Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour
There are over 700 islands in The Bahamas, which can make choosing a site for your destination wedding a challenge. Take our five-question quiz and we’ll point you to the tropical spot that has “just our style” written all over it.
Take the Quiz:
1. During the ceremony, your guests will watch you exchange vows in front of: A) Shiny white yachts pulling into a marina for the evening. B) Centuries-old cloisters banked by fuchsia bougainvillea. C) An aquarium full of sharks.[blankline]
2. Your idea of a great reception meal includes: A. Rum punches and just-caught grouper by the pool, served with an ocean breeze. B. Champagne (the real stuff), goat cheese fondue, and roasted Peking duck with shallot confit. C. Risotto and carving stations, a raw bar, maybe a slider table.[blankline]
3. A great group sports activity the day before the wedding would be: A) A fishing tournament in world-class waters. B) Championship golf with spectacular oceanside tees C) Innertubing down a lazy river pool.[blankline]
4. Your ideal wedding look is: A) Long, white shift dress that blows in the breeze; shell-embellished sandals; a headful of unfussy beach waves. B) A strapless goddess-style gown and a chic updo that shows off your shoulder-dusting earrings. C) A figure-flaunting mermaid dress, fabulous stilettos, and perfect makeup.[blankline]
5. The morning of the wedding, you’ll get together with your girlfriends for: A) A long walk on the beach. B) A yoga class on the lawn. C) Pedicures in the spa.[blankline]
Find Your Resort:
If you answered mostly “A’s,” you should take a look at the Abaco Beach Resort. Located in one of the world’s best fishing destinations, this Out Island classic is less than an hour’s plane ride from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but feels like the clocks have been turned back 50 years. You’ll walk everywhere you need to go; an evening game of ping-pong may be the most stressful event of the day. The resort has 89 oceanfront accommodations and the largest marina in the Bahamas—ideal if you’ve traveling with anglers or a seafaring crowd. The wedding couple can bunk in a modern condo; the rest of your crew can choose from standard rooms, suites, and cottages. Bare feet, boats, bonefish, and people who know your name: It’s a powerful combination. Another resort that fits your profile: Old Bahama Bay Resort.
Gardens at One&Only Ocean Club Bahamas
If you answered mostly “B’s,” book it to the One & Only Ocean Club, on Paradise Island. This is about as glam as it gets in the Bahamas, with a restaurant overseen by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, grounds landscaped around 12th-century French cloisters, and guest rooms decorated in a pizazzy contemporary-colonial style. Originally the home of A&P heir Huntington Hartford II, the oceanside acres still feel like a private estate; though you’re only a 30-minute taxi ride from the Nassau airport, once you drive through the front gates you’re clearly in the world of A-listers. Wedding couples are paired with a laser-focused planner who’ll be at your beck and call from your first email. Another resort that fits your profile: Pink Sands Resort.
Atlantis Paradise Island
If you answered mostly “C’s,” you too will land in Nassau and cross the bridge to Paradise Island. But instead of the hushed grounds of the Ocean Club, we direct your taxi to Atlantis. Las Vegas meets Disney meets the tropics at this massive resort, where the wedding packages are genuinely eye-popping. Want a traditional Indian ceremony with a gold mandap and a vegetarian buffet? Done. How about 500 guests feasting beside “Mayan” ruins and dancing to a 9-piece band? It’s yours. Among the literally dozens of venues, the Ocean’s Edge pavilion is a standout, with a broad deck and event lawn. And because Atlantis is comprised of several hotels with very different prices, everyone on your guest list will find accommodations to suit. The cheerful Beach Tower for budget-minded families; Harborside Resort for friends who want a village-style compound that’s great for groups; The Cove for your high-roller pals. Another resort that fits your profile: Sandals Royal Bahamian.
