Ready to get started? Send me your details:
Helpful first message: Arrival date · Wedding date · Island preference · Wedding style (elopement, micro, full venue, vow renewal). I'll reply with the cleanest legal path and availability.
I'm Glenn Ferguson, a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer and WPIC-certified wedding planner. I have been officiating and planning weddings across The Bahamas since 2001, that's 24+ years walking couples through the legal process at the Registrar General's Department, coordinating vendors across islands, and standing under arches reading vows on Cable Beach, in Eleuthera, at the Ocean Club, and on private Out Island estates.
My approach is simple and consistent. I handle the legal side correctly so it does not become a problem on the wedding day. I keep the timeline honest, including telling couples when their plans are not realistic. And I treat the ceremony as the actual heart of the day, not an afterthought to the resort booking.
This page is here so you can decide whether I am the right person to work with. Below: my credentials, the islands I cover, what working with me actually looks like, reviews from real couples, and the questions other couples ask before hiring me. If you want to skip ahead, the priority service section explains how I can get couples legally married with an apostilled certificate in as little as 3 business days.
Credentials
Licensed, certified, and locally based
The Bahamas wedding industry has dozens of planners and officiants, with widely varying credentials. Here is exactly what I bring:
Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer
Officially appointed under the Bahamas Marriage Act. I can legally perform the wedding ceremony itself, sign the marriage register, and submit the registration documents (Form 9) to the Bahamian government. Many planners can plan a wedding but cannot legally marry you. I do both.
WPIC-Certified Wedding Planner
Trained through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, the leading certification for destination wedding planners working across the Caribbean. Covers vendor management, contracts, timeline design, and crisis management.
24+ Years Local Experience
Officiating since 2001. I have walked hundreds of couples through the Registrar General's Department, coordinated weddings at every major Bahamian resort, and learned which mistakes are recoverable and which are not.
Nassau-Based, All-Island Coverage
Home base in Nassau, where the Registrar General's Department handles all marriage license applications. I cover all major islands: Nassau, Paradise Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Andros, and Abaco.
What I Do For Couples
Three things I focus on, every wedding
The job has three parts. I take all three seriously, because shortcuts on any one of them shows up on the wedding day.
Get legal, correctly
Marriage license timing, witness requirements, registration flow, certificate retrieval, and apostille guidance for international recognition. The legal side is the part that can fail in ways you cannot fix later, so I handle it directly.
Keep the timeline honest
No guesswork, no false confidence about dates that will not work. You get a clean plan aligned to your travel and the Bahamas marriage law calendar. If your timeline is unrealistic, I tell you upfront and propose alternatives.
Make the ceremony personal
Vow guidance if you want it, ceremony flow that fits your style (traditional, casual, religious, secular, multilingual), and a delivery that feels like a real moment, not a factory-issued template.
Island Coverage
All major Bahamian islands
I officiate and plan weddings across all major Bahamian islands. Nassau is my home base (and where every marriage license application happens), but the actual ceremony can be on any of the islands below.
Nassau
Home base. Cable Beach, downtown Nassau, and surrounding venues. Closest to the Registrar General's Department.
Paradise Island
Ocean Club, Atlantis, and the resort cluster across the bridge from Nassau. Easy guest logistics.
Eleuthera
Pink sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, quieter atmosphere. The Cove, French Leave, Cape Eleuthera, and private estates.
Harbour Island
Iconic luxury, the famous pink sand. Pink Sands Resort, The Potlatch Club, Coral Sands, and Dunmore.
Exuma
Cinematic water color, swimming pigs, private villas. Grand Isle, The Exuma Outpost, Baymahni, Sandals Emerald Bay.
Grand Bahama
Freeport area, plus quieter East End and West End coastlines. Different feel from Nassau, with its own character.
Andros
Largest Bahamian island, quietest and most remote-feeling. Ideal for couples wanting genuine privacy and Out Island atmosphere.
Abaco
Boating culture, sailing communities, and Hope Town's iconic lighthouse. Best for couples drawn to nautical and Out Island settings.
For other Out Islands (Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, etc.), ask, I can often arrange depending on date and logistics. Note that the marriage license application must always happen in Nassau in person, regardless of which island hosts the ceremony.
Priority Service
Married in as little as 3 business days
For couples on tight timelines, I offer a priority service that compresses the standard process across every step. This is a service that not every Bahamas planner offers, and it is genuinely useful when travel windows are short or visa deadlines are pressing.
Available across all islands. Send me a WhatsApp message with your arrival date and I will tell you honestly whether the priority timeline works for your specific situation.
Real Reviews
From couples I have actually married
Four representative reviews from real couples I have officiated and planned weddings for. Names are real, quotes are theirs.
★★★★★
Glenn is a rockstar. He took care of every detail, was very responsive, and incredibly professional. I would recommend him 100%.
Real customer review
★★★★★
Getting married in The Bahamas was a breeze. Glenn took care of everything and made the process run as smooth as possible.
Real customer review
★★★★★
Went above and beyond. Promptness, professionalism, kindness. Had our marriage license prepared and wrote the most beautiful vows.
Real customer review
★★★★★
Precision, professionalism and flexibility. Paperwork completed for our arrival, priority wedding license, no stress at all.
Real customer review
Working With Me
From first message to wedding day
Here is how the process typically goes, from first message to the moment you walk away legally married.
First message
WhatsApp, phone, or Ask Glenn form. Send your arrival date, wedding date, island, guest count, ceremony style, and budget range. The more specific you are, the faster I can give you a useful answer.
Honest recommendation and quote
I reply within 24 hours (usually within a few hours) with a package match, any timeline concerns, and a written quote. If your timeline is not realistic, I tell you, and propose alternatives rather than waste your time.
Deposit and date confirmation
A deposit secures your date. We agree on the package, the venue, and any add-ons (photography, floral, music, reception, transportation). Everything goes in writing.
Planning and paperwork prep
I prepare your marriage license paperwork in advance, coordinate vendors, confirm venue logistics, and check in with you on ceremony details, vows, music choices, and timing. If priority service is needed, I align the paperwork to your arrival.
Wedding day and beyond
You arrive, I run the marriage license appointment at the Registrar General's Department, and the ceremony happens the way we planned it. I file Form 9 with the Registry afterward. Certified marriage certificate and apostille (if needed) follow on the priority or standard timeline.
What You Get
Concrete deliverables when you hire me
What I deliver, every wedding
- Clean timeline. Based on your actual travel dates and the Bahamas marriage law calendar, not generic advice.
- Clear document guidance. Exactly what passport, immigration card, divorce decree, or death certificate you need, well in advance.
- Marriage license handled. I prepare the application, accompany you to the Registrar General's Department, and walk you through the interview.
- Legal ceremony performed. As Licensed Marriage Officer, I conduct the legal ceremony itself, sign the register, and file Form 9 with the Registry.
- A personal ceremony. Vow guidance, ceremony flow shaped to your style, and a delivery that matches the moment rather than reading from a template.
- Vendor coordination (full-planning packages). Photography, floral, music, DJ, reception venue, transportation, airport pickup, coordinated and confirmed in writing.
- Marriage certificate. Certified copy retrieved from the Registry, in 1 business day with priority service or 1 to several weeks standard.
- Apostille (if needed). For international recognition, 1 to 4 business days with priority service or 4 to 8 weeks standard.
- Honest answers. If you ask about a venue or vendor I do not think will work for you, I will say so.
Frequently asked questions
The questions couples ask about working with me
FAQ
Are you a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer?
Yes. I am officially appointed under the Bahamas Marriage Act, which means I can legally perform the wedding ceremony itself, not just coordinate around it. The marriage certificate I sign is the legal record registered with the Bahamian government. Many wedding planners can plan a wedding but cannot legally marry you, I do both.
What does WPIC certification mean?
WPIC stands for the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, the leading professional certification for destination wedding planners working across the Caribbean. Certification confirms training in vendor management, contract handling, timeline design, and crisis management for destination weddings.
How long have you been officiating Bahamas weddings?
Since 2001, more than 24 years. I have worked with couples from across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. I have officiated ceremonies for elopements of two and full destination weddings of two hundred guests.
Which Bahamian islands do you cover?
All major islands: Nassau (home base), Paradise Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Andros, and Abaco. For other Out Islands (Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador), ask, I can often arrange depending on logistics and timing.
Can you officiate a same-sex commitment ceremony or vow renewal?
Yes for commitment ceremonies and vow renewals. The Bahamas does not currently legally recognize same-sex marriage (the Matrimonial Causes Act defines marriage as between a man and a woman), but I can officiate non-legal commitment ceremonies and vow renewals for same-sex couples. The country is welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors.
Do you offer priority service for fast weddings?
Yes. Priority service compresses the standard process: license processed in approximately 1 hour at the Registrar General's Department, certified marriage certificate in 1 business day, and apostille in 1 to 4 business days. Married with apostilled certificate in hand in as little as 3 business days from arrival.
Can I hire you for just the legal ceremony, or do I need full planning?
Both. Some couples want me as the Licensed Marriage Officer only, working alongside their resort's wedding coordinator or another planner. Others want full planning across vendors, venue, and ceremony. I work both ways. WhatsApp me your situation and I will quote accordingly.
What is your fee structure?
Wedding packages start at $1,495 (Sweet Beginning, elopement essentials) and go up to $11,995 (Eternal Love, full luxury wedding). Vow renewals start at $425. All packages can be customized with add-on services including photography, floral, music, DJ, reception venue, transportation, and airport pickup. See the full pricing.
How do I book?
Send a message via WhatsApp, phone, or the Ask Glenn form with: arrival date, wedding date, island preference, guest count, and budget. I confirm availability and send a written quote. A deposit secures the date. Final balance is due before the ceremony. There is no fee for the initial consultation and no pressure to book.
What is the fastest you have ever planned a Bahamas wedding?
Approximately 24 hours from first Bahamian arrival to wedding, with priority service, on a multi-port cruise pathway. The couple's cruise visited another Bahamian port (CocoCay) the day before reaching Nassau, which means by the time the ship docked in Nassau the 24-hour residency rule had already been satisfied. The couple disembarked in Nassau Tuesday morning, applied for the marriage license at the Registrar General's Department, received the license in approximately one hour with priority processing, married at Nuptial Beach on Cable Beach in the afternoon, and re-boarded the cruise before it departed. This pathway only works when the Nassau port stop falls on a weekday (RGD closed Sat/Sun) and the cruise visited a prior Bahamian port (Freeport, Bimini, CocoCay, Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay) for 24+ hours. For single-Nassau-port cruises or weekend port stops, the couple needs a pre-cruise stay arriving by Thursday at the latest.
What languages do you speak?
English. I work with English-speaking couples from across the world. For ceremonies involving non-English-speaking guests or family, I can coordinate with translators or arrange bilingual ceremony elements where appropriate.
What is the best first message to send you?
Send: Arrival date · Wedding date · Island preference · Location (resort/villa/beach) · Guest count · Ceremony style (elopement, micro, full venue, vow renewal). I reply with a recommendation, a package match, and the cleanest legal path for your timeline. Use this WhatsApp link with the format pre-filled to send it in one tap.