Your Guide to Planning an Unforgettable Wedding in The Bahamas

A short distance away from the East Coast, The Bahamas is a wedding destination known for its weather, beautiful Caribbean beaches and reasonable flight times. A Bahamas wedding offers the gorgeous backdrop of pink sand beaches or the natural, breezy Bahamian landscape found in aspirational postcards.

The warm sunshine and beautiful atmosphere make The Bahamas a perennial getaway for many couples — on par with some of the best Caribbean islands. Unsurprisingly, to-be-weds are naturally inclined to exchange their "I dos" in oceanfront nuptials. Plus, guests will enjoy the getaway, too. A destination wedding in The Bahamas allows friends and family to have the time of their lives snorkeling, boating or simply relaxing on the beach.

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While hosting a destination wedding may seem spontaneous, much planning must go into it to ensure your special day lives up to all of your expectations. Even the best destination wedding locations involve navigating the legal red tape. Plus, determining your venue and vendors can get a little tricky if you're not on the island in person. We spoke to Lindsay Sims, principal and lead planner at TOAST events, to get the complete details on the ins and outs of planning a destination wedding in The Bahamas.

Bahamas Wedding Planning Tips in this Article:

• Why Couples and Guests Love Weddings in The Bahamas
• The Best Places to Get Married in The Bahamas
• Top Bahamas Wedding Venues and Resorts
• The Bahamas Wedding Legal Requirements
• The Bahamas Wedding Planning Tips

Why Couples and Guests Love Weddings in The Bahamas

Photo: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

From the beautiful Bahamian beaches to the fresh seafood, there's a lot to love about the collection of islands that make up The Bahamas. The endless boutique resorts, blue waters, sunny weather and tropical activities are certainly great reasons to hop on a plane. "That crystal blue water is really hard to find," Sims notes. "The scenery is what really draws people." Plus, it's a close flight from the South and major cities like New York. Sign us up for a dream wedding in a tropical escape that's only a few hours away.

Pro tip: Invite a destination wedding travel expert to join your vendor team. Browse travel agents near you on The Knot Marketplace for Bahamas wedding expertise, group hotel blocks, flight arrangements and more.

The Best Places to Get Married in The Bahamas

While getting married anywhere on the stretch of islands that make up The Bahamas will undoubtedly be beautiful, there are a few specific locations that are more popular than the rest due to their outstanding wedding venues and romantic offerings. Whether you're looking to spend your ceremony at a glamorous all-inclusive resort, or hoping for something more private at a boutique hotel, you're destined to find your perfect location.

Nassau

You can't go wrong with a tropical beachfront wedding in the capital city of The Bahamas. Here, you'll have your pick of local services and talent, as Sims notes that many popular wedding vendors are stationed in Nassau. The beautiful white sand beaches, ocean views and all-inclusive resorts will impress all guests. Most will have to fly into Nassau anyway. Why not stay?

Photo: Claudio Soldi / Shutterstock

Great Exuma

Great Exuma is a paradise featuring national parks, tasty spots, fun shopping, sightseeing and unforgettable views. Spend your wedding day on this island where you'll have your pick of luxury services among top wedding resorts. You may have seen pictures of people swimming with pigs in tropical turquoise water, and the nearby island of Big Major Cay is where they go to do so. While you probably won't tie the knot surrounded by swimming pigs (and we don't judge if you decide to go this route too), it is a fun wedding weekend excursion for friends and family.

Paradise Island

For the true tourist experience, head to Paradise Island where you'll be able to make your love official at the hidden city of Atlantis. Exchange your vows on a stretch of gorgeous white sand and celebrate all night with a party that will be remembered forever. Spending your big day at Atlantis means that your celebration can easily turn into a vacation for everyone involved.

Pro tip: As you consider Bahamas wedding locations, don't forget about your newlywed vacation. Plan an amazing Bahamas honeymoon, too, with our complete guide.

Top Bahamas Wedding Venues and Resorts

Photo Courtesy of The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort

Walking down the aisle during a Bahamas wedding can feel like you're putting one foot in front of the other in Paradise — whether you're getting married on literal Paradise Island or not. But where will that aisle be located? Many Bahamas destination wedding resorts let couples tie the knot in the same place they and all their guests sleep, streamlining the process. Speaking of which, these resorts often have wedding planners on-site ready to help to-be-weds navigate the vendor scene from afar and packages that make planning hassle-free.

The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort

Found along the North Atlantic Ocean, The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, is postcard-perfect if only for the waterfront surroundings. However, couples need not bring Instagram installations to the party. French-inspired gardens offer an added layer of romantic charm and settings for the photographs that will soon anchor your home decor. Nuptials and all-night parties can literally take place in the Versailles Garden, replete with bougainvillea blooms and vines. Other venues overlook the water. Packages are available for parties of two to more than 200, and expert planners and one-wedding-at-a-time give couples the royal treatment they deserve.

Grand Isle Resort

Grand Isle Resort's all-villa accommodation and otherworldly vistas of Emerald Bay make it a heavenly oasis in Great Exuma. Ceremonies can take place right on the soft ivory sands, with glistening blue waters serving as both the backdrop and soundtrack to your beach wedding. The 30,000-square-foot 23° North Beach Club can play host to parties like the rehearsal dinner and reception, where guests can dine and dance the night away beneath the stars on the spot's infinity-pool patio. Professional planners can help you customize the day, so it's genuinely one of a kind.

Rosewood Baha Mar

Rosewood Baha Mar is a grand resort along Cable Beach that's simply dripping with stunning vistas, including those of the Atlantic. The ocean can be seen from several rooms, all of which are bright and airy with white-washed walls, light-hued drapes and large windows that let the sun pour through. But you'll, of course, be spending much of your time celebrating "I dos," which can be said in a ceremony on the sand on Rosewood Beach. Or, take a short boat ride to the private invitation-only Long Cay Island for a truly exclusive feel. Expert planners ensure every detail goes off without a hitch so you can focus on getting hitched.

Atlantis Paradise Island

One of the area's most well-known resorts, Atlantis Paradise Island is a sprawling playground complete with a waterpark, spa, casino and endless options for couples planning a destination wedding in The Bahamas. Packages can suit your budget and party size, from an intimate elopement to a grand celebration with a guest list in the triple digits. Atlantis also offers special weddings for couples seeking an Indian-style affair.

Pro tip: Once you've decided on your Bahamas wedding venue, send out destination wedding save-the-dates with important info so your guest can book the time off and start thinking about travel plans.

The Bahamas Wedding Legal Requirements

Photo: Glowimages/Getty Images

Making things official involves more than updating your marital status on social media. You'll want to ensure your "I do's" are legal, too. While destination weddings outside of the U.S. can be stunning and memorable, they can require a few extra legal hurdles — but not necessarily. Here's a rundown on what to expect, including when trying to obtain a marriage license in The Bahamas. However, you'll want to confer with a wedding planner to ensure every I is dotted (and not just on your marriage license certificate).

Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings

For couples interested in pursuing a destination wedding in The Bahamas, choosing between a legal and symbolic ceremony comes down to a few key points. While legal weddings will be fully binding and recognized back home in the United States, symbolic weddings will save couples money and time. Many choose to host a real wedding in their hometown so they can simply engage in a symbolic ceremony in The Bahamas and avoid any legal red tape that may take up their time or distract from their nuptials. Whether you decide to make things legal in The Bahamas or get formally hitched before hopping on the plane, it's perfectly doable as long as you do your research and follow the correct steps.

Required Legal Documents

Getting legally married in The Bahamas comes with a few steps. You and your partner will need to have a government-issued photo ID, like your passport, along with proof of the date you arrived in The Bahamas in the form of an immigration card or entry stamp. To-be-weds will also need to share birth certificates, plus divorce or death certificate papers if they've been previously married or widowed. Finally, you'll need a notarized document swearing that you're single, which you must get legally notarized in The Bahamas or the US Embassy in The Bahamas.

Legal Marriage Timeline

Before you walk down the aisle, all couples need to be in The Bahamas for 24 hours before they can apply for a marriage license. You'll receive your marriage license 24 hours after you apply, and from there, you can proceed with your ceremony. Once you've tied the knot in front of two witnesses, you'll be able to turn in your signed marriage license in order to process it. "You definitely need to plan ahead," Sims suggests.

The Bahamas Marriage Cost

Be prepared to pay a few extra dollars in fees if you want to make your marriage legal. A marriage license will cost you around $120 USD, and you will have to pay additional fees depending on the officiant you'd like to secure. Extra marriage certificate copies cost $20 apiece. Sims encourages couples to get a good wedding planner or work with their hotel or resort representative to ensure everything goes smoothly. In some cases, legal fees will be included in the wedding package.

The Bahamas Wedding Planning Tips

Mikhail Stavtsev / Shutterstock

Now that all the legal details are out of the way, it's time to untangle the logistics of your special day. "Engage a planner that has experience planning in The Bahamas," says Sims. She also encourages couples to spend some time on the ground in the country before they plan their wedding ceremony. "I suggest doing at least one sight visit if not two. Leaning on your representative from the hotel, or a planner if you have one, is also good," she adds. You'll want to spend at least some time checking out venues, firming up menus, and meeting vendors.

How to Get There

"Travel adds a layer of complexity," Sims admits. While The Bahamas has a number of international airports, it's likely the one you'll be going through is in Nassau. Flights from the US will only be a few hours, and if you're coming from Miami, you may spend as little as 45 minutes in the air. Once you land, the best way to get around is by taxi or rental car. If you're staying at an all-inclusive resort, you won't need to be doing much travel. For additional connections, this adds another layer of travel. "You may have to catch another plane or boat [from Nassau], so the transportation component can be tricky and weather dependent," notes Sims.

The Bahamas Weather

The Bahamas' off-season is from June to the end of November during hurricane season. Sims reminds couples to "be mindful of hurricane season." She elaborates, "Certainly, people get married all the time in hurricane season, but if you do, get wedding insurance." It's also great to have a backup plan if you're set on that outdoor beach wedding so your special day doesn't get rained out.

Photo Courtesy of The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort

Choosing your Bahamas Wedding Venue and Vendors

Don't overlook the local talent in The Bahamas. If you're outsourcing vendors and services from the US, be prepared to pay tariffs on everything you bring into the country, Sims says. If you work with a local wedding planner or hotel representative, they'll be a "wealth of knowledge" on talent and what's available between the islands.

"As much as you can find or source locally is a great help," she says. And if your contacts aren't getting back to you immediately, don't fret. "Island time is a real thing and the sense of urgency [in The Bahamas] is quite different than it is in [the US]," she explains. "The hospitality there is wonderful and they do a great job, but it can be a little nerve-wracking waiting to hear from them."

Bahamas Wedding Cost and Budgeting Tips

The destination wedding cost in The Bahamas varies, so determining your budget is a top early priority for pairs. "Budgeting is one of the very important first steps, just to see what is possible [for your wedding]," Sims says. Expect to pay a pretty penny for a fancy wedding in The Bahamas or that iconic Harbour Island aesthetic as the budget for this type of wedding is usually pretty high, she explains.

"If clients are focused on all of the details and ultimately care about the specifics of everything, the budget will be pretty high," Sims says. "If, however, you're just looking for a place to get away with your guests at an all-inclusive resort, that will be much more affordable." With a smaller budget, you may have to sacrifice some customization, but if you do your research and understand what's offered locally, you'll be sure to have a breathtaking wedding. It is The Bahamas, after all.

Pro tip: Set up a free destination wedding website on The Knot with all the event details including your wedding itinerary in The Bahamas, things to do, guest travel information, RSVPs and more.

BethAnn Mayer contributed to this article.