you can recite your vows, dine under the stars, or enjoy seaside views as you are joined in marriage.  As you scroll through, you will find details on the total guest count for each venue, as well as offered amenities.

1. The White Elephant

A Nantucket hotel, The White Elephant, also offers space to host your wedding ceremony and reception. Wedding ceremonies take place outdoors on the Harborview Lawn, with the ability to host a reception indoors at the Harbor View Terrace. In total, a White Elephant Nantucket wedding has the ability to host up to 275 guests.

2. The Nantucket Hotel & Resort

Luxurious rooms, suites, and cottages are open year-round at The Nantucket Hotel. The hotel offers old world charm with modern amenities and two distinct spaces within its grounds to host your wedding. Nantucket Hotel wedding ceremonies take place in their shell garden, with wedding receptions held in their Nantucket-style ballroom. In total, a Nantucket Hotel wedding can host up to 225 guests, including space for a dance floor.

3. Nantucket Whaling Museum

By far, one of the most historic Nantucket wedding venues is the Nantucket Whaling Museum. The museum was originally opened in 1848, having undergone restorations in the early 2000s. The museum is a location where the tale of Nantucket’s whaling history is brought to life. It’s also a wedding venue in Nantucket that offers space both indoors and outdoors for hosting your ceremony and reception. In total, a Nantucket Whaling Museum wedding can accommodate up to 120 guests for a seated wedding reception, or up to 200 guests for a flowing cocktail reception.

4. Hadwen House Garden

If you’re searching for more historic Nantucket wedding venues, the beautiful Hadwen House Garden is lush, verdant, and quaint. With outdoor space to host your ceremony, a Hadwen House Garden wedding is one filled with the charm and splendor known on the island of Nantucket. All in all, a Hadwen House Garden wedding ceremony can accommodate up to 110 seated guests, or up to 130 standing guests.

5. The Wauwinet Hotel

When it comes to Nantucket wedding locations, there is no denying The Wauwinet Hotel is highly sought-after. Located at the Northeast end of the island, The Wauwinet is a luxurious resort with on-site catering and every amenity needed for you and your guests. If you are considering The Wauwinet Hotel as your wedding venue, they offer space both indoors and outdoors for hosting your ceremony and reception celebration. Weddings at The Wauwinet are designed to host anywhere from 45 to 200 guests. You can find more details on spaces available by following this link.

6. Great Harbor Yacht Club

Perched along the still shores of Nantucket, a Great Harbor Yacht Club wedding is one filled with lofty sailboats bobbing along the water in the backdrop. This exquisite wedding venue offers outdoor space on their lawn, facing the water, to recite your vows. Additionally, receptions can take place indoors or you can opt to have a tented reception outdoors, to soak up the cool sea salted breeze on the night of your wedding.

7. Nantucket Dreamland

Nantucket Dreamland is a local island theater that offers private venue spaces for hosting your wedding. Wedding ceremonies and receptions take place at Nantucket Dremland on their Harborview Terrace (outdoor space) or in their Harborview Room (indoors). There are several different flexible seating configurations for hosting your Nantucket Dreamland wedding, but it is most ideal for weddings with less than 100 guests in attendance.

8. Harbor View Nantucket

Panoramic views, pristine manicured grounds, and cozy cottages envelop this enchanting space. When it comes to wedding venues in Nantucket, Harbor View Nantucket is ideal for celebrations with less than 100 guests in attendance. This beachfront wedding venue space offers ceremonies and receptions completely outdoors. Seating configurations are laid out for a night of dining and enjoying the company of those you love the most as the stars blanket the sky.

Nantucket Wedding Photos

Undeniably, Nantucket wedding photos are filled with the appeasing joy of your union celebrated on a historic island. The shoreline offers a palpable sense of serene calm. Thus creating an atmosphere where lifelong memories are made, side by side, with those you love the most. 

As an experienced New England wedding photographer, one recommendation I can offer for Nantucket Island weddings is to plan a pre-wedding shoot with your photographer.

Perhaps you’ve already worked with a photographer on your engagement photos, but have decided to hire another photographer for your wedding photos. Your Nantucket wedding photographer will be on site in the days leading up to your wedding, in preparation for your vows. Inquire with them about working on a pre-wedding shoot in advance of your day.

A pre-wedding portrait session can occur before your welcome party or rehearsal dinner. This will allow you to work with your Nantucket wedding photographer ahead of your wedding day, and also provide you with an additional set of photos from your Nantucket Island wedding.

Altogether enhancing your experience on the island, and providing you with a comprehensive collection of photos from the noteworthy start of your forever. You can find more details on working with me as your Nantucket wedding photographer when you follow this link.