How to get everyone — and everything — thirty miles out to sea
Nearly all guests arrive via Hyannis. The Steamship Authority runs both a high-speed ferry (~1 hour) and the traditional car ferry (~2 hours 15 min) — the traditional boat is the only way to bring a vehicle, and summer car reservations sell out months ahead. Hy-Line Cruises runs a fast passenger-only ferry (~1 hour). Seasonal ferries also run from Harwich Port and, in summer, from New Bedford, NYC-area routes, and elsewhere.
By air, Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) has year-round service from Boston and Hyannis (Cape Air, JetBlue) and summer nonstops from NYC, Washington, and other cities.
There are no large chain hotels — inventory is small inns, boutique hotels, and vacation rentals, and peak-season rates are high. Most couples reserve room blocks 9–12 months out and point remaining guests to rental homes shared among groups.
Encourage guests to stay in or near Town if they won't have cars: it's walkable to restaurants and the ferry, and the island's NRTA shuttle covers major routes in season.
| Rule | What to know |
|---|---|
| Noise bylaw | Amplified music outdoors generally must end by 10 PM. Plan your reception timeline (or an indoor after-party) around it. |
| Beach events | Beach ceremonies and events on town beaches require permission from the town; private beach venues handle their own rules. |
| Tent permits | Large tents and any beach tent require a Town of Nantucket permit. Reputable island tent companies typically file it for you. |
| Marriage license | Massachusetts license from any MA town clerk (including Nantucket's), 3-day waiting period, valid 60 days. |
Every vendor choice is also a shipping decision. On-island vendors know the venues, the permits, and the wind; they charge island prices but have no travel costs. Off-island vendors may quote lower but add ferry freight, vehicle reservations, staff lodging, and a weather buffer day.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 16–18 months | Pick a date range, book venue and planner. Peak Saturdays go first. |
| 12 months | Photographer, band/DJ, caterer, tent company. Reserve lodging blocks. |
| 9 months | Send save-the-dates with ferry/flight guidance. Book your own housing. |
| 6 months | Rentals, florals, transportation (guests need shuttles — parking is scarce). |
| 3 months | Permits filed, timelines locked, weather contingency confirmed. |
| Wedding week | Freight arrives early — never schedule critical deliveries for the day before. |
Nantucket is one of the most expensive wedding markets in the country. Full-scale peak-season weddings commonly run well into six figures once venue, tenting, catering, and island logistics are totaled. Meaningful levers: a shoulder-season date (May, late September, October), a weekday, a smaller guest list, or an in-town venue that removes tenting and shuttle costs.