🎯 Quick Answer: How to Plan a Bahamas Wedding
Cost: $1,495-$11,995 for complete packages or $8,000-$75,000 for custom weddings. Timeline: Book 12-18 months ahead. Requirements: 24-hour residency, marriage license ($100), valid passports. Best locations: Nassau, Paradise Island, Harbour Island, Exuma.
🎥 Experience the Magic of Bahamas Weddings
Discover why couples choose the Bahamas for their dream destination wedding
Meet Your Licensed Wedding Planner
Hi, I'm Glenn Ferguson. With over 24 years of experience as a WPIC-certified Bahamas wedding planner, licensed Marriage Officer, licensed Bahamas real estate agent, and Residency Consultant, I help couples create unforgettable destination weddings—and make smart real estate investments in The Bahamas. From finding the perfect oceanfront villa to planning your big day and launching your vacation rental, I offer a full-service approach built on experience, integrity, and local knowledge.
Complete wedding packages designed for every couple's dream celebration
Why Choose the Bahamas for Your Caribbean Wedding?
Planning a destination wedding in the Bahamas gives couples natural beauty, convenience, and luxury in one package. Located just off the Florida coast, the Bahamas islands provide the perfect tropical paradise setting without extensive international travel complications.
🏖️ Top Reasons Couples Choose Bahamas Beach Weddings
✨ Stunning Natural Beauty
- Crystal-clear turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches
- Year-round tropical climate with average temperatures of 75-85°F
- Breathtaking Caribbean sunsets that create picture-perfect ceremony backdrops
✈️ Easy Access and Convenience
- Only 3 hours flight time from most US cities
- No passport required for US citizens (enhanced driver's license accepted)
- English-speaking destination with familiar currency
💕 Wedding Options for Every Style
- Intimate elopements for 2-10 guests
- Mid-size celebrations for 25-75 guests
- Grand destination weddings for 100+ guests
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Bahamas Wedding
Your complete guide to the perfect Bahamas wedding experience
1. Legal Requirements for Getting Married in the Bahamas
📋 Essential Documents for Bahamas Marriage License
- Valid US passports for both partners
- Birth certificates (certified copies)
- Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable)
- Sworn affidavit of single status
📝 Bahamas Marriage License Process
- Must be in the Bahamas for 24 hours before applying
- Marriage license fee: $100 USD
- No waiting period after license issuance
- Valid for 90 days from issue date
- Online marriage license application available
Pro Tip: Work with a licensed Bahamas marriage officer to make sure all legal requirements are met without hassle. Learn more about marriage license requirements.
2. Choosing Your Perfect Bahamas Wedding Venue
🏖️ Best Beach Wedding Locations in the Bahamas
- Cable Beach, Nassau - Easy access with stunning Caribbean sunset views
- Paradise Island - Luxury resort options with private beach access
- Harbour Island - Famous pink sand beaches for unique photos
- Exuma Cays - Secluded islands for ultimate privacy
🏨 Top Caribbean Resort Wedding Venues
- Atlantis Paradise Island - All-inclusive packages with world-class amenities
- Baha Mar Resort - Modern luxury with multiple ceremony locations
- The Ocean Club, Four Seasons - Intimate elegance with oceanfront settings
- Rosewood Baha Mar - Ultra-luxury with personalized service
- Grand Hyatt Baha Mar - Modern sophistication with stunning views
🏡 Private Villa Wedding Venues
- Exclusive oceanfront properties for intimate celebrations
- Full property buyouts for ultimate privacy
- Custom wedding packages at luxury vacation rentals
- Real estate investment opportunities in wedding-friendly properties
🌺 Boutique and Historic Wedding Venues
- Historic mansions and estates
- Private villa rentals with wedding potential
- Tropical garden venues with lush landscaping
- Charter yacht ceremonies on turquoise waters
- The Cloisters - Historic elegance in Paradise Island
- Ask about purchasing your own wedding venue property
3. Selecting Your Caribbean Wedding Planner
When planning a destination wedding in the Bahamas, choosing the right wedding planner makes all the difference.
🔍 What to Look For in a Bahamas Wedding Planner
- Local Knowledge: Deep understanding of Bahamian vendors and wedding venues
- Certification: WPIC (Wedding Planners Institute of Canada) or similar credentials
- Experience: Minimum 5+ years in destination wedding planning
- Reviews: Verified testimonials on WeddingWire, The Knot, or Google
❓ Questions to Ask Potential Wedding Planners
- How many Bahamas weddings have you planned?
- Can you provide references from recent destination wedding clients?
- What's included in your wedding planning packages?
- How do you handle emergency situations during tropical weather?
💰 Bahamas Wedding Budget Planning & Cost Breakdown
Beautiful Bahamas wedding decor that fits every budget
Average Costs for Planning a Caribbean Wedding in the Bahamas:
💕 Intimate Beach Wedding (10-20 guests): $8,000 - $15,000
- Venue and ceremony: $2,000 - $4,000
- Wedding photography: $1,500 - $3,000
- Tropical flowers and decor: $800 - $1,500
- Reception dinner: $2,000 - $4,000
- Miscellaneous expenses: $1,700 - $2,500
🎉 Mid-Size Destination Wedding (30-50 guests): $18,000 - $35,000
- Venue and ceremony: $4,000 - $8,000
- Photography/videography: $2,500 - $5,000
- Flowers and decor: $1,500 - $3,000
- Reception celebration: $6,000 - $12,000
- Additional services: $4,000 - $7,000
👑 Large Caribbean Wedding (75+ guests): $40,000 - $75,000+
- Luxury venue and ceremony: $8,000 - $15,000
- Professional photography/videography: $4,000 - $8,000
- Elaborate flowers and decor: $3,000 - $6,000
- Grand reception: $15,000 - $30,000
- Premium services: $10,000 - $16,000
🌟 Glenn Ferguson's Island Nuptial Wedding Packages
Stunning Exuma destination wedding - one of our exclusive package locations
Our all-inclusive wedding packages are designed to make planning your Bahamas destination wedding stress-free and memorable:
💫 Sweet Beginning Package - $1,495
Perfect for intimate elopements
- Priority marriage license service
- Licensed wedding officiant
- Tropical bridal bouquet & boutonniere
- 2 ceremony witnesses
- Roundtrip transportation
- Personal wedding consultant
💕 Romance Package - $2,395
Includes professional photography
- Everything in Sweet Beginning package
- Exclusive 1-hour photography
- Limousine transportation (up to 6 people)
- Marriage certificate & apostille
✨ Elegance Package - $2,495
For small group celebrations
- Everything in Romance package
- Bus transportation (up to 25 guests)
- Beach wedding location
- Professional wedding photography
🎵 Paradise Package - $3,995
Adds music and videography
- Everything in Elegance package
- Wedding videography on DVD
- Live musician (violinist/saxophonist/flautist)
- Fully edited video with music
🌅 Sunset Package - $4,295
Includes wedding cake
- Everything in Paradise package
- Two-tier wedding cake (serves 25)
- Limousine transportation
- Cake delivery to reception
👑 Deluxe Package - $4,915
Includes beauty services
- Everything in Sunset package
- Classical trio of musicians
- Hair stylist and makeup artist
- Bridal room beauty services
🏖️ Nassau Wedding Package - $5,995
Complete beach ceremony setup
- Beach location with 50 chairs
- Bamboo wedding arbor with fabric
- Aisle runner with rose petals
- Classical trio musicians
- Two 27-seater buses + limousine
🎊 Extravaganza Package - $8,995
Wedding + Reception included
- Complete beach ceremony setup
- 3-course sit-down dinner
- 3-hour open bar with bartender
- DJ for 3 hours
- Two-tier wedding cake
💞 Eternal Love Package - $11,995
Ultimate luxury wedding experience
- Beach location with 50 chairs
- White wedding arbor with flowers
- 2-hour photography & videography
- Classical trio + steel band + DJ
- 5 tropical centerpieces
- Two-tier wedding cake for 50 guests
💐 Vow Renewal Packages Also Available
- Basic Renewal: $375 - Officiant & certificate
- Standard Renewal: $895 - Includes flowers & transportation
- Premium Renewal: $1,495 - Adds professional photography
All packages include: Priority marriage license service, affidavit preparation, certified marriage certificate, and personal wedding consultant. *Government fees and online charges may apply.
💡 Money-Saving Tips for Bahamas Weddings
- Choose weekday ceremonies for 20-30% savings
- Book during off-peak season (May-November)
- Consider all-inclusive resort packages
- Start with a smaller package and add services as needed
- Explore affordable beach wedding packages
Essential Bahamas Wedding Vendors & Services
Professional wedding vendors creating magical moments in paradise
📸 Wedding Photography and Videography Services
- Look for photographers who specialize in tropical lighting
- Make sure they know the best photo locations at your venue
- Book engagement and wedding packages for consistency
- Request drone photography for unique aerial shots
- Find affordable photographers in Nassau
🌺 Tropical Florists and Caribbean Wedding Decor
🌸 Popular Bahamian Wedding Flowers
- Hibiscus (national flower)
- Bougainvillea
- Bird of paradise
- Orchids
- Frangipani
🎨 Caribbean Wedding Decor Elements
- Natural materials like bamboo and driftwood
- Tropical color palettes (coral, turquoise, gold)
- Seashells and starfish accents
- Flowing fabrics that move with ocean breezes
🌺 Find Local Caribbean Florists
🍽️ Bahamian Catering and Caribbean Cuisine
🐠 Must-Try Bahamian Wedding Menu Items
- Conch salad (fresh and zesty)
- Rock lobster
- Grouper and snapper
- Johnnycake (traditional bread)
- Rum punch and Bahama Mama cocktails
🎪 Popular Caribbean Wedding Reception Styles
- Beach barbecue with steel drum music
- Elegant plated dinners with local Caribbean seafood
- Cocktail receptions with passed hors d'oeuvres
- Family-style meals with shared platters
12-Month Timeline for Planning Your Bahamas Wedding
📅 12-18 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
- Set wedding date and establish budget
- Choose venue and book guest accommodations
- Hire wedding planner and key vendors
- Send save-the-dates to guests
📅 6-9 Months Before Your Caribbean Wedding
- Finalize guest list and send invitations
- Book photography and videography
- Plan wedding menu and select florist
- Arrange guest transportation to the Bahamas
📅 3-4 Months Before Your Beach Wedding
- Confirm all vendor details
- Finalize ceremony timeline
- Plan welcome bags for guests
- Book spa and beauty services
📅 1-2 Months Before Your Tropical Wedding
- Confirm guest count and dietary restrictions
- Pack wedding attire and emergency kit
- Review timeline with all wedding vendors
- Obtain marriage license documents
📅 Week of Your Bahamas Wedding
- Arrive in Bahamas 24+ hours before ceremony
- Apply for Bahamas marriage license
- Attend rehearsal dinner
- Relax and enjoy your paradise wedding!
Bahamas Honeymoon Ideas & Caribbean Activities
After planning your destination wedding in the Bahamas, extend your stay for a memorable Caribbean honeymoon:
💕 Romantic Caribbean Activities
- Private beach picnics at sunset
- Couples' spa treatments
- Swimming with dolphins
- Sunset sailing excursions
- Private island day trips
🏄♂️ Adventure Options in the Bahamas
- Snorkeling at Rainbow Reef
- Swimming with pigs at Exuma
- Deep-sea fishing charters
- Kayaking through mangroves
- Scuba diving at Andros Barrier Reef
🎭 Cultural Experiences in the Caribbean
- Nassau's historic downtown
- Junkanoo cultural performances
- Local craft markets
- Traditional Bahamian cooking classes
- Rum distillery tours
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Wedding in the Bahamas
Ready to Start Planning Your Caribbean Wedding?
Professional marriage license services - we handle all the paperwork for you
Planning a destination wedding in the Bahamas combines tropical paradise beauty with the convenience of a nearby Caribbean destination. With proper planning, experienced wedding vendors, and attention to detail, your Bahamas beach wedding will create memories to last a lifetime.
🌟 Get Professional Help Today
- Call or WhatsApp: (242) 395-8495
- Speak with Glenn Ferguson, WPIC-certified luxury wedding planner
- Licensed Bahamas marriage officer with 24+ years experience
- Stress-free destination weddings AND Bahamas real estate investments
- Licensed real estate agent and residency consultant
🏡 Full-Service Caribbean Wedding Experience
Beyond planning your perfect tropical wedding, I can help you explore Bahamas real estate opportunities—from finding your dream oceanfront villa to launching a vacation rental business. Whether you're planning one magical day or considering a lifetime connection to paradise, I provide experience in Caribbean weddings, real estate, and residency options.
Your dream Bahamas wedding is just a phone call away. Let's create the paradise celebration you've always wanted.
💬 Have Questions? Ask Glenn Directly!
Get personalized answers about your Bahamas wedding plans from our licensed marriage officer and wedding planner.