Exuma Bahamas Vow Renewal | Glenn Ferguson | Private Sandbars, Grand Isle Resort 2026Skip to main content
Exuma Cays, Great Exuma, Little Exuma, Bahamas
Vow Renewal in Exuma Bahamas
Renew your vows on a private sandbar surrounded entirely by turquoise water, on the beach at Grand Isle Resort's Emerald Bay, at Tropic of Cancer Beach on Little Exuma, or on a secluded uninhabited cay in the Exuma chain. The most remote ceremony settings Glenn offers anywhere in the Bahamas.
No marriage license required. Custom pricing. Contact Glenn for your quote.
Licensed Marriage Officer, Commonwealth of the Bahamas|WPIC-Certified Wedding Planner|24 Years Experience|200+ Ceremonies Performed|All Exuma Islands and Cays
Exuma is where the Bahamas becomes something else entirely. The sandbars, the colour of the water, the sense that you have arrived somewhere genuinely remote. None of that can be replicated at a Nassau resort. Every Exuma ceremony I coordinate involves boat logistics, remote location scouting, and advance planning that Nassau ceremonies do not require. The couples who choose Exuma are not just choosing a pretty beach. They are choosing an experience that is completely their own, because there is almost no one else around.
Glenn S. FergusonLicensed Marriage Officer, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, WPIC-Certified Wedding Planner, Founder Island Nuptial, 24 years experience, 200+ ceremonies performed across Nassau and seven Bahamas islands
Why Exuma?
Exuma is a chain of 365 cays and islands stretching approximately 160 kilometres southeast of Nassau in the southern Bahamas. The chain includes Great Exuma (the main island, with George Town as its capital), Little Exuma (connected to Great Exuma by a bridge), and the Exuma Cays extending northwest. The water between and around the cays is among the most intensely coloured in the world: shallow flats produce electric turquoise, deeper channels run cobalt blue, and the sandbars that appear at low tide sit in gradients of both simultaneously.
What Exuma offers as a ceremony setting that nowhere in Nassau can match is the combination of genuine remoteness and dramatic visual impact. A sandbar ceremony in the Exuma Cays means arriving by boat, standing on a strip of white sand with nothing visible in any direction except water and sky, and saying your vows in a setting that exists only because the tide is low. At high tide, the sandbar disappears. The couple who was married there at noon may not be able to find the exact spot by evening. That is not a disadvantage. It is the point.
Glenn has coordinated Exuma ceremonies for couples arriving directly from Miami, for couples spending several days on Great Exuma before the ceremony, and for couples who include the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay as part of their Exuma experience. He manages all boat arrangements, location selection based on tidal timing, and vendor coordination on the island in advance of each ceremony.
Exuma Pricing is Custom
Exuma vow renewal ceremonies are custom priced. The remote locations, boat logistics, and inter-island coordination involved in Exuma ceremonies mean pricing is built specifically for each couple's chosen location, date, and guest count. Glenn provides a complete personalised quote after understanding your vision. WhatsApp Glenn or use the enquiry form to start the conversation. For Nassau packages with published pricing, see the full package comparison page.
Where Glenn Coordinates Ceremonies in Exuma
01
Signature Setting
Private Sandbar, Exuma Cays
Sandbars in the Exuma Cays are shallow banks of white sand that appear at low tide, surrounded on all sides by turquoise water. They are accessible only by boat and are, by definition, private: no roads reach them, no resort manages them, and no public access exists. Glenn selects the sandbar location based on tidal timing for your specific ceremony date and time. At the right moment the sandbar sits above water just long enough for the ceremony, the photographs, and the feeling of standing in the middle of the sea. This is the most requested Exuma ceremony setting Glenn offers and the one most difficult to replicate anywhere else in the Bahamas.
02
Resort Venue
Grand Isle Resort, Emerald Bay
Grand Isle Resort and Residences sits on Emerald Bay beach on the western shore of Great Exuma. It is the primary luxury resort on Great Exuma and the only full-service resort venue Glenn coordinates at in Exuma. Ceremony settings at Grand Isle include Emerald Bay beach, The Bridge at 23 North (an elevated walkway above the bay), and various outdoor resort spaces. Grand Isle charges its own facility fee for ceremony use of its spaces. It is accessible from Exuma International Airport (GGT) by a short taxi ride. Guests can stay in the resort's private villa accommodation.
03
Iconic Exuma Beach
Tropic of Cancer Beach, Little Exuma
Tropic of Cancer Beach is located on the south coast of Little Exuma at the exact latitude of the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north). The beach is long, uncrowded, and bordered by shallow turquoise water over white sand. It is one of the most photographically distinctive beaches in the Bahamas and carries the added distinction of its geographic position. Little Exuma is connected to Great Exuma by a short bridge and is accessible by road from George Town. Glenn coordinates ceremonies at Tropic of Cancer Beach for couples who want an iconic Exuma beach setting that is different from anything available on New Providence.
04
Remote Access by Boat
Stocking Island, Exuma
Stocking Island is a barrier island directly across the harbour from George Town, accessible by a short water taxi or private boat. The island has a long beach on its Atlantic side and sheltered areas on its harbour side. It is used by local boaters and visiting yachts and remains largely undeveloped. A ceremony on Stocking Island's beach offers privacy without the logistics of reaching the outer cays. Glenn coordinates ceremonies on Stocking Island for couples based in George Town who want a remote beach setting reachable within minutes.
05
Outer Cays
Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays
Staniel Cay is a small settlement in the northern Exuma Cays, approximately 80 kilometres northwest of George Town, and is the hub for boat-based exploration of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. The area around Staniel Cay includes the famous swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto, and extensive snorkelling and diving sites. Glenn coordinates ceremonies at Staniel Cay and at remote private beaches and sandbars throughout the Exuma Cays for couples who want the most remote possible setting and are willing to build travel time into their Exuma itinerary.
06
Private and Bespoke
Private Cays and Villa Settings
The Exuma Cays include numerous privately owned cays and uninhabited islands that can be accessed by arrangement for ceremony use. Glenn coordinates ceremonies on private cays for couples who book exclusive island access through villa or charter arrangements. This is the highest-end Exuma ceremony option and requires the most advance planning. If you have access to a private cay or are considering chartering exclusive island access for your ceremony, contact Glenn early in the planning process to confirm logistics and timing.
What Makes Exuma Different from Nassau Venues
The Sandbar Experience Exists Nowhere Else
A low-tide sandbar ceremony in the Exuma Cays is not a variation of a beach ceremony. It is a completely different experience. Standing on a strip of sand with turquoise water on every side, accessible only by boat, available for only a few hours before the tide reclaims it. No Nassau resort offers this. No other venue in the site offers this. It is specific to Exuma.
The Water Colour is Exceptional
The turquoise of Exuma's water is the result of shallow white-sand flats covering large areas of the seabed. The colour gradient from electric turquoise in the shallows to deep blue in the channels produces photographs that are immediately identifiable as Exuma. Nassau's beaches are beautiful. Exuma's water is in a different category.
Genuine Remoteness
Nassau is connected to Paradise Island by bridge. Cable Beach has hotels on both sides. Even the most private Nassau ceremony setting has buildings and roads nearby. Exuma outer cay ceremonies have none of that. The nearest structure may be visible only as a distant shape on the horizon. For couples who want to feel genuinely away, Exuma delivers it in a way that no Nassau venue can.
One of the World's Great Experiences Nearby
The swimming pigs of Big Major Cay are one of the most famous animal encounters in the Caribbean. The pigs swim out to meet approaching boats in the turquoise water of their sheltered beach. Including the swimming pigs as part of an Exuma ceremony trip is possible from Staniel Cay. Glenn advises couples on how to incorporate this into their Exuma itinerary if it interests them.
365 Islands with One for Every Couple
There are 365 cays in the Exuma chain, a number Bahamians describe as one for every day of the year. Many are uninhabited. Some are accessible only by private boat. The practical implication for a ceremony is that Glenn can propose a specific location tailored entirely to what the couple wants from the experience, rather than choosing from a fixed menu of venue options.
No Marriage License Required for a Vow Renewal
A vow renewal requires no marriage license, no government paperwork, and no waiting period anywhere in the Bahamas, including Exuma. The logistics of an Exuma ceremony are more involved than a Nassau ceremony. The legal requirements are identical: none. You choose a date, contact Glenn, and arrive in Exuma. See the full guide on license requirements.
How to Get to Exuma
Exuma is a short flight from Nassau and direct from some US cities. Glenn advises couples on the best travel routing based on their origin and Exuma itinerary during the planning consultation.
1
Fly to Exuma International Airport (GGT)
The primary airport for Great Exuma is Exuma International Airport (GGT), located on the western side of Great Exuma island approximately 10 kilometres from George Town. American Airlines operates direct flights from Miami (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes). Bahamasair and Southern Air serve GGT from Nassau (approximately 40 to 50 minutes flying time). Delta and other carriers connect through Nassau or Miami. Charter operators including private seaplane services provide additional access options from Nassau and US coastal cities.
2
Reach George Town and Your Accommodation
George Town on Great Exuma is the main settlement and the base for most Exuma itineraries. Grand Isle Resort at Emerald Bay is approximately 10 kilometres from George Town by road and accessible by taxi from GGT airport. For Stocking Island ceremonies, the water taxi from George Town takes a few minutes. Glenn advises on accommodation options based on your budget and ceremony location.
3
Boat Transport to Remote Ceremony Locations
Sandbar and outer cay ceremonies require boat transport, which Glenn coordinates in advance as part of the ceremony package. For sandbars accessible only at low tide, Glenn schedules the boat departure and ceremony timing to arrive at the correct tidal window. For Staniel Cay and the northern Exuma Cays, small aircraft or a longer boat journey from George Town are the options. Glenn advises on logistics for each specific location during the planning consultation.
Tell Glenn your preferred Exuma dates and which setting interests you most. He will confirm feasibility, advise on travel logistics, and provide a complete custom quote in a single reply.
Can I have a vow renewal on a sandbar in Exuma Bahamas?
Yes. Sandbar ceremonies are the most distinctive Exuma setting Glenn offers. They are accessible by boat at low tide and surrounded entirely by turquoise water. Timing is coordinated to match the tidal window on your ceremony date.
Glenn selects the sandbar location based on your preferred ceremony date and time, coordinating boat transport and tidal timing in advance so the sandbar is accessible at the correct window. Sandbar ceremonies are fully custom priced and require advance planning. Contact Glenn with your preferred Exuma dates to confirm whether a sandbar ceremony is feasible for your specific timing.
Do I need a marriage license for a vow renewal in Exuma?
No. A vow renewal requires no marriage license anywhere in the Bahamas, including Exuma. No government paperwork, no waiting period, no legal registration of any kind.
A vow renewal is a symbolic ceremony of recommitment for couples who are already legally married. Because you are already married, the ceremony creates no new legal record and requires no government involvement. The logistics of an Exuma ceremony are more involved than a Nassau ceremony. The legal requirements are the same: none. See the complete license requirements guide.
How much does a vow renewal in Exuma cost?
Exuma vow renewal ceremonies are custom priced. Contact Glenn with your preferred location, dates, and guest count for a personalised quote. Nassau vow renewal packages start at $475 for comparison.
The remote locations and boat logistics of Exuma ceremonies involve additional coordination and cost compared to Nassau ceremonies. Glenn provides a complete quote after understanding your vision, preferred setting, and travel dates. Nassau-based vow renewal packages start at $475 USD and are detailed on the full 2026 cost breakdown page. Exuma pricing is discussed directly with Glenn.
Can Glenn travel to outer Exuma cays including Staniel Cay?
Yes. Glenn travels to all Exuma locations including Staniel Cay, Little Exuma, remote sandbars, and private cays. No location in the Exuma chain is too remote for a booked ceremony.
Staniel Cay and the northern Exuma Cays require additional travel from George Town by boat or small aircraft. Glenn factors the complete logistics into the custom quote for outer cay ceremonies. Advance planning is required for Staniel Cay ceremonies and the planning window should begin at least several months before the preferred ceremony date to allow for transport and vendor coordination.
Can we include the Exuma swimming pigs in our vow renewal trip?
Yes. The swimming pigs of Big Major Cay near Staniel Cay can be included as part of an Exuma vow renewal itinerary. Glenn advises on how to combine the pig encounter with your ceremony on the same trip.
The swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay, a short boat ride from Staniel Cay. Couples who plan a ceremony at or near Staniel Cay can include the pig encounter as part of their Exuma day. This is one of the most popular additions to Staniel Cay ceremony trips. Glenn advises on the timing and logistics of combining the two during the planning consultation.
Is Exuma better than Nassau for a vow renewal?
Exuma is better for couples who specifically want a remote, natural, and boat-accessed ceremony setting. Nassau is better for couples who want more accommodation options, lower total trip cost, easier access, and a resort backdrop option.
Exuma offers an experience that Nassau cannot replicate: genuine remoteness, sandbars surrounded by turquoise water, and the sense of having arrived somewhere completely your own. Nassau offers direct international flights, a wider range of hotel options at every budget, published package pricing, and the option to add a resort venue like Atlantis or Baha Mar. The right choice depends entirely on what the couple values most. Glenn advises on the decision based on each couple's priorities during the free consultation. See the full Nassau venue comparison guide for a broader overview.
Sandbars. Private cays. Grand Isle Emerald Bay. Tropic of Cancer Beach.
Ready to Plan Your Exuma Vow Renewal?
Tell Glenn your preferred Exuma setting, your dates, and your guest count. He will confirm logistics, advise on timing, and return a complete custom quote.
Free consultation. No obligation. Custom pricing for all Exuma locations.
