Best Destination Wedding Resorts in the Out Islands

The Out Islands are the Bahamas’ hidden middle chapters. Spread across roughly 700 mostly uninhabited islands and cays between Nassau and Turks & Caicos, the Out Islands (also called the Family Islands) run from Cat Island’s quiet white-sand crescents to Long Island’s cliffside bluffs to the barely-touched cays of the deep southern chain. Each Out Island has its own character, but they share a common thread: extreme privacy, boutique-only lodging, and beaches that most Caribbean visitors never see. For couples wanting a Bahamas destination wedding that feels like a genuine discovery, the Out Islands deliver.

A destination wedding in the Out Islands typically lands between $4,000 and $15,000 for the wedding package itself, with luxury full-service celebrations climbing to $25,000+. Most couples bring 10 to 30 guests. Resorts here are exclusively boutique-scale, and per-guest pricing runs highly variable depending on which specific island you choose.

Below, we’ve put together our guide to the best Out Islands destination wedding resorts for 2026, plus package context, legal marriage notes, and answers to the questions our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists hear most about the destination. Here’s where to begin planning the destination wedding of a lifetime!

Top Out Islands Destination Wedding Resorts

The Out Islands wedding scene runs on boutique-scale, family-owned properties scattered across the archipelago. Each property has its own island character; there’s no dominant tourism corridor. We focused on the properties our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists return to most often for Out Islands celebrations.

Fernandez Bay Village

A family-owned boutique resort on the quiet west coast of Cat Island, Fernandez Bay Village is a genuinely off-the-beaten-path Bahamas hideaway. The 12-cottage property sits on a crescent of soft white sand with an open-air clubhouse, family-style dining, and the kind of low-key hospitality that Out Islands regulars specifically travel for.

Wedding venues include the crescent beachfront, the open-air clubhouse for reception dinners, and intimate garden ceremony settings. The Fernandez Bay planning team specializes in small, low-key celebrations of 10 to 30 guests, with the family-run character keeping the atmosphere warm and personal.

Beyond the wedding day, guests can hike Cat Island’s Mount Alvernia (the highest point in the Bahamas at 206 feet), explore Cat Island’s historic Hermitage monastery, or simply spend days on the resort’s mostly-empty beach. A strong pick for couples wanting the quietest possible Bahamas wedding at a genuine value price point.

Learn more about Fernandez Bay Village and get a free quote today >>

Tiamo Resort

A boutique eco-luxury property on South Andros (technically part of Andros but marketed under the Out Islands banner), Tiamo Resort features 11 individually-designed cottages spread across 125 acres of beachfront and mangrove wilderness. The property is one of the Bahamas’ most sustainability-focused resorts, with solar power, on-site organic gardens, and end-to-end low-impact operations.

Their wedding venues include the private beachfront, garden ceremony settings among the mangroves, and the on-site dining pavilion for reception dinners. The Tiamo planning team specializes in eco-conscious, intimate celebrations of 15 to 40 guests, with the option of a partial property buyout for multi-day events.

Beyond the wedding day, guests can kayak the mangroves, dive the Andros barrier reef, bonefish the surrounding flats, or explore South Andros’s blue holes. A strong pick for couples wanting an eco-luxury Bahamas wedding with genuine sustainability credentials.

Learn more about Tiamo Resort and get a free quote today >>

More Information for Planning Your Destination Wedding in the Out Islands

Beyond picking your resort, a few practical details help shape your Out Islands wedding. Below you’ll find package context, legal marriage notes, and travel logistics worth sharing with your guests.

Out Islands Destination Wedding Packages

Out Islands resorts are exclusively boutique-scale. Here’s how wedding packages typically tier out:

• Low: $4,000 to $7,000. Covers ceremony setup, officiant, basic florals, sparkling wine toast, and a small cake for intimate groups of 10 to 15 guests.
• Mid: $8,000 to $15,000. Adds private reception dinners, professional photography, ceremony music, upgraded florals, and multi-day event coordination.
• High: $18,000 to $25,000+. Full luxury treatment with premium florals, open bars, extended photography and videography, custom decor, and partial property buyouts for multi-day celebrations.
• à la carte dining: Out Islands resorts price food and beverage separately from wedding packages. Plan for $100 to $200+ per guest for reception dinners, with menus built around fresh-caught local seafood.

Legal Marriage in the Out Islands

A legal wedding in the Bahamas requires 24 hours of in-country residency before applying for the marriage license. Total legal fees run approximately $365 to $500+, including a $120 marriage license, an approximately $95 affidavit of singlehood from a Bahamian notary, and an officiant fee starting around $150. Ceremonies must be performed between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Your resort wedding coordinator handles most of the paperwork. Out Islands’ marriage licenses may require a longer processing time, depending on which island you’re on, so build in an extra buffer. Legal requirements can change, so confirm current rules before finalizing plans.

Out Islands Destination Wedding Travel Information

The Out Islands are served by regional Bahamasair flights from Nassau, along with private charter options. Most Out Islands weddings start with a flight into Nassau, followed by a 20 to 60-minute connecting flight to the specific island. Cat Island (New Bight Airport, TBI) and South Andros (Congo Town Airport, TZN) are both served by daily Bahamasair regional flights.

• Passport required: yes, for all U.S. citizens.
• Transfer route: most couples fly Nassau to their specific Out Island (20 to 60 minutes), then a car or boat transfer to the resort. Some resorts offer direct charter flights during peak season.
• Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.
• Best time: April through May and November offer the best mix of weather and value. December through March is peak season with the highest rates and best weather.

Out Islands Destination Wedding FAQs

What are the Out Islands of the Bahamas?

The Out Islands (also called the Family Islands) are the roughly 700 lesser-developed islands and cays that make up the Bahamas outside of Nassau and Paradise Island. The main Out Islands couples pick for weddings include Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera, Andros, and Exuma. Each has its own character; most are extremely quiet, with boutique-only lodging and locally-rooted hospitality.

How much does a destination wedding in the Out Islands cost?

An Out Islands destination wedding typically runs $4,000 to $15,000 for the wedding package itself, with luxury full-service celebrations climbing to $25,000+. Boutique Out Islands resorts price food and beverage separately from wedding packages at $100 to $200+ per guest for reception dinners.

Do I need a passport for the Out Islands?

Yes. All U.S. citizens need a valid passport to travel to the Bahamas, and passports should have at least six months of remaining validity from the date of arrival.

Which Out Island is best for a wedding?

It depends on the atmosphere you want. Cat Island (Fernandez Bay Village) is the quietest and most low-key, with genuine value pricing. South Andros (Tiamo Resort) is eco-luxury with barrier-reef access. Exuma has private-island luxury options (see our Exuma guide). Harbour Island has the famous pink-sand beach (see our Harbour Island guide). For the deepest quiet-and-value combination, Cat Island leads. For eco-luxury, Tiamo on South Andros leads.

When is the best time to get married in the Out Islands?

April through May and November offer the best mix of pleasant weather and value pricing. December through March is peak season with the highest rates and best weather. Weekday ceremonies are almost always less expensive than weekend dates.

Start Planning Your Dream Out Islands Wedding Today!

The Out Islands deliver the quietest, most discovery-feeling Bahamas wedding on some of the country’s least-visited islands. Whether you’re dreaming of a Cat Island crescent-beach ceremony at Fernandez Bay Village or an eco-luxury South Andros celebration at Tiamo, the Out Islands have the setting and the resort partner to make it real.

Start your planning journey with the support of our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists. Fill out our online wedding planning form, and we’ll help you compare resorts, packages, and dates that fit your vision and budget. Your Out Islands celebration is closer than you think.