Getting married in the Bahamas
Powdery sand, lively nightlife and heavenly bays ‐‐ the Bahamas provide an idyllic and glamorous tropical wedding venue…
Why get married in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas provides an exciting destination for those seeking to combine a paradise wedding on a superb sandy beach with great water sports and plenty of night‐time fun.
On Providence Island and Paradise Island you will find terrific water sports and sophisticated entertainment. There are casinos, markets and fabulous sandy beaches, plus a colonial influence derived from historical ties with the UK.
By contrast, the Bahamas Out Islands are largely untouched by time. Pretty crayon‐coloured clapboard houses remain, life is unhurried and the clear water and beaches are out of this world.
Just 40 miles off the tip of Florida and spreading across 100,000 square miles of water, the Bahamas actually lie in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea. However, since it shares much of its traditions and beauty with its southern neighbours, it is often referred to as part of the Caribbean.
What kind of wedding ceremony can I have in the Bahamas?
Bahamian weddings come in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional historic church to a private yacht, from a beautiful tropical garden to the pink sands of Harbour Island’s famous pink beach. You can even exchange your vows underwater with the fish as your witnesses and the coral as your backdrop.
Is it wedding weather?
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Max temp. (°F)* | 77 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 84 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 88 | 85 | 81 | 79 |
Sunshine hours* | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Rainfall (inches)* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
*Average daily sunshine hours
*Average monthly rainfall (inches)
What’s the flight time?
9 hours
What’s the time difference?
GMT ‐5 hours
Do I need a visa to enter the country?
No
What’s the wedding paperwork?
- Residency 24 hours before applying for a marriage licence.
- Proof of status A declaration certifying that you are single must be sworn before a Notary or Commissioner of Oaths and must accompany the application for the marriage licence. This declaration can also be obtained at a Notary Public in Nassau.
- Proof of ID You must produce some form of ID that has a photograph attached, issued by a Government Office in the UK, such as a ten‐year passport valid for at least six more months.
- Divorced You need your original Decree Absolute with court stamp or a certified copy.
- Widowed You need the death certificate of your deceased spouse.
- Age restrictions Under 18s need to show parental consent in the form of a Statutory Declaration, stamped and signed by a solicitor. Forms of consent can be obtained from the Registrar General’s office in the Bahamas (see Where can I find further information?).
- Name change If you have changed you name by deed poll the original copy, stamped and signed by a solicitor is needed. This also applies if you have reverted back to your single name following a divorce.
How do I obtain a marriage licence?
Bahama law states that you must both be resident in the Bahamas for 24 hours before you can apply for a marriage licence. The licence is valid for 90 days from issue. You must produce evidence of your date of arrival in the Bahamas (eg your airline ticket). You can write to the Registrar General Prior to your arrival (see Where can I find further information?).
Marriage licences are issued at the Office of the Registrar General which is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Where can I find further information?
Office of the Registrar General
Rodney Bain Building
Shirley Street
Nassau
The Bahamas
Tel: 00 42 322 3316
Postal address:
Office of the Registrar General
P.O Box N‐532
Nassau
The Bahamas
Tel: 00 42 322 3316
Bahamas Tourist Office
10 Chester field Street,
London W1J 5JL
Tel: 020 7355 0800
www.bahamas.co.uk
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
P.O. Box N‐3701
Nassau
Bahamas
Tel: 00 42 302 2000
www.bahamas.com
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