Chic Vintage Grand Bahamas Beach Wedding

Bahamas Beach weddings are all the rage.  With crystal clear jewel-toned waters and pristine powdery white sand beaches spread across 700 islands and cays of the Bahamas, stunning beach settings are not in short supply.

Michaela, a social media manager and Ryan, a technician from Ottawa, Canada chose Grand Bahama Island for their gorgeous vintage chic beach wedding ceremony in the Bahamas and Pelican Bay’s Sabor Pool for a low key, but still chic and romantic reception. Michaela says: “The menu looked phenomenal, and the setting was so unique and personal. We couldn’t have chosen a prettier spot.”

Thirty guests including celebrities  Minnijean Brown Trickey, one of the “Little Rock Nine”, one of the first nine black students to integrate an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas and a motivational speaker, as well as Hisham Tawfiq, a heroic former FDNY firefighter who currently stars in NBC’s “The Blacklist”, joined the couple for their Friday, May 22, 2015 wedding.  Guests came from New York City, NEW YORK, Ottawa, ONTARIO Baltimore, MARYLAND, Cochrane, ONTARIO, Boston, MASSACHUSETTS, Sudbury, ONTARIO.

Guests did not want to leave. They were absolutely THRILLED with the couple’s wedding and said that it was the most fun wedding that they’ve been to and that everything was absolutely stunning.  Michaela and Ryan agree! Bahamas beach weddings are fun and memorable.

Grand Bahamas Beach Weddings: Spanish Main Beach

A stunning Michaela is pictured at Spanish Main Beach where her ceremony took place. Bahamas beach weddings are best on Grand Bahama Island that is known for its pretty, secluded private beaches.

Michaela’s wedding dress was completely custom made, and her shoes were by Badgley Mishka.  She wore Kate Spade “Mrs” earrings, and both her necklace and headpiece were Zara pieces.  Bridesmaids wore mint infinity dresses from Etsy.

A curious flower girl looks on as Michaela and Ryan seal the deal with a kiss.  Ryan (and the groomsmen) wore suits by Banana Republic, custom made ties and suspenders from Etsy, Sperry navy boat shoes, perfect for Bahamas beach weddings.

Bride’s pretty neck back necklace.

          Rose petal aisle …

The bride sourced or created many of the décor including the candlesticks, which were handpicked from Canadian vintage stores, the beach bucket guest favours, and the shell ring holder. The chair signs were hand-painted by an artist in Israel.  The invitation suite/menus were from Wedding Paper Divas.

For their destination wedding dinner, the couple chose a menu of spice-rubbed seared tuna, tequila-cilantro chicken, and bacon cheeseburgers with french fries.  For dessert, warm apple tarts and chocolate mousse cake trifle were served.

Ombre blush and light blue vanilla cake with raspberries and cream filling and a buttercream frosting.

Bahamas Beach Weddings: Michaela and Ryan’s Details

Bouquets comprised wild foliage draped with satin and lace ribbons, aisle covered in blush petals and petals spilling out of metallic lanterns, a long banquet-style table covered in sea glass, vintage gold candlesticks, mercury votives, rose centerpieces, and custom made signs.

The bride paid homage to her beloved grandmother by carrying a part of her wedding bouquet in hers, and also with a sign on one of the chairs that were specially made by one of my bridesmaids, Kaytie Loucks, who also created most of the signage at the wedding.

Fun Activities and Favourite Memories

The couple held their bachelor and bachelorette parties on the island and they termed them “a blast!” The bride spent the day at Banana Bay with her friends, hopped aboard a boat cruise, where she was treated to a lovely lobster dinner, and then danced the night away at the Smith Point Fish Fry!

Michaela says her favourite memory from wedding day was “when the ferry picked up our guests and brought them to Bahamas wedding venue Sabor and it was just me and Ryan left on the beach with our photographer. I don’t think it could have been any more romantic, strolling along the water as newlyweds.”

Bahamas Weddings and Honeymoons 

A honeymoon in Eleuthera followed Michaela and Ryan’s wedding on Grand Bahama Island. “I have two,” she says.  “My favourite memories from our honeymoon was surfing the waves with a young wild dolphin, and chartering a boat for the day that took us out to the famous sandbars in Eleuthera where we collected gorgeous shells that are displayed in our bedroom! “  

Recommendation

Michaela says, “I would definitely recommend a wedding on Grand Bahamas Island, and would absolutely recommend Pelican Bay. Marva Munroe, Bahamas wedding planner, made the experience as easy and smooth as possible, and she nailed my vision completely. The staff at Pelican Bay were so professional and accommodating, it couldn’t have gone better.”

Bahamas Beach Weddings: Best Part of Experience 

The best part of her wedding, the bride recollects, was sharing such an incredible moment with the people she loves most and marrying her best friend in paradise.