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Things to know about weddings
in Harbour Island, Bahamas
by Anna Arthur, wedding planner at Arthurs Bakery
The pristeen pink sand beach and spectacular sunsets make Harbour
Island a lovers paradise and the ideal venue to host an intimate
wedding for two or a major shindig for 200. But only
for those who are able to let go and know that affairs on small
islands are always wonderful, but rarely exactly as planned.
Weather and dress
The best weather for weddings here is usually March through July.
The climate averages 75 degrees fahrenheit / 42 degrees celsius
with a pleasant breeze off the ocean in summertime. Your dress in
the summertime should be light and non-fuss; the winter can be a
bit unpredictable, so a bit warmer clothes are appropriate, especially
for evening affairs.
Legal requirements
As with all persons arriving from the United States, Canada, or
the United Kingdom, you will need an official photo ID plus
either of the following:
- a birth certificate (original or notarized copy) OR
- a current passport or one that has not been expired for more
than five years
You must arrive in the Bahamas at least 24 hours prior to your
wedding day, and you must submit proof of your arrival time. You
will also need a declaration certifying that both parties are unmarried.
If either party has been married, proof of divorce, death, or annulment
must be produced. Marriage license applications cost USD $40 and
can only be processed Monday through Friday, and both parties must
apply in person. So you can't arrive Friday night for a weekend
wedding. No blood test is required.
Why hire a wedding planner?
 If
the two of you just wantto slip away quietly with perhaps one other
couple, you can pull that off most easily by calling me as late
as a week in advance about our basic wedding
package. It will save you a bundle in phone calls and make sure
everything comes together. But for any affair larger than that,
you're going to need at least a month's lead time and someone to
help with serious plans and backup plans.
You know about the laid back atmosphere on islands? It becomes
an art form in business dealings. Not that folks are dishonest,
on the contrary, most will go out of their way for you—eventually.
And if you know where to find them. But people are rarely where
they're expected to be. So by the time you've tracked down a band
or two, florists, photographer and so on, you'll have spent several
days in paradise on the phone.
Then there's the fact that on a small island like this, everything
must be imported. Let's take flowers, for example. Maybe you've
noticed that Harbour Island seems to have an abundance of flowers
in reds, orange, purple, and pink. But what you might not have noticed
is that most of them only last about a half hour after being picked.
So local floral arrangements require precise timing. Or perhaps
you're dreaming of gorgeous birds of paradise. They sure are tropical,
but they DON'T grow in the Bahamas. So you'll either have to bring
them in from your hometown, make arrangements with a florist here,
or shop in Nassau for a better deal. Then you'll need to secure
permits, arrange shipping, clear customs, and arrange proper storage—if
the boat arrives on time (and if not, you'll need a plan B). Magnify
this to every aspect of your wedding, and I think you get the picture.
You need someone like me to be on top of everything and resourceful.
Then all you'll need to have a great time is the abilty to be flexible.
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