Planning your Bahamas Beach Wedding

Does your fantasy wedding take place on a powdery white beach with a backdrop of crystal clear water and blue sky? The Bahamas provides not only picturesque scenery, but also an average year-round tropical climate of 83 degrees F/28.5 degrees C. Romance is inherent in this magnificent exotic location. A wedding ceremony at sunset is the most popular time of day for a beach wedding.

The Beach Wedding
Remember it is your memorable day and, as the bride and groom, it can be whatever you envision it to be. So be creative and inspire your family and friends to do the same. Whether you choose to say “I do” in your bathing suits or in the traditional wedding attire, your beach wedding should implant a memory that will last a lifetime.

Legal Requirements
In order to have your wedding in the Bahamas, you must register for a marriage license after a 24-hour residency period. The cost is approximately $100 and the marriage license is valid for 90 days. Both parties must go together to the place of registry to apply.

Necessary Documents

Photo ID (driver’s license)
Valid passports
Divorce decree (if re-marrying)
Death certificate (if widowed)
Proof of arrival in the Bahamas (plane ticket stub)
Written parental consent for parties under 18 years of age

Food and Entertainment
Bahamian cuisine, influenced by the American South, presents a great variety of traditional dishes such as curried goat, rock lobster, fried plantains, conch fritters, grouper fingers, and souse (a soup unique to the Caribbean). When it comes to the wedding cake, a delicious West Indian rum cake will delight your guests.

Bahamian steel drums will have you and your guests dancing all night under the stars. Hiring a Junkanoo band, (native music by Bahamians) would be a great addition to the line up of entertainment at your beach wedding.

Wedding Package
Because the Bahamas is the marriage capital of the world, companies will compete for your business by offering all types of wedding and honeymoon vacation packages. Shop around until you find something that suits your specific needs and those of your guests. Whatever your budget, you will find suitable accommodations. Whether you stay at a luxury resort or choose the comfort of a cozy inn, the exotic ocean scenery is still the same. A typical wedding package offers the following:

Accommodations
Photography and/or videographer
Food catering
Ceremony and reception facilities
Flowers
Minister

Wedding Consultant
If your budget can afford it, hire a wedding consultant to handle the details of your beach wedding. This will allow the bride and groom to thoroughly enjoy the wedding worry-free. A local consultant would be your best bet as they specialize in Bahamas weddings. If you choose to deal with the preparations yourself, keep it simple so that you can stay in the moment without being overwhelmed, and enjoy the beach wedding of your dreams!

About the Author:
Fred Coolridge is the content manager and author for the website Great Exuma Island, Bahamas - www.exumabahamas.org.