The Alexandria Clerk’s Office is expanding its wedding offerings yet again.
After a successful run last fall with its costumed “Halloweddings,” Clerk of Court Greg Parks will officiate 18 weddings aboard the Tall Ship Providence on Friday, May 15, at Waterfront Park in Old Town.
“The Halloweddings event was such a success, and we had more people than we could accommodate,” Parks told ALXnow, adding that couples should make reservations now. “We’ve already had several people sign up, even though we just rolled it out.”
Parks said that he wanted to perform the weddings on Valentine’s Day, like the Prince William County clerk did, but the Saturday before Valentine’s Day coincided with the city’s George Washington Birthday Parade.
The Tall Ship Providence is a replica of the first naval warship commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1775. Its original captain was Revolutionary War naval commander John Paul Jones. Providence, which reopened for the season on March 18, is docked at the Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center at Waterfront Park.
For the weddings, Parks will don an 18th-century sea captain’s uniform borrowed from the Tall Ship Providence Foundation.
The registration fee for a wedding aboard the ship is $75. The weddings will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
