Weddings
Whether it's at the beach, in a beautifully landscaped garden, on a catamaran and even in a traditional church setting, weddings are performed almost anywhere in Nassau and Paradise Island. And, why not? The weather is superb and the list of ideal locations is endless. For my husband and I, we chose the French Cloisters for our big day.
Directly across from the elite Ocean Club, on Paradise Island overlooking Nassau Harbor, lies the remains of a 14th century French Monastery known as the French Cloisters. A quaint cobblestone path ushers bride and groom through ancient pillars down to a round, domed, open-air gazebo. Under the clearest blue skies with the soothing sound of waves breaking gently against the shore, saying "I do" is no problem, mon.
To ensure that we met all local requirements, we contacted the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for assistance. Not only were we informed of the laws, we were also provided with the names of a minister and a wedding planner. After that, all we had to do was show up.
On our May wedding day, we arrived at the Cloisters just before 6 p.m.
As expected, the weather was perfect. I carried a fresh bouquet of
colorful bougainvillea and hibiscus. My dress was simple and light.
A Kenny G tape whispered in the background as my husband and I exchanged our
vows. Just as we said "I do," our children released a dozen or
so balloons into the atmosphere.
The only glitch to our Bahamian Wedding occurred months later when I attempted to add my marriage name to my maiden name on my New York driver's license. I was told by Motor Vehicles that the Bahamian marriage certificate was unacceptable as proof of my name change and that I would have to go to court, pay a few hundred dollars and wait a month or two until the court awarded me my name. Upon further investigation, I changed my name with the Social Security Department, at no cost, thank you, and presented my new card to Motor Vehicle, who then accepted the name change. Mind you, Macy's and Visa required no proof of a name change and therefore, I had no problem mon .
