Bahamas Wedding Requirements - How To Get A Marriage License In The Bahamas

Couples from around the world are finding out that there is no place like the Bahamas for a  dream destination wedding.  As it provides just the perfect blend of sand - sun - sea and natural scenic beauty for any style wedding ceremony desired.

And with the required Bahamian marriage license your marriage in the Bahamas is legally recognized anywhere you happen to reside in the world. So here is how to met the Bahamas wedding requirements to get your marriage license in the Bahamas.

1. Get your passport and travel to the Bahamas. You can enter the Bahamas without a passport but you may not be able to get back home. So be sure that you don’t leave without it.
2. Satisfy the Bahamas’ residency requirement of 24 hours before applying for your marriage license. And both of you must be in the Bahamas for this period of time and at the time of application. This is easily done by providing a copy of your immigration card if arriving by air and a letter from your ship captain if by sea.
3. Provide satisfactory proof that you are who you say you are. A photograph identification issued by your country of residence like a passport or driver license is usually sufficient.  
4. Provide satisfactory proof that you qualify for marriage. To get married in the Bahamas you must be at least age 18 and either single, divorced or widowed. And you must have the appropriate official document to prove your status. If you are single then an “affidavit” by a notary public  or other person authorized to administer oaths in the Bahamas certifying this is acceptable.  United Kingdom and Canada applicants may bring affidavits from their respective countries. And U.S. residence can get an affidavit at the American Embassy in Nassau.
5. Visit the Registrar General office located in the Apsley House - #75 Frederick Street, Nassau any business day between 9:30am and 4:00pm and make your application. Remember both of you must be present in order to make the application and you must have all your required documents and photograph identification.
6. Pay the Government's required marriage license fees of $100.00.
7. Pick up your marriage license the following day. Once issued your marriage license is valid for three month.

Now that you have met the Bahamas wedding requirements, there is no question who will be the wedding officiant at your wedding ceremony in the Bahamas. 

Glenn S. Ferguson, your Bahamas Wedding Officiant at Wedding Bahamas Style - Helping You To Create Your Memorable Bahamas Wedding. Just call 1-242-327-2453 or email nuptialpreacha@gmail.com or glennsferguson@gmail.com

Bahamas Wedding - An Elegant Wedding Bahamas Style Non Religious Wedding Ceremony

As a Bahamas wedding minister here is an elegant non religious wedding ceremony I had the pleasure of being celebrant wedding officiant at recently that was written by the bride and groom to celebrate their special day.

And their day was a gorgeous one matched only by the elegant dress worn by the bride. With the sun shining brilliantly from the blue sky over head on the pristine ocean water as it cascade on the white powdery beach nearby.

Processional

[Groom and best men standing at the front with me, while the bride, proceeded by her
bridesmaids and maid of honor, walk to join us]

Opening Remarks

On behalf of Groom and Bride, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you all have traveled such a great distance to be here today is a testament to the amazing amount of love and support they have. Many of you have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives. They would like to sincerely thank you all for being here to celebrate their big day.

A special and respectful acknowledgment must also be made to those friends and family members who were unable to attend, or have passed on, but whose spirit remains alive and strong in all our hearts. 



I have also been asked by Groom and Bride to thank their parents for the wonderful lives they have given them, for the hard work and guidance they have provided, for their everlasting love, support, and encouragement. It is from them that they have learned the true meaning of love, friendship and family.



Ceremony

For Groom and Bride marriage is an affirmation of life, an undying commitment, a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual bond between two people. It is created from the purest of friendship, respect and love. The institution of marriage is not entered into lightly, because it symbolizes commitment on every level. Together you will continue to meet the challenges and obstacles of life head on. 



Marriage is an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the mutual commitment of two people sincerely in love who share the same dreams about life. But more than that, it is the intimate sharing of two lives. It is a sharing that does not diminish but enhances the individuality of each partner.



The marriage between Groom and Bride does not mark the beginning of a new relationship; rather, it is an acknowledgment and celebration, of a relationship that has been flourishing since they met.



For Groom and Bride, love is the longing two people feel for one another. It is the need to share, in body and spirit, the warmth, serenity and peace two people can give to one another. A simple touch, a hand held at a time of uncertainty. This is what it means to be intimately human. It is the intention behind the kiss that says, “ Despite the vastness of this earth, despite the chaotic details that make up our lives, despite the hundreds of people we will meet in our travels, you are mine and I am yours forever.”

VOWS



Your wedding rings represent the unconditional love that you have for one another and are a symbol of the vows that you will make today. ____, take this ring, put it on ___'s finger and repeat after me:



I, __________, take you, ____________, to be my wife/husband, my partner in life and my one true love.

I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.

I will trust you and respect you, I will laugh with you and cry with you.

I will love you faithfully and unconditionally through the best and the worst, the difficult and the easy.

Whatever may come, I promise I will always be there for you.

Declaration of consent

“____________ (groom), will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her so long as you both shall live?”

Groom responds: “I Will”

And, ____________ (bride), will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him so long as you both shall live?”

Bride responds: “I Will”

Closing:

We who are present today, hope that the inspiration of this moment will never be forgotten. May all your days and years to come be filled with vision, joy and passion.

May the love you now share continue to grow, and may the happiness you bring to each other be a continuing part of your life together.

May you continue to laugh often and enjoy each other every day, steadfast in hope and confidence, believing in yourself and believing in each other.

May your love be a sanctuary and a source from which you draw strength to live your lives with enthusiasm and imagination.

May the people you touch in your lifetime know how much you love and care for one another and may you love one another forever.



With friends and family, you (groom), and you (bride), have openly pledged yourselves to one another in love and faithfulness, It is my privilege, by the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, to pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now kiss the groom!

Bahamas Wedding Requirements - What You Should Know About Making Your Wedding In The Bahamas Legal.

You have set your mind on having your dream wedding in the Bahamas and looking forward to welcoming your guest to this island paradise just off the coast of Florida - and thinking about the party after the ceremony.

But hold up. Are you sure that the person you have selected as your wedding officiant can legally marry you in the Bahamas?

When it comes to getting married in the Bahama, you have got to have the right person as your wedding officiant to make it legal.

According to Bahamas wedding requirements,  Ship captains, ordained religious ministers, Justice of the Peace, Notary public or even your own pastor can not legally marry you in the Bahamas.

In the Bahamas weddings can only be performed by persons who have been duly licensed and recognized as Marriage Officers by the Bahamas Government.

With the exception being the Registrar, Magistrates or local family Island Administrators. Who by virtue of the office they hold can act as wedding officiants. 


So the first question you need to ask of the person that you are considering to officiate at your wedding is “Are you a Licensed Marriage Officer?” As this is the one designation of persons licensed and credentialed to legally marry you in the Bahamas based on Bahamas wedding requirements.

And the position of Marriage Officer is that of a public servant and as such is required to professionally perform their duties with integrity, complete efficiency and accuracy.
At the end of the marriage ceremony, your wedding officiant is required to complete and sign four documents:-

1. Two copies of the Marriage Register, which is given to each of you.
2. One Marriage Duplicate Register, which he is required to submit to the Registrar General’s office as soon as possible. And
3. The Marriage Officer’s Register Book for his own record keeping. ( The signature of the bride and groom and two witnesses must also be on these four documents. And the witnesses may also be required to print their names for legibility.)
4. After the wedding ceremony the a copy of the Marriage Duplicate Register is submitted to the Registrar General's Office for the issuance of a certified Marriage Certificate. This usually take about 2 working days and cost $20.00 per certified copy.
5.  Once the Certified Marriage Certificate is received then it time for the final step in the process - getting an Apostille! And you get this from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs located East Hill Street. The Apostille take 3 working days and cost $10.00 per copy.

I can hear you asking "what is an Apostille?"  Well an Apostille is a certificate that allows country that are party to the Hague Conference - Apostille Convention (your country of residence) to authenticate the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation).

Simply put an Apostille is the Bahamas' way of telling your government and the world that you were married in the Bahamas.

And of cause you know that another Bahamas weddings requirements for your wedding ceremony to happen is that you need to get a marriage license and you can only apply for your marriage license, 24 hours after your arrival in the Bahamas.

Glenn Ferguson is your Bahamas Wedding Planner & Officiant at Weddings Bahamas Style - Helping You To Create Your Memorable Bahamas Wedding. Just call 1-242-327-2453 or email nuptialpreacha@gmail.com or glennsferguson@gmail.com

Wedding Vows - How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows

As a wedding officiant,  I help persons of different faiths and varied life experiences in personalizing the wedding ceremony that is right for their special day - and whether your choice is formal and traditional or contemporary and casual, your wedding vows makes the day memorable not only for you but for your guest as well.

And while you get to choose from a variety of wedding vows incorporating your own traditions and preferences, more and more couples are opting to write their own wedding vows.

So if that is your desire here are some tips for you on writing your own wedding vows.

The first bit of advice to you is that while you want your wedding vows to be meaningful you also want to be as concise as possible. By keeping your vows concise you avoid overloading it with redundant and meaningless word which detracts from your intention and overwhelm your guest.  A short ceremony is always better and I promise, you will get lots of complements from your guest.

Secondly, be sure to allow your wedding officiant or minister to review and edit your vows. It will certainly help with the quality and completeness of the vows.

Let your feeling show.  Your wedding ceremony is the time to let your feeling show as you are declaring to the world your love for each other. So do not be afraid to express your feeling in your wedding vows. The good thing is that you can say anything that you want to say that is fitting for your relationship and wedding ceremony as long as you both agree to be married somewhere in the wedding vows.

Review what other have done. We all need some inspiration so feel free to look at what other couples have done and you will be surprised by how closely your feeling relates to others . You can also get lots of insights from wedding poems and songs.
              
Finally, while you can chose to write your wedding vows together or apart. I recommend that you do it together as it will give you an added opportunity to bond so get together.  And be sure to have plenty of facial napkins as I promise you, there will be lots of emotions!

Glenn S. Ferguson is your Bahamas Wedding Planner & Bahamas Wedding Officiant at Wedding Bahamas Style - Helping You To Create Your Memorable Bahamas Wedding. Just call 1-242-327-2453 or email nuptialpreacha@gmail.com or glennsferguson@gmail.com

Thinking About Getting Married On A Beach In The Bahamas?

I am sure you know that there is nothing like a wedding ceremony on a beach in the Bahamas - It is simply heavenly!

And very romantic with pink or pure white powdery sand in your toes, relaxing crystal-clear turquoise waves rolling onto the shore nearby and your senses tingled by the pristine, unspoiled panoramic view of the beach making your beach wedding ceremony breathtaking.

I just love officiating at a beach wedding ceremony and if you need help choosing a beach I can recommend just the one to give you that heaven on earth feeling.

As the 700 Islands of the Bahamas stretching across some 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic ocean is home to some of the best and most pristine beaches in the world. And getting there is so easy as it is only 50 miles off the coast of Florida. So if your beach wedding ideas consist of only you and your quest footprint in the sand - you are sure to find a secluded beach that is right for you.

Just know that your wedding officiant - the nuptial preacha is waiting to help you create your memorable wedding on one of these breathtaking beach in the Bahamas. Just call 1-242-327-2453 or email nuptialpreacha@gmail.com or glennsferguson@gmail.com

Bahamas Wedding Officiant

Here at Weddings Bahamas Style we can perform your wedding ceremony at anytime or place you desire, whether in formal wear at a hotel or flip flops on one of the countless pristine beaches across the 700 islands of the Bahamas.

And while your ceremony may be conducted in a half hour giving you and your guest time to really enjoy the reception and the beauty of the islands. The time I spend helping you prepare for your very special day - meeting, coordinating, responding to e-mails and phone calls far exceeds what your family and guests see on your day!

And I promise that while I maybe the least expensive of all your wedding expenses, the role I perform at your ceremony is one of the most important of your entire day and I will perform it professionally. 

Which is why it is so important to have the perfect wedding officiant and choosing the person to whom you will entrust the single, most significant and memorable event of your life is probably the most important decision you have to make (next to choosing the person you will marry) in planning your wedding. 

And why the wedding officiant at wedding Bahamas style is the perfect officiant for your wedding. Allow us to serve you and experience the joy of us creating your memorable wedding experience.

Congratulation and looking forward to seeing you in the Bahamas!

Win a Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart

Last Friday on a special destination wedding-themed episode of ‘The Martha Stewart Show,’ host Martha Stewart and editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, Darcy Miller, announced the “Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart(TM) Fantasy Nuptials” contest.

The grand prize winner, will be announced on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ on February 11. The prize package includes a customized destination dream wedding created by Martha Stewart’s team at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas.

The package also includes a 6 day/5 night Luxury Included® stay for the lucky bride and groom at Sandals Emerald Bay; a 4 day/3 night Luxury Included® stay for 10 guests at Sandals Emerald Bay; plus, round trip airfare for the bride and groom, as well as all 10 guests.

The winning couple’s wedding will be filmed and featured on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ and in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.

The contest runs through January 20, 2010, to enter you can go to MarthaStewartWeddings and submit a 90-second video explaining why you should win a customized Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart™.

Along with this promotion, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts is pairing with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. to offer six new and exclusive wedding themes at any of their 18 Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts across the Caribbean.

Good luck!
And should you have questions about your wedding in the Bahamas just email our Bahamas wedding planner -glenn@bahamas-destination-wedding.com or call us 1-242-327-2453 and we'd be happy to help.