subject: Bahamas Wedding – What You Should Know About Making Your Wedding in The Bahamas Legal [print this page] Bahamas Wedding 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 how much you wil enjoy your Bahamas wedding. 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 Bahamas, you have got to have the right person as your wedding officiant to make it legal.
Ship captains, ordained religious ministers, Justice of the Peace, Notary public or even your own pastor cannot 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.
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:-
Two copies of the Marriage Register, which is given to each of you.
One Marriage Duplicate Register, which he is required to submit to the Registrar General's office as soon as possible. And
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.
And of cause you know that in order for the wedding ceremony to happen you need to get a marriage license and you can only apply for your marriage license, 24 hours after your arrival in the Bahamas.
