Nassau & Cable Beach is the best all-around Bahamas wedding location for most couples — it has the most direct international flights, the widest range of venues and accommodations, and the lowest guest costs. For dramatic sandbar ceremonies surrounded by turquoise water, choose Exuma. For the iconic pink sand beach, choose Harbour Island. For secluded cliff-side romance, choose Eleuthera. For world-class resort venues, Paradise Island (home to Atlantis and The Ocean Club) is unmatched. For a true private island experience, Kamalame Cay on Andros is unforgettable. For the easiest trip from Florida, Bimini is just 50 miles from Miami. Glenn Ferguson — Licensed Marriage Officer and certified wedding planner through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) — performs legal weddings across all these islands, with packages starting at $1,495.
Nassau & Cable Beach
Nassau is where most Bahamas weddings happen — and for good reason. It has the most direct flights from US, Canadian, and European cities, making it the easiest and cheapest destination for your guests to reach. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism lists Nassau as the most popular wedding destination in the islands. Cable Beach offers miles of pristine white sand, while the city itself provides a mix of colonial charm, modern resorts, and vibrant Bahamian culture.
As a Nassau-based Marriage Officer and WPIC-certified wedding planner, this is where I perform the majority of my ceremonies. I know every beach, every hidden cove, and every venue on this island. The range of options is unmatched — from intimate sunrise ceremonies on a quiet stretch of Cable Beach to elegant garden weddings at private estates.
Cable Beach
Miles of white sand with Baha Mar as a backdrop. Glenn secures private sections for ceremonies. Most popular and most affordable option.
Baha Mar Resort Complex
Three resorts in one — Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood. Multiple indoor and outdoor venues. The SLS rooftop pavilion is stunning. Baha Mar wedding guide.
Nuptial Beach
Glenn's signature ceremony beach — a secluded stretch of sand reserved exclusively for Island Nuptial weddings. No crowds, no interruptions, just you, your partner, and the turquoise Bahamian sea. The most intimate Nassau beach option. Nuptial Beach guide.
Graycliff Hotel
A 280-year-old mansion with lush gardens, a courtyard, and a world-class wine cellar. One of the Caribbean's first five-star restaurants. Old-world elegance meets tropical beauty.
Paradise Island
Paradise Island is connected to Nassau by two bridges but feels like a world apart. It's home to the world-famous Atlantis Resort (with 18+ wedding venues) and The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort — arguably the most prestigious wedding venue in the Caribbean. If you want a resort-centric celebration with world-class amenities, this is your island.
Atlantis Paradise Island
From secluded beach coves to the dramatic Royal Towers steps. 18+ ceremony and reception venues. Elopement packages from $5,650. Atlantis wedding guide.
The Ocean Club (Four Seasons)
The Cloisters — a 12th-century Augustinian monastery overlooking Nassau Harbour — is one of the most iconic wedding backdrops in the world. The Versailles Gardens offer equally stunning options.
Cabbage Beach
Paradise Island's stunning public beach — powdery white sand, crystal-clear water, and fewer crowds than Cable Beach. Perfect for couples who want a resort-adjacent beach ceremony with Glenn.
Exuma & the Exuma Cays
If you want the most jaw-dropping, Instagram-worthy Bahamas wedding — Exuma is it. The 365 cays of the Exuma chain create the most dramatic turquoise waters in the Caribbean. Sandbar ceremonies — where you literally stand in ankle-deep crystal water on a white sand platform surrounded by ocean — are a Bahamas exclusive that no other destination in the world can match.
Exuma is also home to the famous swimming pigs at Big Major Cay (yes, couples have included them in pre-wedding photos), Thunderball Grotto (featured in the James Bond film), and some of the most pristine, untouched beaches in the Caribbean.
Exuma Sandbar Ceremony
Stand on a natural white sand platform in ankle-deep turquoise water. Boat transport included. Glenn officiates on-site. The most photographed Bahamas wedding setup. Fully legal ceremony.
Emerald Bay Beach
Great Exuma's premier beach — a mile of ivory sand curving around Emerald Bay. Home to Grand Isle Resort and Sandals Emerald Bay. Stunning for sunset ceremonies.
Staniel Cay
"The Crown Jewel of the Out Islands." Cliff beach ceremonies, waterside garden receptions, and the option for a Junkanoo band through the streets. Book a year ahead.
Tropic of Cancer Beach
Named for the geographic line that crosses it. Consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches. Powdery white sand, zero crowds, turquoise water stretching to the horizon.
"Our sandbar ceremony in Exuma was the most magical experience of our lives. Standing in crystal-clear water with the sun setting behind us — it felt like we were the only two people on earth. Glenn made it completely effortless, and the photos are absolutely unreal."
Harbour Island
Harbour Island is the Bahamas' most romantic island. Known locally as "Briland," this tiny island (3.5 miles long) is world-famous for its 3-mile stretch of naturally pink sand beach — created by microscopic coral organisms called foraminifera. The pastel-coloured colonial houses of Dunmore Town, golf-cart-only streets, and boutique hotel charm create an atmosphere that feels exclusive without being pretentious.
A Harbour Island wedding delivers photographs unlike anything else in the Caribbean. The pink sand, turquoise water, and golden light at sunset create a colour palette that looks professionally edited straight out of the camera.
Pink Sands Beach
The 3-mile pink sand beach that put Harbour Island on the map. Naturally pink sand, turquoise water, and one of the most photographed beaches in the world. Glenn performs legal ceremonies directly on the beach.
Coral Sands Resort
38-room boutique hotel on 8 tropical acres with direct pink sand beach access. Understated elegance, warm Bahamian hospitality, and free-roaming chickens that add whimsy to photos.
The Dunmore
A historic boutique hotel with colonial cottages, ocean views, and exclusive pink sand beach access. Home-away-from-home atmosphere with world-class service. Available for buyouts.
Already Have a Favourite Island?
Glenn handles everything — licence, ceremony, flowers, photos, certificate. Just tell him where.
Eleuthera
Eleuthera is the Bahamas' best-kept wedding secret. This 110-mile-long, razor-thin island separates the deep blue Atlantic from the calm turquoise Caribbean — in some places by just a few feet. The Glass Window Bridge, where the two oceans meet in a dramatic collision of colour, is one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the Bahamas.
Eleuthera offers something the more popular islands don't: true seclusion. Deserted beaches, dramatic cliff formations, and boutique resorts that feel like private estates rather than tourist hotels. For couples who want their wedding to feel like a secret escape rather than a public event, Eleuthera delivers.
The Cove Eleuthera
55-room clifftop resort with private white sand beaches, infinity pool, and ocean views that stretch to the horizon. Available for full buyout — ultimate privacy for your celebration.
The Other Side
An exclusive 10-room eco-luxury resort on Eleuthera's secluded eastern shore, sitting between a tidal mangrove creek and a stunning beach. Designed for total privacy with treehouse-style villas, farm-to-table dining, and pristine natural surroundings. One of the most exclusive wedding venues in the entire Bahamas — available for full buyout.
French Leave Resort
Governor's Harbour luxury on pink-tinted sand. Marriott Bonvoy points-eligible. Stunning beach and garden venues with full wedding coordination available.
Glass Window Bridge Area
Where the deep blue Atlantic meets the turquoise Caribbean separated by a narrow strip of rock. The most dramatic natural backdrop in the Bahamas. Glenn arranges ceremonies at nearby beaches with views of both oceans.
Abaco Islands
The Abacos are the Bahamas' boating capital — a chain of islands in the northern Bahamas known for their protected harbours, pastel-coloured Loyalist settlements, and Treasure Cay Beach (consistently ranked among the world's best). The Abacos rebuilt strongly after Hurricane Dorian (2019) and are once again welcoming destination weddings.
Treasure Cay Beach
A 3.5-mile crescent of powdery white sand. Consistently ranked among the world's top 10 beaches. Quiet, uncrowded, and picture-perfect for ceremonies.
Hope Town, Elbow Cay
Charming Loyalist settlement with a candy-striped lighthouse, pastel clapboard houses, and harbour views. Accessible by ferry from Marsh Harbour. A unique, photogenic village setting.
Kamalame Cay & Andros
Andros is the largest island in the Bahamas yet one of the least developed — a paradise of blue holes, bonefishing flats, and the world's third-largest barrier reef. Kamalame Cay is its crown jewel: a private 96-acre island resort connected to Andros by a short bridge, offering barefoot luxury and complete seclusion that no other Bahamas venue can match.
If your dream is a true private island wedding — where the entire island is your venue and every guest feels like they've escaped to a secret paradise — Kamalame Cay delivers an experience that even the most well-travelled guests will describe as the most special event they've ever attended.
Kamalame Cay
A 96-acre private island with just 19 accommodations — beach bungalows, overwater villas, and a Great House. White sand beaches, coconut groves, and crystal-clear water. Full island buyout available for the ultimate exclusive wedding. Fly into Andros then take a short bridge transfer to the cay.
Andros Beaches & Blue Holes
Andros has miles of untouched beaches and over 170 blue holes — circular deep-water sinkholes with stunning turquoise colour. Adventurous couples can incorporate blue hole visits, reef snorkelling, and bonefishing into their wedding week activities.
Bimini
Bimini is the closest Bahamas island to the United States — just 50 miles off the coast of Miami. Famous as Ernest Hemingway's beloved island retreat, Bimini combines Old Bahamas charm with modern resort amenities at Resorts World Bimini. The island is known for its incredible deep-sea fishing, gin-clear shallow waters, and stunning sunsets over the Gulf Stream.
For couples based in South Florida or guests flying into Miami, Bimini offers a true island wedding experience with the easiest logistics in the Bahamas. A 25-minute flight or 2-hour ferry from Miami means your guests can be on island time before lunch.
Resorts World Bimini
Bimini's premier resort with beachfront rooms, multiple pools, a marina, and casino. Beach ceremony venues with views of the turquoise shallows. Full wedding coordination available with Glenn handling the legal ceremony.
Radio Beach & Blister Beach
Bimini's most beautiful stretches of sand — soft white beaches with calm, shallow turquoise water. Less developed than Nassau beaches, offering a quiet, natural setting for intimate ceremonies. Glenn arranges everything from the mainland.
All Islands at a Glance — Which Is Right for You?
| Island | Best For | Getting There | Guest Budget | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau & Cable Beach | Most accessible, cheapest overall | Direct intl. flights | $$ | Vibrant, varied |
| Paradise Island | World-class resort venues | Bridge from Nassau | $$$ | Luxury resort |
| Exuma | Sandbars, private islands, drama | 30 min from Nassau | $$$ | Adventurous, remote |
| Harbour Island | Pink sand, romantic photos | Fly + water taxi | $$$ | Intimate, exclusive |
| Eleuthera | Seclusion, dramatic cliffs | 25-35 min from Nassau | $$-$$$ | Secluded, natural |
| Abaco | Boating, colonial villages | 35 min from Nassau | $$ | Maritime, charming |
| Kamalame Cay / Andros | True private island buyout | 15 min from Nassau | $$$$ | Ultra-exclusive, natural |
| Bimini | Closest to US (50 mi from Miami) | 25 min flight or ferry from Miami | $$ | Laid-back, authentic |
The best Bahamas wedding island depends on your priorities. Nassau and Cable Beach wins for accessibility, affordability, and venue variety — it's the easiest choice for couples with guests flying in from multiple cities. Exuma wins for once-in-a-lifetime drama with sandbar and private island ceremonies that exist nowhere else in the Caribbean. Harbour Island wins for romantic photography with its world-famous pink sand. Eleuthera wins for couples who want seclusion and dramatic natural landscapes, with The Other Side offering ultra-exclusive eco-luxury. Kamalame Cay on Andros delivers the ultimate private island buyout experience. Bimini is the easiest island to reach from the US — just 50 miles from Miami. Paradise Island wins for couples who want a world-class resort experience at Atlantis or The Ocean Club. Glenn Ferguson — Licensed Marriage Officer and certified planner through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) — performs legal weddings across all of these islands starting at $1,495, and can help you choose the right island based on your specific vision, guest count, and budget.
Not Sure Which Island Is Right?
Glenn has performed 200+ weddings across all these islands. One conversation and he'll match you with the perfect location.
How to Choose Your Perfect Island
After helping 200+ couples make this decision, I've found it comes down to four factors. Here's my framework:
1. Guest Count & Budget
1-10 guests: Any island works. Out Islands are magical for small groups.
10-30 guests: Nassau/Paradise Island gives guests the most options.
30+ guests: Nassau is almost always best — most flights, most hotels, most venues.
2. Photo Priority
Pink sand: Harbour Island
Turquoise sandbar: Exuma
Dramatic cliffs: Eleuthera
Private island: Kamalame Cay
Resort elegance: Paradise Island
Classic beach: Nassau/Cable Beach
3. Guest Travel Ease
Easiest: Nassau (direct flights from everywhere)
Easy: Paradise Island (bridge from Nassau)
Easy from Miami: Bimini (25 min flight or ferry)
Moderate: Exuma, Eleuthera, Andros (short domestic flight)
Most effort: Harbour Island (flight + water taxi)
4. Vibe & Experience
Vibrant & varied: Nassau
Luxury resort: Paradise Island
Adventure & drama: Exuma
Romantic & intimate: Harbour Island
Secluded & natural: Eleuthera
Maritime charm: Abaco
Private island exclusive: Kamalame Cay
Easy & laid-back: Bimini
"We had no idea which island to choose. Glenn asked us three questions and immediately said 'Eleuthera — you want The Cove.' He was right. The cliff-side ceremony was beyond anything we imagined. Glenn handled every single detail — licence, flowers, photographer, even our airport transfer. We literally just showed up and got married. Worth every penny."
Bahamas Wedding Locations — Common Questions
Let Glenn Match You with the Perfect Location
From Cable Beach to Exuma sandbars to Harbour Island pink sand to Kamalame Cay's private island — Glenn has performed weddings at every location in this guide. One call and he'll help you choose.
