Wedding Places In Nassau Bahamas
Tired of where to start when it comes to wedding places in Nassau Bahamas? So are many people these days. So, I’m here with a few tips to make your hunts less stressful and more fun. First, you need to eliminate the places that don’t interest you. Read on for some tips and tricks on how to go about choosing the best wedding places in Nassau Bahamas for your special day.
Thanks to bustling cruise ship tourism, Nassau’s hotels and resorts see multiple events a week. Not only is Nassau the capital city of the Bahamas, it is considered one of the most popular places for tourists to stay since landing in the Bahamas. Along with receiving travelers from cruise ships and foreign visitors, there are many Baha’s weddings that take place in Nassau.
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have a gorgeous wedding in Nassau and have an island honeymoon.
Bahamas is renowned for its pristine and sprawling beaches which whip up a tropical ambiance that you can feel move through the air. When combined with azure blue water, perfect golden sand, and palm trees swaying in the wind, it’s no wonder that this tropical paradise is one of the top wedding destinations for couples around the globe.
A plage in the sun, warm turquoise crystal clear colored waters and beautiful white sandy beaches – welcome to the Bahamas!
Weddings are blessings for anyone to have. However, the costs can be burdensome for the people. That’s exactly why it is essential that you don’t break the bank before you have your wedding.
Wedding Places In Nassau Bahamas
ituated southeast of the furthest tip of Florida, in the blue Caribbean waters of the West Indies, this archipelagic nation of over 700 isles and cays is beloved by travelers and locals alike for its white and pink sand beaches, tropical sunshine, and warm hospitality. While all of those factors absolutely make for a dream vacation, they’re even better reasons to book your destination wedding. Seriously, who doesn’t want to exchange vows with the ocean breeze in their hair, then jump right into a honeymoon?
“A Bahamas wedding is unique in that it provides a mix of experiences, from swimming with the pigs in the Exumas to the casinos, nightlife, and new restaurants of the capital, Nassau,” says event planner Marva Monroe, who has been putting on weddings in the Caribbean nation for over two decades. “But the one common thing is the water. The color varies based on the island, but the backdrop is always fabulous.”
MEET THE EXPERT
Marva Monroe is the owner and lead planner of Chic Bahamas Weddings & Events. She is a former member of the famed French gastronomy society Chaines de Rotisseurs and has received multiple awards from the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism for her work in events.
If this sounds like perfect fodder for the beach wedding you’ve been dreaming about since the moment you got engaged, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on for everything you need to know to start planning your Bahamas wedding, including—most importantly!—the best Bahamas destination wedding venues and the best season to book ’em.
Cost of a Bahamas Destination Wedding
“The spectrum is wide, and will depend on the island as well as the resort,” says Monroe. With her clients, she typically sees $20,000 to $25,000 for a micro-wedding and $35,000 to $50,000 for a guest count that hits around 50 people. More luxury experiences can be had for $200,000 to $250,000.
How Much Does a Destination Wedding Cost?
The Best Time for a Bahamas Wedding
“I personally love the spring and fall, because the humidity has not kicked in,” says Monroe. “Winter is also a good time because the climate is cooler, but that’s peak season for visitors. Room rates are going to be at their highest—especially in March.”
The rainy season is May through October, but there will not be constant monsoon-type rains—just occasional showers. Meaning: As long as you’re flexible with start time and willing to wait a few minutes for the skies to clear up, you won’t have to forgo your wish of an outdoor ceremony.
Planning Tips for a Bahamas Wedding
Avoid the Holidays
“Christmas is really big for us, as is New Year’s,” says Monroe. “Some resorts won’t even take destination weddings over this peak season.” Along with the risk of overcrowding at your chosen hotel, it’s also worth noting that, you may encounter surcharges for holding your celebration on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve at the resorts that do allow them. If you want to avoid the extra headache and expense, it’s better to opt for a time other than the end of the year—especially because some local businesses may also be closed during the holidays.
Plan for Your Marriage License
Luckily, the waiting period for a marriage license to become valid in the Bahamas is only 24 hours, so you will be able to legally wed shortly after receiving it. At your appointment with the Registrar General’s office, you’ll also need to prove that you’ve been in the Bahamas for at least 24 hours, which you can do by presenting your Immigration Card. If you’ve been married previously, you’ll need to present a certified copy of your divorce decree or death certificate of your former spouse. Plan ahead and pack the right documents, and it’ll be smooth sailing towards your marriage certificate—which, yes, is fully legally recognized in the U.S. once it is certified by an Apostille.
Prepare Your Backups
As mentioned above, your wedding day may include a bit of precipitation if you marry during the rainy season. Work with your planner or resort coordinator well in advance to have alternate areas prepped in case inclement weather prevents you from holding certain parts of the wedding, such as your ceremony or cocktail hour, without cover. If these options are baked into your plan from the beginning, they won’t even feel like backups!
Now, on to the fun part: Where to wed! Keep reading for some of our favorite Bahamas destination wedding venues.
The current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As the situation remains fluid, we’ll be sharing tips and stories from industry experts to give you of-the-moment advice and help you navigate wedding planning today. For the most up-to-date guidelines and latest on travel restrictions and requirements, check the CDC and U.S. Department of State websites.
Rosewood Baha Mar, New Providence
Situated on Naussau’s Cable Beach, this newly opened resort features all the trappings of luxury you’d expect from a Rosewood property: posh residential-style suites, a tri-level cabana pool, delectable French cuisine at the celebrity chef-led Café Boulud, and access to the many wonderful amenities of Baha Mar, including tennis and golf courses. Event facilities include the almost 5,000-square foot Grand Salon ballroom, which can accommodate up to 300 guests, as well as many outdoor spaces fit for ceremonies, cocktail hour, and even your post-wedding brunch. Ahead of the big day, make time for pampering at the spa, and know you won’t have to look far for hair and makeup services. Rosewood’s on-site salon will take care of everything—even brow and lash tinting.
Ocean View Club, Harbour Island
Three miles long and half a mile wide, sleepy Harbour Island still feels like a secret—albeit, by now, a rather well-known one—among Instagram influencers and celebs such as Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington. At the family-run Ocean View Club, the eclectically stylish mix of accommodations includes “tent cottages” and “beach shacks,” along with seven private rooms and suites. (Don’t let the humble monikers fool you, though—each dwelling exudes utterly IG-worthy boho island vibes.) Tented weddings happen directly on the sand, where the minimal decor of palm fronds and wicker chairs and chargers works to set a relaxed mood come dinner, which may feature a menu of rum BBQ baby back ribs or grilled grouper with tomato saffron coulis. To really wow your guests, book The Other Side, a high-design glamping site under the same ownership that’s situated across the water, for your welcome dinner or after-party. While events at Ocean View, which is situated on Pink Sand Beach, have an 11 p.m. curfew, the more secluded locale of The Other Side means you can party until dawn.
The Cove, Eleuthera
“Serene, and elegant, The Cove should be on everybody’s list when deciding where to marry in the Bahamas,” says Monroe. “The executive chef is so talented, the service is very friendly, and the oceanfront villas”—some equipped with their own kitchens and lap pools!—“are absolutely beautiful.” Event spaces at the sleekly minimal resort are rich in variety—choose to celebrate on the pool deck, on a grassy lawn, cliffside, or directly on the beach—but the biggest boon is the privacy. Nestled between two coves on the Caribbean side of North Eleuthera, the resort locale will make you feel as though you and your guests are the only revelers in the world. “You’re behind a gate amidst absolutely lush tropical foliage, ensconced in this most secluded setting,” says Monroe. Does it get any more magical than that?
Coral Sands, Harbour Island
Want to share your Bahamas wedding with a larger group? This eight-acre oceanfront resort can accommodate a reception of up to 150 at Beach Bar, its semi-covered deck restaurant where the delectable ocean-to-table dinner options might include coconut-crusted mahi-mahi or pan-seared grouper. Decor around the rest of the resort skews light, breezy, and beachy, with the two cottages (Sea Oats and Beach House) being totally worth the wedding night splurge for the extra lounge space and spa-like bathrooms. Bringing the kids along for the ride? The game room is a great place to pass the time when they need a break from the sun, and the resort can also arrange babysitting. And yes, there is a pool: a 55-foot infinity pool with a second-level soaking spot, to be exact.
French Leave Resort, Eleuthera
Marriott loyalists, you’ll be happy to know that this beloved Governor’s Harbour resort is an Autograph Collection property, so you can put those points to good use. Those who aren’t enticed by the brand name will love the thoughtfully-appointed villas—which come with in-room iPads for concierge requests and a golf cart to explore the surroundings—almost as much as the views. “It sits on the most stunning bay, and you get gorgeous sunsets,” says Monroe. Have your ceremony on the deck, the pink sand beach, or the gazebo area, then get ready to sip Bahama Mamas and Goombay Smashes while you dine on a marina-inspired menu of fresh-caught seafood. Good to know: With just 12 bungalows, this destination is best for small weddings and micro-celebrations.