Exuma Wedding Dos and Don'ts: A Photographer's Honest Guide
Exuma Wedding Dos and Don'ts: A Photographer's Honest Guide
Exuma is one of the most stunning places in the Bahamas to get married — and also one of the least forgiving of bad planning. Remote locations, boat-dependent logistics, and island weather mean the couples who have the best day are almost always the ones who planned around Exuma's quirks instead of against them. Here's what I've learned from shooting weddings there.
DO build your timeline around tides and light, not the clock
If any part of your day involves a sandbar, a specific cay, or a boat-access beach, your ceremony time isn't fully up to you — the tide is. Get a tide chart for your wedding date early and build the schedule around it, then layer golden hour on top for portraits. Fighting the tide instead of planning around it is the single most common source of stress on Exuma wedding days.
DON'T assume mainland timelines apply
A ceremony that would take fifteen minutes to coordinate on the mainland can take an hour in Exuma once you factor in boat loading, water conditions, and the fact that vendors are often coming from different parts of the island — or from Nassau. Build in more buffer than feels necessary. It will get used.
DO hire vendors who already work in Exuma
This one matters more than almost anything else on this list. A photographer, planner, or florist who's never worked around boat charters and tide timing will be learning on your wedding day. Ask directly: "Have you done a wedding here before, and how did you handle the boat logistics?" The answer tells you a lot.
DON'T plan a large guest list around a remote location without a real headcount plan
Sandbars and small cays have real capacity limits, and boats only hold so many people per trip. If you're picturing sixty guests on a sandbar, get honest early about how many boat trips that actually requires and how long loading and unloading will take. Many of the most beautiful Exuma weddings are intentionally small for exactly this reason.
DO have a weather backup plan that isn't "we'll figure it out"
Island weather changes fast, and remote ceremony locations rarely have shelter. Know in advance what happens if a squall rolls through — a specific backup location, not a vague plan. Your planner or venue should be able to tell you this before the day, not during it.
DON'T forget the guests, not just the couple
It's easy to plan a wedding day around what looks best in photos and forget that your guests will be on a boat, in the sun, without shade, for longer than expected. Water, sunscreen, and shade for anyone who needs it isn't optional in Exuma heat — plan for it the same way you'd plan the flowers.
DO account for how the light actually behaves on open water
Light bounces differently off sand and water than it does anywhere on land — often more flattering, but also more intense at midday. If you have any say in ceremony timing, avoid the harsh middle of the day. Late afternoon gives softer light and better photos, and it's usually cooler for your guests too.
DON'T bring gear or outfits that can't handle sand, salt, and water
This applies to dresses, suits, decor, and vendors' equipment alike. Wind and water are part of an Exuma wedding, not an exception to it. Choose fabrics and materials that can get a little wrecked without it being a disaster, and expect that a barefoot ceremony on sand is often more practical — and more beautiful — than heels.
DO ask about travel and logistics costs upfront
Remote weddings involve costs that aren't always obvious from a venue price list — boat charters, vendor travel, accommodation for out-of-town vendors. Ask every vendor directly what's included and what's separate before you build your budget, so there are no surprises closer to the day.
DON'T lose sight of why you chose Exuma in the first place
It's easy to get lost in logistics and forget the reason couples choose Exuma: turquoise water, total privacy, and a setting that looks like nowhere else in the islands. The best Exuma weddings I've shot are the ones where the couple let the location be the main character instead of trying to force a mainland wedding into a remote island setting. Plan around what makes Exuma different, and the day tends to take care of itself.
