Planning your wedding in The Islands Of The Bahamas is easier than ever! You can now get your Marriage License within 24 hours. (Please note: Registrar General’s office is closed on weekends.) Romance Directors are readily available to facilitate all your needs –– including referral of your own Personal Wedding Coordinator to serve and meet all of your wedding desires. Possible island dream weddings include:

Experience a Classic Wedding between the romantic columns of the 14th century French Cloisters on Paradise Island overlooking Nassau Harbour.

Visit the Botanical Gardens or any of the many beautiful garden settings in The Islands Of The Bahamas to find your ideal Tropical Wedding site. Say "I do" amid the colourful bougainvillaea, blooming hibiscus and the raging orange poinciana trees.

For a truly Romantic Wedding, imagine saying your vows beneath tall palms swaying in the balmy island breeze with soft, white sand underfoot as the sun sets over an ocean horizon. The perfect way to celebrate one of life’s most precious moments.

What’s a Party Boat Wedding? Imagine sailing off into the sunset on the sparkling crystal Bahamian seas as you lovingly exchange your nuptial vows. Then dancing the night away under the twilight stars with friends and relatives.

Let The Islands Of The Bahamas host a Unique Wedding you’ll never forget. Take your vows undersea, on a romantic surrey ride, Junkanoo style –– whatever your imagination desires.

The Weddings and Honeymoon Unit of the Ministry of Tourism offers services to assist you in organizing your own ceremony or, by acting as a facilitator between you and on–island wedding consultants, help you to plan any type of wedding.

Officers can be contacted at 1–888–NUPTIAL (1–888–687–8425), by telephoning the Weddings and Honeymoon Unit directly at 242–302–2034, or faxing to 242–325–5835. You can also e–mail an officer at romance@bahamas.com Office hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

To assist you in estimating costs, following are some of the charges you can expect.

Individual services available: Minister only: Weekdays $150; Weekends $175;
Rehearsals/off–island marriages $50 per hour.
Photographer only: $300 per hour (colour or black & white, 36 exposures, negatives & album). Additional time $85 per hour including an additional 36 exposures with negatives.
Videographer only: $350 per hour with editing. A wedding reception and other services can be arranged at a 15‰ service charge (coordinator only).
French Cloisters: $3000 for 2 hours
Versailles Gardens: $375 for Ocean Club guests only
Botanical Gardens: Price not available
Garden of the Groves: Price not available
Departure Tax: $15/$18
All prices quoted are subject to change.

Obtaining a marriage license in the Bahamas: •Both parties must be in The Bahamas at the time of the application. •The Bahamas Law states that the couple must be resident in The Bahamas for 24 hours prior to the date of the application. A Bahamian–issued marriage license is valid for 90 days for those seeking early application. You can write the Registrar General prior to your arrival at: P.O. Box H–5553, Nassau, Bahamas, or fax to 242–322–5553. Your Personal Wedding Coordinator can assist you with this. •If either party is a minor (a person under 18 years of age), parental consent is required. Forms of consent may be obtained from the Registrar General’s office. •If either party has been divorced, the original final decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced. For European residents, the original decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced in the native language along with a translated certified or notarized copy in English. •If either party is widowed, the death certificate of the deceased spouse must be produced. •If either party is unmarried, for a citizen or resident of the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a U.S. Consul at the American Embassy, Nassau, Bahamas, for a fee of $55 (effective February 1st, 1998), or a Bahamian Notary Public. (Please note, the U.S. Embassy is closed on American and Bahamian holidays.) •If either party is unmarried and is a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in that country and must accompany the application for the marriage license. The said declaration may also be obtained at a Notary Public in Nassau. •The parties must produce some form of identification that has a photograph attached. The identification document must be issued by a Government Office in the country where the parties reside. A passport is required for persons who are residents of a Commonwealth country. •The parties must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in The Islands Of The Bahamas (i.e., airline ticket, immigration card). •Persons desirous of being married in a Family Island (any island outside of New Providence or Grand Bahama) can obtain the Marriage License at the local Government Administrator’s office on that Island and need not come to New Providence or Grand Bahama. Initial inquiries can be made at this office. No blood test is necessary. The fee for a marriage license is $40.00.

NOTE: Marriage licenses are issued at the Office of the Registrar General located in the Rodney Bain Building on Parliament and Shirley Street in Nassau, which is open to the public Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Closed on weekends and Bahamian Public Holidays.) On The Out Islands, visit the local Government Administrator’s office to obtain a Marriage License.

Proof of Residence The Registrar General shall be entitled to insist upon proof of residency as he/she deems necessary.

Apostille Copy of Marriage Certificate

For couples from European countries who may also require an apostille copy of the marriage certificate, this can be obtained after the ceremony once the couple makes an application at the Registrar General’s office in Nassau. The process takes seven to ten days. A wedding reception and other services can be arranged at additional costs, e.g., tuxedo rental, additional photographs and video, music, etc.

You may contact your Romance Director at:
1–888–NUPTIAL, 1–242–302–2034 or 1–242–302–2000 ext. 4241, 4546, or write to P.O. Box N–3701, Nassau, Bahamas. The Wedding & Honeymoon Department is open to the Public from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on Public Holidays).

FAQ’s: Do I need a licence to get married in The Islands Of The Bahamas?
Yes, a Bahamian marriage licence is required.

Is there a fee for the marriage licence?
Yes, there is a fee of $40.00 payable to the Registrar General’s Department.

Is a blood test required?
No, a blood test is not required.

Would I be able to use my marriage licence from my country?
No, only the Bahamian marriage licence is legal in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Can my Pastor perform the wedding ceremony?
No, however your Pastor may assist the local Pastor with the wedding ceremony.

Can I get married the same day as my arrival in The Islands Of The Bahamas?
No, both parties must have resided in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas for not less than one day prior to the date of the application.

Can I apply for a marriage licence by mail?
No, both parties must be in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas at the time of the application.

I would like to get married in the Family Islands; do I need to come to Nassau for a marriage licence?
No, you can obtain a marriage licence at the Commissioner’s office on that island.

Can I get married on the weekend?
Yes, you can get married on Saturday or Sunday, provided you make application during the working days of Thursday or Friday.

Would my marriage licence be legal in my country?
Yes, the Bahamas marriage licence is a legal document issued by the Bahamas government.