Hazel

Hi All, I had my wedding at Atlantis in October of 2009 and am happy to help anyone who has questions. I had about 30 guests attend my wedding and Albertha was my Atlantis coordinator. All of my guests stayed at the Royal Towers. I planned the wedding myself with the assistance of Albertha and hired a "day-of" wedding director (Bernadette Burrows). I had a welcome reception at the Royal Towers with an open bar and snacks, 3:00pm wedding at the French Cloisters at the One & Only Ocean Club and reception at Fathoms. I flew in my own photographers (I never felt comfortable enough with the photographers that I interviewed in the Bahamas), used N. L. Aubrey Smith at SETTLERS COVE LTD. as my videographer, Sharmond Smith as my flutist and saxaphonist (he was great), Lonise at Island Destination Services as my florist (wonderful experience all in all; beautiful!), Jose Agebee as my DJ (great), and hired a local singer to sing along one of my friends at the wedding. Melvin Grant officiated my wedding. I allowed the spa to do my hair and makeup (very hard for my to step out on faith here) in my suite the morning of the wedding along with my mani and pedi and hair/makeup was perfect. We arrived at Atlantis the Wednesday prior to our Saturday wedding to finalize our plans, had our food tasting Wednesday night, a welcome reception Thursday night (most of our guests flew in that Wedneday night/ Thursday morning), wedding rehearsal Friday afternoon, wedding ceremony Saturday, wedding reception and dinner Saturday evening, a farewell breakfast Sunday morning (all of our guests left Sunday morning), and just hung out with family and friends randomly throughout that week. After the wedding, we had a week honeymoon stay at the Cove. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The planning was terrible and so stressful for me because I am so obsessive about details and because it was a destination wedding, but everything really did work out perfectly. The food was "to die for," the floral arrangements were the best I have ever seen at any wedding or gala that I have ever attended, the DJ was wonderful, the wedding location was sooooooo beautiful, and Atlantis treated us like royalty for the extent of our stay. Of course I have a few complaints, but hands down, it was the best time of my life and my guests are still talking about it. There is no way to get around the $150.00/person minimum. We did this and more. Hated to spend it but glad I did. Please be clear that Atlantis is a very expensive place to vacation and even more expensive to have a wedding there (especially the type of wedding we wanted). We had wonderful memories there so it was well worth it.

Hi everyone, So I received a quote back from one of the the music vendors (for a band, junikanoo rush, saxaphonist, and/or DJ) and his prices were way to expensive for me, plus I really think I can get a better deal if I do some more research. Has anyone else booked vendors for these services?

Ok ladies, I can officially say that I am now excited about my wedding! I am going to Atlantis the second weekend in March to do a site visit and meet with some vendors. I want to meet with possible the florists, DJs, photographers, videographers, officiants, and musicians. I would like to do all of the research before I leave so that I can meet with the "top 2" in each category while I am down there. Do any of you have recommendations? For music, I am thinking of a saxaphonist for the reception and a DJ, Junkanoo Rush and fire dancers for the reception. The lady at the French Clositers recoomended a Mr. Frank Mullings, but I don't know what he does. Music and entertainment is very important to me because my family LOVES a party! I am looking at Floral Arts as my florist, but they are really expensive and I am hoping to get recommendations for other qulaity florists that are reasonably priced. Someone recommended Island Destinations as an option, and I am now waiting on their quote and pictures from their previous events. I am looking at Tim Aylen for my photography but would love additional recommendations here. I am hoping to find a videographer and photographer within the same company. The photos have to be top notch! I have no idea who to use as my officiant or videographer. Any ideas? Thanks! Monica

Thanks Britbre. Your wedding sounded like it was beautiful! It is so comforting to hear that everything went so smoothly for you, especially since I have not had the opportunity to go to Paradise Island yet. I will keep your vendors in mind when I go down in April. My wedding ceremony is actually at the French Cloisters and I am very anxious about deciding where to have my reception on Atlantis because it is hard for me to chose based on only pictures. Also, my wedding is scheduled for 1:00 and I am scared to have an outside wedding at 2 because it may be too hot. There is a possibility that I will be able to move the wedding to 4:00 but I will not know this until 60 days prior to the wedding date. This makes me want to chose one of the ballrooms just in case. Did you see any other inside venues that would be nice for a wedding reception? We are expecting about 50 people.

I finally booked my date for October 3, 2009! I am soo excited. I am tying up some lose ends with the contract with Atlantis and should sign a contract by the end of this week or early next week. Atlanis' contract is a little scary. I have not yet decided where on Atlantis to have the welcome reception and wedding reception, but I am booking a trip to Atlantis in April to do some scouting and will decide then. Ultimateme - how is your wedding planning coming along? Does anyone have a wedding/reception at Atlantis lined up anytime soon? Britbre - I would love to hear about your recent wedding!

Yeah, Brittany and Dinah were great getting back with me also, plus Brittany will give you good group rates at the Atlanta which were not that much different from what Comfort Inn offered so I would not let that deter you, but I am sure that they must stay at Atlantis. Look on the Q&A section of the wedding section of Atlantis' website.

Hi Cdrolz, All guests of your wedding must be guests of Altantis (or the Harbourside Resort) unless you are having your wedding offsite and your reception INSIDE. If you are having an outside wedding, everyone must stay at Atlantis. Also, some of my invites already have residences there so my situation was a little different. I have nothing to report negative about my planning experience with Atlantis, but I have not yet signed a contract and I am thinking of no longer doing a destination wedding. The cloisters look absolutely beautiful and I am sure a wedding there would be fantastic. I really love that place (and I have never been), but it looks like the cost of my wedding there would eventually outcost a wedding here with triple the people.

Is it just me, or is anyone else a little nervous about the recent massive layoffs at Atlantis (and Harborside Resort)?

I ran across a website that has video footage of weddings at the French Cloisters and receptions at Atlantis. It was very helpful for me, as I will not be able to go to the Bahamas anytime soon. Here is the link: wedding video production nassau / bahamas in paradise I am still undecided as to the specific location on Atlantis that I want for my reception, but I'll save that headache for later. However, the vides on the above website confirms that I want to get married at the French Cloisters. It is soo beautiful that I cannot wait.

I contacted Kevin Williams (photographer) and he is going to send me some of his samples, so thanks unlimateme. I have had a lot of communication with Karen at Professional Bahamas Weddings, and she has been very helpful. She said she will take care of all communications and vendor bookings, confirmations, venue scoutings, everything for 1,250. However, I am a little scared to book her because her contract only provides that she take care of the paperwork and my bouquet and fiance's boutonniere. When I asked that she amend the contract to say that she will also do everything else she said she would do, she sent me a detailed email saying she would do it all, but she still has not changed the actual contract becasue she claims she would have to go through her attorney to do so. I would be very upset if I paid 1,250 just for paperwork and some flowers. She seems trustworhtly but I am not very trusting so I am sort of stuck. I really want a wedding planner though. I ran across a young lady on the internet who just got married in Nassau. I have reached out to her and will let you know if I get a response.

I think you are looking for the same thing in a wedding planner I am looking for. It seems that some planners are really only coordinators that are only good at handling the logistics of a wedding, whiles others are actual planners & coordinators and good at being creative and unique. I am looking for someone who can do it all. I am having difficulty finding a nice reception venue after the wedding and was also recommended to check out Luciano's and Poop Deck.

Oh. Monkey, did you by chance meet with Karen at Professional Bahamas Weddings? I have been in contact with her about being my wedding consultant and she has been very helpful in answering my preliminary questions. I have not hired her yet because I have not 100% decided to go to the Bahamas. I have had mixed reviews about the Atlantis wedding coordinators, but I am not too worried about that since I will hire an outside coordinator if I go to the Bahamas.

Hi Monkey, I hate to hear that you were so disappointed. I think I ran across the "faces in the clouds" picture on one of the Nassau photographer's website. It was funny when I saw it the first time and it is again funny reading about you seeing it. I too am beginning to stress out over Nassau. With my schedule being so hectic, I am not able to fly down there any time soon to check out the venues and the island in general, and I am too scared to rely on pictures alone before booking the location, especially because it is not cheap. We are looking at getting married at the French Cloisters and staying at the Atlantis Resort, but for some reason I have not been able to fully commit.

I was looking to do a pre-wedding sunset cruise, so I will look into this. Thanks.

Hey Guys. I am getting closer to a wedding date and that is making me excited. Did any of you get the opportunity to look at the Seagrapes Overlook? They say that is the most secluded of the outside venue, and I was wondering how it looked in real life.