“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 planning 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.”
1. British Colonial Nassau, Nassau
In the heart of Nassau, British Colonial Nassau, an independent boutique hotel, offers a blend of rich culture and contemporary style. The property boasts an impressive history—it’s been around for more than a century, earning it the title of the oldest operating resort in the capital—yet after a $50 million renovation in December 2023, the site is now brimming with brand-new amenities, a posh interior, and an upscale feel. “Every inch of the property is infused with an air of charming adventure, lush nature, and boundless intrigue,” says Katrice Nesbitt-Dames, complex director of catering and conventions for the hotel.
With unparalleled views of the ocean, the destination’s private, tranquil beachfront property is the biggest draw for those saying “I do.” After hosting cocktail hour on one of three manicured lawns overlooking two freshwater pools, hold your ceremony and reception on the 300-foot white sand beach, surrounded by tropical gardens. If you’d rather celebrate indoors or if the weather doesn’t hold up, plan your event in one of the site’s beautiful ballrooms. The Windsor, complete with crystal chandeliers and expansive windows, can accommodate up to 200 people, perfect for smaller-scale events, while The Queen Elizabeth Grand Ballroom, featuring intricate tile work and stunning sea views, is best suited for larger guest lists with a maximum capacity of 400. “Whether envisioning an intimate cocktail soirée or grand gala reception, a wedding at British Colonial Nassau is unmatched,” Nesbitt-Dames expresses. Whatever space you choose, you’ll have an on-site wedding planner helping you execute your vision and an in-house culinary team catering your event.
There are many other facets of the destination that make British Colonial Nassau an ideal wedding venue. The 288 newly-designed rooms—with competitive group rates and hotel blocks—will surely enhance your stay, and the abundance of on-site dining options, from the swanky martini bar, Woodes Rogers Tavern, to the 1920s-inspired fine dining option, the Mahogany Club, will animate any pre-wedding event. If you’re looking for activities to do throughout the weekend, the hotel offers water bicycling, kayaking, and poolside or beachside lounging, but you can also book an off-site excursion, like snorkeling or fishing, or explore the nearby shops and restaurants on Bay Street, just steps away from the property.
2. Rosewood Baha Mar, New Providence
Situated on Nassau’s Cable Beach, this stunning resort features all the 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.
3. 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 celebrities, 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 Instagram-worthy boho island vibes.) Tented weddings happen directly on the sand, where the minimal décor of palm fronds and wicker chairs works to set a relaxed mood for 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 allows you to party until dawn.
4. The Cove, Eleuthera
“Serene and elegant, The Cove should be on everybody’s list when deciding where to marry in the Bahamas,” Monroe says. “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 sleek, minimal resort are rich in variety—choose to celebrate on the pool deck, on a grassy lawn, by the 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 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,” Monroe shares.
5. 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, the semi-covered deck restaurant where the delectable ocean-to-table dinner options might include coconut-crusted mahi-mahi or pan-seared grouper. Décor 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.
6. French Leave Resort, Eleuthera
Marriott loyalists will 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,” Monroe describes. Have your ceremony on the deck, the pink sand beach, or the gazebo area before sipping 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.
7. Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Staniel Cay
Situated in the Exuma Cays in the central Bahamas, Staniel Cay is a wonderful option for those looking to host a more secluded affair. (Less popular with tourists and with a minimal full-time residential population, it’ll almost feel like you’re marrying on your own private island.) Added bonus: Unlike many other islands, there are direct flights from Florida. At Staniel Cay Yacht Club, you and your guests will stay in pastel-colored bungalows with balconies situated right on the edge of the water, enjoy dinner and dancing in the clubhouse bar and dining room, and can pose for portraits—or even jet off for your own adventures—at the on-site boat marina. Beyond the water, lush scenery abounds. “Expect colorful bougainvillea everywhere you turn!” Monroe exclaims, who also notes that swimming with the nearby wild pigs is an absolute must for those visiting.
8. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Paradise Island
When it comes to weddings, Monroe says the draw at this Nassau-adjacent resort is not the beach, but the multi-level Versailles-inspired gardens and the 12th-century open-air Augustinian cloister, which make for a truly breathtaking ceremony backdrop. Originally opened in 1962, the 35-acre manor exudes Hollywood glamour—the James Bond flick Casino Royale was even filmed here—and when you’re not prepping for your wedding in the Balinese-style spa villas, you’ll lounge at one of three pools (the Versailles is adults-only) or sip cocktails in the open-air courtyard. Michelin-starred chef Jean-George Vongerichten created the French-Asian menu at the on-site restaurant Dune, and if you want room for all your bridesmaids to prep together ahead of your ceremony, book the beautifully appointed villa, which comes with an enclosed courtyard and plunge pool.
9. Bahama House, Harbour Island
Though luxury hospitality outfit Eleven Experiences is perhaps best known for rustic lodges in far-flung corners of Iceland, Colorado, and Patagonia, their Bahama House property is the ideal destination for couples looking for a low-key wedding surrounded by a small group—the property sleeps 26, but allows for parties as large as 50—followed by an unforgettable adventure-oriented buddymoon. Exchange vows along the freshwater pool, toast to the ceremony in the fully-stocked rum bar, then settle in for an action-packed few days of deep-sea fishing, kite surfing, scuba diving, and more. (Your dedicated experience manager will help you plan the perfect itinerary.) Those more concerned with stylish accommodations won’t be disappointed: Beyond the cotton candy pink exterior, the 11 rooms are laced with vintage rattan furniture, grasscloth wallpaper, and beautiful pops of pattern.
10. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau
If your wedding mantra is “go big or go home,” then the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the way to go. This Nassau mega-resort offers a bounty of indoor and outdoor venues, with the largest ballroom accommodating 1,800 guests. (The private waterside chapel can sit 175 for ceremonies.) Come dinner, unique add-ons include a ceviche and conch station and roasted grouper carved to order, and you can choose to serve the main meal plated, family-style, or buffet style. The families on your invite list will appreciate the hotel’s suites with multiple rooms as well as access to the adjacent waterpark, where they can tire out the kiddos with waterslides, a surf simulator, and a 500,000-gallon wave pool.
11. The Island House, New Providence
Want the amenities of a resort without actually booking a resort? Opt for this boutique hotel and event venue, which sits on the western edge of Nassau in Old Fort Bay. The Island House is home to 30 rooms and suites with serene neutral interiors and pops of energizing blue, a private pool with beach access, multiple food and beverage options (ranging from Southeast Asian to Italian), and a posh movie cinema kitted out with buttery leather chairs and ottomans. Cocktail hour is best done on the pool terrace, which places guests in the heart of the action, and the event spaces are surprisingly expansive, with the largest option—a combo of the outdoor events lawn and terrace—seating up to 400. If you’re worried that some guests won’t be able to sleep on the property, don’t be: There are plenty of additional hotel options a short taxi ride away.
12. The Exuma Outpost, Little Exuma
“There’s an array of contemporary villas in Little Exuma, where you can book personal chefs and mixologists in private settings,” Monroe mentions. One of her favorites? The Exuma Outpost, a multi-unit rental with over 4,000 square feet of living space, enough room to sleep 12, and an open-concept chef’s kitchen that can feed several more. There’s also a free-standing pergola along the pool that’s flanked by outdoor fireplaces, which is practically begging to host an intimate dinner alfresco after you exchange vows on the beach cove located steps outside the house. Per the listing, the #couplegoals that are Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have booked the villa more than once. If that doesn’t seem like a good omen for your nuptials, then we don’t know what is.
13. The Island House, New Providence
Want the amenities of a resort without actually booking a resort? Opt for this boutique hotel and event venue, which sits on the western edge of Nassau in Old Fort Bay. The Island House is home to 30 rooms and suites with serene neutral interiors and pops of energizing blue, a private pool with beach access, multiple food and beverage options (ranging from Southeast Asian to Italian), and a posh movie cinema kitted out with buttery leather chairs and ottomans. Cocktail hour is best done on the pool terrace, which places guests in the heart of the action, and the event spaces are surprisingly expansive, with the largest option—a combo of the outdoor events lawn and terrace—seating up to 400. If you’re worried that some guests won’t be able to sleep on the property, don’t be: There are plenty of additional hotel options a short taxi ride away.
14. The Exuma Outpost, Little Exuma
“There’s an array of contemporary villas in Little Exuma, where you can book personal chefs and mixologists in private settings,” Monroe mentions. One of her favorites? The Exuma Outpost, a multi-unit rental with over 4,000 square feet of living space, enough room to sleep 12, and an open-concept chef’s kitchen that can feed several more. There’s also a free-standing pergola along the pool that’s flanked by outdoor fireplaces, which is practically begging to host an intimate dinner alfresco after you exchange vows on the beach cove located steps outside the house. Per the listing, the #couplegoals that are Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have booked the villa more than once. If that doesn’t seem like a good omen for your nuptials, then we don’t know what is.
15. The Baha Mar Resort, Nassau
For a lavish destination wedding experience, the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau is a premier choice. This expansive resort features multiple venues, including ballrooms, outdoor terraces, and beachfront locations, all designed to cater to your wedding vision. Couples can enjoy personalized wedding planning services and a dedicated team to ensure every detail is executed flawlessly. With a variety of restaurants and bars on-site, you can treat your guests to an unforgettable culinary experience, while the
