Ready to start? Tell me a bit about your wedding:
Helpful first message: Date · Guest count · Island preference · Budget range. I'll reply with a package match and the next steps.
What does a Bahamas wedding cost, and who arranges it? Island Nuptial packages run from $475 for a vow renewal and $1,495 for a legal elopement, up to $11,995 for a full wedding and reception. Every package includes the Licensed Marriage Officer ceremony, marriage licence assistance and the required witnesses. Glenn Ferguson is both the planner and the legally authorised officiant, so one person handles the licence, the ceremony, the certificate and the apostille.
- Packages
- 12 in total, $475 to $11,995, before 10% Bahamas VAT
- Islands served
- Nassau · Paradise Island · Eleuthera · Harbour Island · Exuma · Grand Bahama · Andros · Abaco
- Residency rule
- 24 hours in the country before applying for the licence
- Where to apply
- Any major island, Nassau RGD or a Family Island Administrator's Office
- Licence speed
- One hour with my priority service. The government standard is same or next day
- Practising since
- 2001. Twenty five years, 200+ ceremonies, couples from 45+ countries
I'm Glenn Ferguson, a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer and WPIC-certified wedding planner. Born and raised in Nassau, I've been officiating and planning weddings across these islands since 2001. A legal Bahamas wedding needs a Licensed Marriage Officer, and most planners don't hold that licence, so couples usually hire two people who meet for the first time on the wedding day. I do both jobs.
Some couples want a barefoot Cable Beach elopement with two witnesses; Sweet Beginning starts at $1,495 and handles exactly that. Some want a full multi-day resort wedding with photography, florals, music and 200 guests; Eternal Love at $11,995 covers that end. Most sit somewhere between, and I'll help you find the right tier honestly, including telling you when a cheaper one fits.
Island Nuptial Wedding Packages
12 packages, from $475 to $11,995
Every package includes the Licensed Marriage Officer (me), ceremony coordination, marriage licence assistance and the required witnesses. Higher tiers add photography, florals, music, reception elements and venue options.
Elopement
Sweet Beginning
The entry tier for a legal Bahamas wedding. Licensed officiant, ceremony coordination, marriage licence assistance and witnesses. Best for elopements and small intimate ceremonies.
See full detailsMost chosen
Paradise
The popular mid-tier. Builds on the basics with the add-ons that turn a legal ceremony into a wedding, the package most couples land on once they see the full menu.
See full detailsFull luxury
Eternal Love
Ceremony, reception and premium add-ons, handled end to end. The right answer when you want a complete wedding-day experience rather than a ceremony with extras.
See full detailsAll Island Nuptial wedding packages
- Sweet Beginning$1,495
- Romance$2,395
- Elegance$2,495
- Paradise$3,995
- Sunset$4,295
- Deluxe$4,915
- Nassau$5,995
- Extravaganza$8,995
- Eternal Love$11,995
Money, plainly
- VAT
- Every price above is quoted in USD before 10% Bahamas VAT. Add it to any figure you see here.
- Venue facility fee
- A facility or venue fee applies at every ceremony location, beaches included, public or private. Charged to you directly by the venue, and it varies.
- Government fees
- The marriage licence fee is paid to the government. An apostille costs extra if you need one.
- Deposit
- A $200 non-refundable deposit secures your date. Balance due 30 days before the ceremony.
- Not included
- Flights and accommodation, always.
Looking at a ceremony for two? See elopement packages and the elopement planning guide. Bringing guests? Start with destination wedding planning. Comparing years? The 2026 cost breakdown has the detail.
Why couples choose me
Local, licensed, and consistently honest about what works
Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer
Every legal wedding here needs one. I'm appointed under the Bahamas Marriage Act, so I perform the ceremony itself rather than coordinating around it. What that means.
WPIC-Certified Planner
Trained through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, the certification standard for destination wedding planners working across the Caribbean.
Born here, working since 2001
24+ years and 200+ ceremonies for couples from 45+ countries. I know which venues deliver, which months photograph best, and where the avoidable mistakes hide.
You get me, not an office
No call centre, no assistant, no booking service. The number on this page reaches me, and I'm the one standing in front of you at the ceremony.
Browse by island
Where do you want to get married?
Each island suits a different kind of wedding. Browse the venues that fit your vision, or scan the all-Bahamas list if you're still narrowing down.
Nassau & Paradise Island
Resort weddings, easiest guest logistics
Ocean Club, Rosewood Baha Mar, Atlantis, Sandals, Goldwynn and more. Best for convenience, flight access and full-service resort weddings of any size.
See Nassau venuesEleuthera & Harbour Island
Pink sand, dramatic cliffs, quieter luxury
The Cove, Pink Sands Resort, The Potlatch Club, French Leave. Best for privacy, photography and boutique luxury weddings.
See Eleuthera venuesExuma
Sandbars, swimming pigs, private villas
Grand Isle, The Exuma Outpost, Baymahni, Embrace Resort. Best for cinematic water colour, private buyouts and sandbar photography.
See Exuma venuesAll Bahamas venues
The full list, all islands ranked
Still deciding between islands? Start here. The complete ranked list across every island I work on, in one place.
See the full listIsland planning guides: Nassau · Paradise Island · Eleuthera · Harbour Island · Exuma. Also serving Grand Bahama, Andros and Abaco, ask. Comparing costs at a specific resort? See Baha Mar wedding costs.
The legal side
What the law actually requires
Shorter than most couples expect, and the part that breaks timelines more than anything else. The full walkthrough is in my guide to getting married in The Bahamas.
- 24 hours in the country before you can apply for the licence. The clock starts at first arrival at any Bahamian port. See the legal timeline.
- Apply on any major island. Nassau's Registrar General's Department, or the local Administrator's Office on a Family Island. Both partners in person, weekdays only.
- Passports and immigration cards, plus a certified divorce decree or death certificate if either of you was married before. See the full checklist.
- Two adult witnesses. I arrange them for couples travelling alone. See witness requirements.
- A Licensed Marriage Officer. No exceptions, and it is the one thing you cannot do yourself.
- Certificate and apostille afterwards if you need the marriage recognised abroad, certified copies and apostille versus legalization.
Licence speed
How long does a Bahamas marriage licence take?
The Registrar General's Department issues the licence the same day or the next day, depending on circumstances. With my priority service it is issued in one hour. That is the difference between building a spare day into your trip and marrying on the afternoon you apply.
| Route | Licence issued in | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Government standard Registrar General's Department |
Same day or next day | Build a spare day in. Apply late or hit a public holiday and the ceremony moves |
| Published planning guidance Ministry of Tourism |
Two business days | The conservative figure most planning sites quote |
| My priority service Glenn Ferguson |
One hour | Apply in the morning, marry the same afternoon. No spare day needed |
This is the single most useful thing I do for couples on a short trip: a cruise stopover, a long weekend, a work trip with two free days. The law still requires both of you to have been in the country 24 hours before applying, and nothing changes that. What changes is everything after it. See priority licence service, the legal timeline and same-week weddings.
"Most couples lose a day to the licence without ever being told they had a choice. The government turnaround is same or next day and it is perfectly fine when your trip has room in it. When it does not, the priority service gets it done in an hour and you marry that afternoon. I would rather you knew that before you booked flights than after."
Glenn Ferguson, Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer
How it works
From first message to “I do”
Reach out
WhatsApp, phone or the Ask Glenn form. Send your date, guest count, island preference and budget. I reply with a package match and any questions.
Customise
We refine the venue, ceremony details, vendors and add-ons. I handle the marriage licence paperwork and the timing around it.
Wed
You arrive, I officiate the legal ceremony, and the day runs the way we planned it. The certificate is registered with the Bahamian government.
What couples say
In their own words
★★★★★
Glenn is a rockstar. He took care of every detail, was very responsive, and incredibly professional. I would recommend him 100%.
Verified customer review
★★★★★
Getting married in The Bahamas was a breeze. Glenn took care of everything and made the process run as smooth as possible.
Verified customer review
★★★★★
Went above and beyond. Promptness, professionalism, kindness. Had our marriage license prepared and wrote the most beautiful vows.
Verified customer review
★★★★★
Precision, professionalism and flexibility. Paperwork completed for our arrival, priority wedding license, no stress at all.
Verified customer review
Read all reviews and testimonials.
Before you commit
What couples ask me right before booking
These arrive in the last message before someone books flights or pays a deposit. Answering them here saves us both a round trip.
“Is the package price the whole price?”
No, and I'd rather say so now. Add 10% VAT, the venue's facility fee, and the government licence fee. Your flights and hotel are separate again. Tell me the venue and I'll give you the real total before you commit.
“How do we know you're real?”
Fair question to ask a stranger handling your wedding. I'm a government-licensed Marriage Officer working from the same Nassau base since 2001. Call the number on this page before you send money. I answer it myself.
“Is our date even possible?”
Send it before you book flights. Most failed timelines come down to a weekend arrival against weekday-only licensing offices, or a 24-hour rule people thought started at the venue. Checking costs nothing.
“Will you push us to the expensive package?”
No. The tiers run $475 to $11,995 and most couples land in the middle. If a cheaper package fits your day, I'll say so. I would rather have the review than the margin.
“What if we have to move the date?”
Tell me as early as you can and I'll move it where I can. The $200 deposit is non-refundable and the balance is due 30 days out. Terms go to you in writing before you pay anything.
“Can we just hire you for the legal part?”
Yes. Plenty of couples want me purely as the Licensed Marriage Officer while a resort handles the event. I'm not territorial about it and I'll tell you when you don't need full planning.
Frequently asked questions
The questions couples ask before booking
FAQ
How much does a Bahamas wedding cost?
Island Nuptial packages run from $1,495 to $11,995, with vow renewals from $475, 12 in total. Sweet Beginning ($1,495) covers elopement essentials. Paradise ($3,995) is the popular mid-tier with photography, florals and music. Eternal Love ($11,995) is the full wedding and reception. All prices are before 10% Bahamas VAT, and a venue facility fee applies at every location. See the full price list.
What is the cheapest Bahamas wedding package?
Sweet Beginning at $1,495 is the entry tier for a legal wedding, Licensed Marriage Officer, ceremony coordination, licence assistance and the required witnesses. For a symbolic ceremony, Vow Renewal Basic starts at $475.
Is VAT included in your prices?
No. Every price is quoted in USD before 10% Bahamas VAT. A venue facility fee also applies at every ceremony location, beaches included, public or private, charged to you directly by the venue. Government licence fees are separate again. See the 2026 cost breakdown.
Where do you apply for a Bahamas marriage licence?
On any of the major islands. In Nassau that's the Registrar General's Department; on a Family Island it's the local Administrator's Office. Both partners attend in person, weekdays only. An Out Island wedding does not require a trip to Nassau, see the legal timeline.
How long do I need to be in The Bahamas before I can legally marry?
24 hours before applying. The Registrar General issues the licence the same day or the next day as standard, and in one hour with my priority service. Most couples arrive day one, apply day two, and marry day two. That makes Bahamas weddings genuinely workable for short trips, including cruise stopovers.
How fast can the marriage licence be issued?
As standard the Registrar General's Department issues it the same day or the next day, depending on circumstances, and Ministry of Tourism planning guidance quotes two business days. With my priority service the licence is issued in one hour, so you can apply in the morning and marry the same afternoon.
The 24 hour residency rule applies either way. Nothing shortens that, and anyone telling you otherwise is wrong. See the full comparison.
Can I get married in The Bahamas during a cruise stopover?
Yes, two ways. The 24 hour rule counts time in Bahamian waters, not time ashore, which is what makes this work. Multi-port cruise: if your ship called at another Bahamian port or private island (Freeport, Bimini, CocoCay, Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay, Great Stirrup Cay, Ocean Cay, Princess Cays, Lookout Cay or Celebration Key) 24+ hours before Nassau, the rule is already met and a same-day Nassau wedding works. Single-Nassau-port cruise: arrive 24+ hours before embarkation on a pre-cruise stay. Either way you need a letter from the Purser's Office signed by the ship's captain, and the Nassau application must fall Monday to Friday. I usually use Nuptial Beach on Cable Beach, close to the terminal, no resort booking needed. Full detail in the cruise wedding guide.
Which Bahamas island is best for a destination wedding?
Nassau and Paradise Island for flights, resorts and guest logistics. Eleuthera and Harbour Island for pink sand and boutique privacy. Exuma for the most cinematic water and private villas. Most couples are really deciding between convenience and privacy, tell me your guest count and budget and I'll match you. Or compare the Bahamas against other islands.
How far in advance should I book?
Elopements in a few weeks, and the legal floor is far shorter than most people expect: about 25 hours from landing to married with priority licence service, being the 24 hour residency rule plus the one hour licence. Mid-tier resort weddings need 3 to 6 months. Top-tier venues like The Ocean Club, Rosewood Baha Mar and Pink Sands Resort often need 9 to 12 months for peak dates from December through April.
Can one person be both the planner and the officiant?
Yes, but it's uncommon. A legal Bahamas wedding needs a Licensed Marriage Officer and most planners aren't licensed, so couples usually hire two people who meet on the wedding day. I hold both the government licence and the WPIC certification, full credentials.
How do I get started?
Send your date, guest count, island preference and budget range by WhatsApp, phone, or the Ask Glenn form. Checking whether your dates work costs nothing. A full planning session is a separate paid consultation.