Thomas and I met on March 16th four years ago – from the day we met, I knew he was the one (I know you’ve heard couples say this before and it’s totally cheesy, but in my case totally true - he just didn’t know it). Within 6 months of knowing Thomas I started to dream up our perfect wedding and life together. It started off as a celebration on the hills of the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, but when I started working for Bimini Bay as their Events Manager, my dream of an Irish wedding of greens and lilac hydrangeas became a Bahamian Festivity, loud with yellows, orange orchids, starfish and lots of conch salad! Working for the resort that was also hosting my wedding had pros and cons. Destination weddings are designed to relieve much of the normal wedding planning pressure. However, I am the one that personally ensures no bride endures stress or pressure while getting married at Bimini Bay Resort, so it was difficult to not have a “me” to take the stress and pressure off!
Despite all that, the big day was amazing! Everything went perfectly and surprisingly enough, I was able to relax, have fun and not worry about the little things, unlike the weddings I work at (anyone who works with me knows how detailed oriented I am when hosting a client’s wedding)! The weather, staff and resort all worked perfectly together and it was a joy to have the entire island full of our best friends and loving families. The ceremony was held at the alcove beach at Bimini, which made it sweet and intimate, even though there were over 125 people there. Every detail from my incredible Maggie Sottero dress, to the seashell place cards and the orange orchids in my hair reflected not only our personal taste, but also the spirit and unique beauty of the island.
After exchanging our nuptials Thomas and I took to the floor for our first dance set at the infinity pool, which was lined with candles. We hired an incredibly versatile guitarist/vocalist who provided the smooth sailing “Wedding Song” by Bob Dylan, not a very well known song, but by Tom’s father’s favorite artist. Then our DJ provided amazing music all night long that had EVERY guest up and dancing! Nothing went wrong the entire night - and the Bimini Bay Events Manager in me was certainly paying attention. Even the weather didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits when it started to rain at the reception – in fact we all danced in it! I thought of every little thing for this one very big day – from orange sashes for the servers to wear around their wastes to passed goombay smashes (a yellow drink) with an orange orchid to garnish, and the staff at Bimini Bay executed each piece flawlessly. More of our favorite details were the orange cocktail napkins that said “Eat, Drink, Be Married!” in yellow writing, having each table number a different Bahamian island, the delicious surf n’ turf dinner that eliminated the need to get guests orders in advance, and the silver starfish earrings and necklaces from John Bull that we gave as our bridesmaid gifts.
While our special day went smoothly, there are definitely things I would have done differently and upgrades that I would recommend to future brides on the island. I stayed in the house right next to where the ceremony took place and was able to hide from my groom and looked as fresh as possible while walking down the aisle. I learned that tall vases don’t work in any outdoor setting, and that it’s important to have the florist at the wedding to put the centerpieces together, especially after spending so much money onthe flowers! I would have taken more care with the lighting and used LED candles, uplights under the reception tables, and hired a lighting company to provide more uplights around the pool deck. I also shouldn’t have stayed out as late as I did the night before the wedding - I barely had a voice to say my vows! I thought that I knew everything about planning a wedding on Bimini, but now that I have been the bride, I truly appreciate how special the day can be, and can’t wait to help more couples make their visions come true!
Our package included all of the following details:
Save-the-dates passports books of information, the invitation boarding passes and RSVP postcards
Rum Punch served to guests on the water ferry ride to the Resort
Personalized welcome bags placed in each guest room with the following: a personal welcome letter from the couple, postcards of the island, a Bimini Guide, a detailed map of the resort, a CD of the couple’s most personal songs, a magnet thank-you note, SPF chopstick, aspirin, an itinerary of the week’s festivities, and a list of activities and tours on the island
Five hours of the premium open bar for the Reception
Conch salad action station during the cocktail hour
Five unlimited butler passed hors d’oeuvres through-out the duration of cocktail hour
"Newlywed Advice Station" during cocktail hour
Seashell placecards with guest names written right on them
A champagne toast.
Surf n’ turf for the main course
The cake was served with a scoop of coconut gelato
The cake stand rental
Lounges with pillows and white linens next to the pool at the reception.
Instead of table numbers, each guest table featured a different Bahamian island
The table settings to include: White pintuck linens, silver dinner chargers, satin napkins folded as pockets to hold the custom dinner menu, garnished with an orchid
30 paper lanterns
Candles lining the edge of the Infinity Pool
Chiavari chairs
Five Calla Lily bridesmaid bouquets wrapped with wire
The custom-made guest book by Curtis Smith that was an album of our engagement photos
Rental of Four Bedroom Oceanfront Villa next to where the ceremony took place
Custom, themed thank-you notes for after the wedding
Cost per person : $321.00
Additional costs : $12,871.00
