Do you dream of a wedding day filled with sunshine and adventure? Cole and I did and we were so excited to collaborate with Abaco Beach Resort for our adventure elopement that was even better than what we dreamt of! The Abacos encapsulates the true spirit of the Bahamas’ Out Islands.
Read on for the 5 reasons we decided to elope at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina.
Planning to elope at Abaco Beach Resort
We knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be, from the moment we got to Abaco Beach Resort. Everything just felt right. In the weeks leading up to our wedding, we had phone calls, zoom meetings, and countless emails back and forth to make sure everything was prepared for our big day. However, we had never seen the venue in person.
We arrived in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas days before our wedding. Bahamian law requires non-citizens arrive at least 24 hours prior to their wedding date to sign all wedding documentation. After getting to the resort, we were whisked away to the Bahamas Government Complex, a beautiful pink building just down the street from the resort. All official business passes through here, including our wedding documents. We met with the Administrator of the Bahamas, who would also serve as the officiant on our wedding day.
The time in the government office felt like a ceremony in and of itself. Putting the pen on paper and declaring our intentions for marriage made me a little emotional. I was overwhelmed by happy thoughts as I reminisced on our last trip to the Bahamas together.
After signing our wedding documents, we went back to the resort to scope out our wedding location and finalize the rest of the details. We decided on a waterfront location that was even more beautiful than the photos I viewed online. Working with the team at Abaco Beach Resort was a dream from start to finish. Brent, Rhonda, and the entire team made sure every detail was covered to ensure our day would be absolutely perfect just as we had dreamt it would be.
1. We wanted our wedding day to be intentional.
Whether you have a wedding with many or few in attendance, the time goes by all the same…FAST. While Cole and I initially planned a “traditional wedding”, the word intentional kept floating into my mind. Due to several different reasons, we decided eloping felt like the right decision for us. We wanted to be fully present and soak up every moment as we neared becoming husband and wife. We decided on very simple decor and would let God’s landscape speak for itself in all its beauty. The team at Abaco Beach Resort was even kind enough to build an arch for us for where we would stand and deliver our wedding vows. Our wedding was simple but everything we wanted it to be. As I stood overlooking the beautiful Bahamian waters, all the other noise faded away.
It was intentional, exactly how we wanted it to be when we decided to elope at Abaco Beach Resort.
2. Adventure awaits in the Abacos
The Abacos is known for being the boating capital of the Bahamas. While staying at the resort, we booked a day charter on a powerboat where we went island hopping to some of the most popular areas. We stopped at No Name Cay to see the famous swimming pigs of Abaco.
We then went to Green Turtle Cay and had a great lunch at Green Turtle Club. Make sure to bring a dollar with you to sign and staple to the ceiling of the bar.
From there we went to Great Guana Cay to the world-famous Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill. This is where people go for food and drinks but they stay for the views. This restaurant towers over the Atlantic Ocean from atop the highest sand dune on the island. Nippers is the only beach bar and grill located on the four-mile-long, powdery soft beach.
Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina offer opportunities for both inshore and offshore fishing. You can cast your line for the elusive bonefish in the shallow and clear flats or you can go for coveted gamefish offshore. Either way, you can book these excursions through the concierge team at the resort.
We got married in the morning so we could start our adventure right after. Thanks to our dear friend Steph (@freediversteph), she had the sailboat perfectly positioned in the background of our ceremony and the dingy beached and ready to go for our “getaway exit.” We dreamt about sailing away after our wedding, even during our initial “traditional wedding” planning so we were thrilled this dream became a reality.
We enjoyed our wedding day brunch on Steph’s boat while she sailed to the Elbow Reef Lighthouse, which is one of the last operational kerosene-fueled lighthouses in the world. The views were absolutely stunning from the top of the charming, old lighthouse. After we climbed back down 101 steps, we made sure to leave our mark in the guestbook on the way out. #TheAdventureCrews
Adventuring together is exactly how we wanted to begin our lives together.
Thank you to Ryan and Holly with Purely Films (@purelyfilms) for capturing the 5 days we had together so beautifully and for going on the adventure with us. These two are a gem of a couple and will now be life-long friends of ours.
3. Close proximity to the United States.
Abaco Beach Resort is very easy to get to from the United States. It’s only 165 miles off the coast of Florida. We flew direct into Marsh Harbour from Miami where we spent more time on the runway than we did in the air. The flight was only 30-40 minutes. You can get to Marsh Harbour from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach. It’s also very easy to get to the resort from the airport (MHH). Abaco Beach Resort is less than a 10-minute taxi ride to the airport.
4. Excellent service at Abaco Beach Resort
The staff at Abaco Beach Resort greeted us with phenomenal service from the moment we arrived at the resort. One of the servers actually made a comment to us, “when you come ashore, we go overboard” and that was so accurate. We appreciated every attention to detail and care from the resort during our entire stay. We enjoyed a couples’ massage overlooking the water while we were there. It was an incredible experience as we soaked in the sounds of the ocean and felt the nice breeze.
On the eve of our wedding, we enjoyed the dreamiest beachfront breakfast. The food was phenomenal and in a private, intimate location for just the two of us. We soaked up the morning sunshine while drinking our coffee and talked about how excited we were for the day ahead of us. I highly recommend booking this private beach spot for whatever occasion you’re celebrating. I can promise you the team at Abaco Beach Resort will not disappoint!
5. Intimate resort with all the amenities
One of the great things about Abaco Beach Resort is the accommodations of a full-size resort and marina, yet it is still intimate and charming. The resort is a great spot for families, couples, and friends to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle that you would experience on some of the larger islands. The resort offers two pools. The first pool overlooks the beach and has a peaceful, secluded vibe. The larger of the two pools overlooks the marina and includes a swim-up tiki bar.
Improvements to the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina
Since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Abaco Beach Resort has renovated all guestrooms throughout the resort. What’s great about this resort is that every room faces the water no matter which room style you choose. The rooms are a mid-century modern style that is both simple and sophisticated.
There are two new restaurants at the resort as well. We ate at both restaurants during our stay. We frequented the Pool Bar & Terrace at Marinaville both for breakfast and dinner. I highly recommend the conch fritters (which are a staple in the Bahamas). We ate at the Bistro on the evening of our wedding and the food was incredible. We did come back to the Bistro again for a side of their delicious Mac & Cheese. The Bistro is located just off of the main lobby in an open and airy space that faces the water. This restaurant offers a more upscale dining experience than the previous restaurant.
An added feature to the Abaco Beach Resort is the 200-slip marina. It has all the features you would need to stay at the resort while on your boat. They can accommodate yachts up to 200 feet.
The resort hosts four fishing tournaments each year and can accommodate up to 600 people. There are 85,000 sq. ft worth of indoor meeting space and 20,000 sq. ft. of outdoor meeting space that can accommodate large groups of people.
The Abaco Beach Resort is a perfect place to have a destination wedding or an elopement. You can have your ceremony on the beach or in a grassy area that overlooks the water.
Book your dream getaway at Abaco Beach Resort, you’ll be glad you did. The best part about having our wedding in a destination location is that we were able to start our honeymoon immediately after without having to worry about catching a flight or travelling. These were the best two weeks of our lives and we highly recommend planning to elope at Abaco Beach Resort.
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