Ocean Club vs Private Villa Weddings 2026 — Which Bahamas Experience Fits You?
The real question isn’t “Which is better?” — it’s whether you want a refined resort experience at Ocean Club or a fully private, multi-day Bahamas villa wedding that feels like your own estate. As your planner and Marriage Officer, I’ve helped couples do both — and the right answer depends on how you want the whole week to feel.
What an Ocean Club Wedding Feels Like in 2026
Ocean Club gives you a curated, Four Seasons experience. You’re stepping into a beautifully managed world of gardens, Cloisters and ocean views. The paths, lawns and vantage points are all designed to make your wedding day feel like a scene from a movie.
- Historic stone Cloisters and manicured gardens
- Highly trained staff and Four Seasons service
- Perfect for couples who love structure, polish and classic romance
- Easy access to Nassau & Paradise Island venues for extra events
What a Private Villa Wedding Feels Like in 2026
A private villa wedding feels less like “renting a venue” and more like “borrowing a dream home in the Bahamas.” You’re not just booking a ceremony time — you’re taking over a space for days, living in it and celebrating on your own schedule.
- Total privacy: it’s just you, your guests and your team
- Flexible timelines for welcome parties, pool days and after-parties
- Perfect for villa takeover weddings and multi-day celebrations
- Custom layouts for ceremony, dinner and dancing
If you’ve ever said “We wish we could just take over a private place with our favorite people,” a villa wedding is how you do that in the Bahamas.
Ocean Club vs Villa Weddings: Privacy, Flexibility & Cost
Here’s how I usually frame the decision for my couples who are considering both options for their 2026 wedding:
| Factor | Ocean Club Weddings | Private Villa Weddings |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | High for a resort setting | Maximum – you control the property |
| Scheduling | Within resort guidelines and time slots | Highly flexible across multiple days |
| Guest experience | Four Seasons resort amenities and service | House-party feel, shared common spaces, more casual time together |
| Costs | Center around the wedding day & related events | Villa rental plus layered events across your stay |
| Best for | Couples wanting classic, polished resort luxury | Couples wanting a private, immersive celebration with just their people |
A villa can look more expensive at first glance, but when you spread that investment across days and events, it can be powerful value — especially if you were going to book a resort stay for those nights anyway.
Legal Ceremonies: Ocean Club, Villas & Private Islands
Whether you choose Ocean Club or a villa, you can have a fully legal Bahamas wedding. As your Marriage Officer I:
- Guide you through the Bahamas marriage license requirements
- Check your documents before you travel
- Perform your legal ceremony at Ocean Club, your villa or both (one legal, one symbolic)
- Help you secure your Bahamas marriage certificate and optional apostille
Meet Glenn Ferguson – Ocean Club & Villa Takeover Wedding Planner
I’m Glenn Ferguson, a Bahamas wedding planner and licensed Marriage Officer. I’ve helped couples plan both Ocean Club weddings and private villa weddings, including multi-day villa takeover experiences.
If you were sitting in my office today, I’d ask how you want to spend time with your people, what privacy means to you, and what kind of stories you want your photos to tell. Then I’d tell you which option I’d pick if I were you — and why.
Want to know more about me? Read my full bio and credentials here.
FAQs: Ocean Club vs Private Villa Weddings 2026
Should we choose an Ocean Club wedding or a private villa wedding in the Bahamas for 2026?
Choose Ocean Club if you love manicured gardens, Cloisters and polished resort luxury. Choose a villa if you want your own private space for days, with the freedom to design a house-party-style celebration. Once I know your group size and budget, I’ll tell you which one makes more sense.
Is a private villa wedding more expensive than an Ocean Club wedding?
A villa looks like a bigger line item because you’re renting the whole property, but you’re also getting lodging and multiple days of use. Ocean Club focuses more investment around the wedding day. I compare both options line-by-line so you see where the value really is for 2026.
Which option offers more privacy?
Ocean Club is very private for a resort, especially in the Cloisters and gardens. A villa or private island wedding offers the highest possible privacy — it’s literally your space for the duration. Many of my couples who are privacy-focused choose villas or private island-style weddings.
Can we have a legal ceremony at one location and a symbolic celebration at the other?
Yes. You can have your legal ceremony at Ocean Club or at your villa, then host a symbolic ceremony, dinner or party at the other location. This is very common for 2026 couples who want both a refined resort moment and a more relaxed villa gathering.
Are villa weddings suitable for small destination weddings?
Absolutely. Villas are ideal for small-to-mid-size groups that want to stay together and have maximum time with each other. The key is matching the villa to your group size so it feels intimate instead of too big or too tight — that’s where my local knowledge helps.
Not sure which fits your 2026 vision?
Ask Glenn your Ocean Club vs villa wedding question here.
Ask Glenn: Ocean Club or Villa — What Would You Choose in Our Shoes?
Tell me your 2026 dates, guest count and dream vibe. I’ll give you a straight, experience-based answer on whether Ocean Club, a private villa, or a mix of both will give you the biggest return on your time, money and memories.
Get Your Ocean Club vs Villa Recommendation You can also explore more Bahamas villa weddings and wedding venues while you plan.Heading
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