Best Wedding Locations in Bermuda
Bermuda offers some of the finest and most romantic venues for weddings that you can seldom find anywhere else in the world. While onshore weddings are most popular, some prefer offshore cruise or yacht weddings on Bermuda's waters. With picture perfect beaches with amazing pink sands, colonial and historical houses in lush garden settings, lovely churches and forts, wonderful beachside hotels with backdrop of moonlit sky, the choices are plenty.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
NOTE: For parks and beaches, You should take a prior permit from Department of Parks located at Botanical Gardens (Paget) and pay a fee to use the venue for private functions (Phone: 441-236 4201). The fee is $25 for weddings (subject to change).
A security deposit also needs to be paid, the amount for which depends on the number of attendees. For example, deposit for a group size of 50 to 100 is $100 (no deposit below group size of 50). The beach or park venue is allotted based on first-cum-first-serve basis and usually for a minimum group size of 20. While some locations can accommodate large party size of over 150, you can also book a location with smaller group.
You can alternatively contact a
Wedding Planner in Bermuda to arrange for your wedding location. They will give you several choices of locations along with pictures to choose from. While some such locations would be part of public parks and beaches, they also give you choices of private beaches, terraces or other locations in hotels and resorts.
Note that
Bermuda Hurricane is something to consider when planning outdoor weddings like beachside or park weddings. Although severe hurricanes rarely strike in the island, June to November is the official hurricane season in Bermuda. So follow Bermuda's hurricane warnings carefully when it gets close to the wedding time. You will find such warning updates online in the websites of news media like Royal Gazette or Bernews.
Beach and Waterside Wedding Locations in Bermuda
There are so many lovely beaches in Bermuda that they will blow your mind off. Typical beach season is the summer time (May through October) with daytime temperatures ranging in the mid-80s and evening temperatures in the 70s.
During winter (November through March), the temperature is mostly between 60s to 70s. Although the winter may not be ideal time for swimming and other water sports, it can be a great time for beachside wedding as you don't need to stand under the scorching sun and sweat in the heat. It can be very comfortable out there.
Note that Department of Parks allows private functions like weddings in selected public beaches only which are relatively secluded and not much treaded by the general tourists. Otherwise you may end up having far too many curious eyes watching you than you may like. Here are the locations favorite for beach and waterside weddings:
The park here is at an elevation and overlooks Astwood Cove, a beautiful small beach. It has a picturesque setting for a romantic wedding. Most Wedding Planners in Bermuda would suggest this wedding venue. It's located in Warwick parish and off South Road. It can accommodate more than 150 attendees. Toilet facilities are available.
A lovely small beach on south shore with pink sands, secluded and surrounded by rocks. It can accommodate large groups of over 150. Toilet facilities are available at Warwick Long Bay towards east.
Another cove and a lovely pink sandy beach on the south shore and part of the South Shore Park. This beach location can also hold large parties of over 150. Bathroom facilities are available at nearby Warwick Long Bay.
Next to Stonehole bay and to its east is this picturesque cove surrounded by cliffs. Although Jobson's cove is well known for snorkeling, this is also a great wedding location. This beach too is part of South Shore park and located at Warwick. Bathroom facilities are available at Warwick Long Bay.
A half a mile long lovely beach with several secluded areas to hold a wedding. This south shore beach is located in Warwick. Car park and bathroom facilities are available.
This is another wonderful south shore beach in Paget. Although part of it is private and belongs to hotels, there is also a public section where an intimate wedding with a small party is possible.
Located in Smith's parish with toilet facilities. Can accommodate small groups.
Located in Southampton on south shore. Small party size is allowed. Has bathroom facilities.
Wedding in Gardens, Parks and Forts
Centrally located in Paget parish, the lush gardens here offer ideal settings for weddings with many Banyan trees, a rose garden, native palmettos and other plantations. Indoor wedding at the Visitors Center here is also possible. The Curator of Botanical Gardens provides the necessary wedding permits (Phone: 441-236-5902).
This is the head quarters of Bermuda National Trust and located in Paget. The property comprises of wonderful tropical gardens, a formal rose garden and an elegant historical house. Both indoor and outdoor weddings are held here. There is a lovely gazebo here on the waterfront ideal for weddings.
Waterville Gardens, Bermuda
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This historical fort originally built in early 1600s is located at the eastern end of Bermuda, in St. Georges. The fort overlooks the Atlantic in picture perfect setting. There are designated locations within the fort premises which can be used for weddings with the fort and the ocean forming the backdrop.
This is another historical fort in St. Georges which too is available for weddings. The fort located at Somerset in Sandys was built to protect Royal Naval Dockyard. There is a nice park area around the fort which can be used for weddings. From elevated areas in the fort, you get lovely view of the water.
Resort Weddings
But the hotels score a notch above the public places in terms of the wedding venues because many of them enjoy prime locations with private venues like a private beach, or a terrace with wonderful view of water or even lush golf course, or a lovely garden or lawn under starry sky, or the more formal ballroom in a manor house. And additionally the hotel can serve champagne, cocktails, barbecue etc at the venue. Here the best ones:
This cliff-side resort is located in Southampton and has a dramatic location with its own small beach. It has specially made a 2-tier deck overlooking the ocean for private functions like weddings. You can however have your wedding (with small number of attendees) on the beach as well.
The resort is located in Paget and has a private beach curved out of the Elbow Beach. Its intimate private beach location is ideal for weddings. You can alternatively choose the lawn overlooking the water or even the sundeck next to the pool.
Located at Southampton, this hotel can make your day with its mind-blowing beach location on south shore as well as staff service which is immaculate. The best part is that the family that runs the hotel lives in the premises and can look after all the details. The private beach location for wedding is superb, and the restaurant with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the ocean is ideal for an intimate reception.
Pompano beach location for weddings
They have a private section of the Elbow Beach in Paget which is a great wedding venue. X Temporarily Closed
The Flagpole Terrace on the waterfront, with lush lawns and surrounding palm trees is a popular wedding venue at this landmark hotel located in Hamilton city. View of the harbor from the terrace is spectacular. The staff here are very helpful and will assist in small matters like preparing welcome kits etc. The new private beach club at Sinky bay (on south shore) offers a stunning setting for a beach wedding. The hotel offers regular ferry shuttles to transport guests from Hamilton to Sinky Bay.
This is another wonderful resort offering scenic beach venue for weddings. They have several picture perfect private beaches (like long bay beach) on the western coast in Sandys Parish.
Both garden and beachside venue in Southampton. X Temporarily Closed
Secluded waterfront venue in Warwick parish. X Closed
This resort in Hamilton Parish and located next to the only proper forest - Walsingham Nature Reserve, has wonderful cave and private beach locations for weddings. The Prospero's and Cathedral caves located in the hotel premises offer unique wedding experience amongst spectacular limestone formations. Update: The cave locations are no longer available for weddings, instead they are now used for Spa massages and treatments.
This upscale resort with its own championship golf course has several wedding locations starting from the traditional ballroom venue in a stately manor house to a private beach location. Venues include the Point Terrace with outdoor fireplaces and wonderful view of Harrington Sound water area, East Beach which is a beach club with the largest private beach in Bermuda where you can hold wedding ceremony, reception with barbecues, bonfires etc.
Other locations include the poolside, the Croquet lawn, Camden Ballroom etc. The Clubhouse at the golf club offers several special venues ... you can have a cocktail reception right on the golf course (usually near the 12th Tee) with stunning background of Harrington Sound, or alfresco at the wraparound terrace with sweeping views of the golf course and Castle harbor, or even at the clubhouse boardroom for a more formal gathering.
The hotel is located in Paget. Wedding ceremonies and receptions can be arranged on the terrace overlooking Hamilton harbor or at the lawn with excellent view of the golf course.
Wedding at Moongate locations
A number of limestone arches locally called moongates can be found at several places in Bermuda. Bermuda has adapted these from the Chinese gates that are set to bring luck to the couples who walk through them.
Bermuda Moongate, a Wedding Location
Source: Kansasphoto/flickr, cc by 2.0
The legend says that the couple who walk through a moongate while holding each others hands, get eternal happiness and a very successful marriage life. Moon gate locations are therefore very popular wedding venues. The bride and groom, at the end of the ceremony pass through the gate and make a wish for their new life together.
While there are several moongates that have been created all across Bermuda, some of the best ones that I have seen are at the following locations some of which are excellent for weddings:
2)
Waterville Garden: In a beautiful garden setting in Paget parish... Great wedding venue
Bermuda Cruise wedding
Many cruises to Bermuda have exclusive wedding chapels. As you take your cruise from US to Bermuda, you generally need to spend two nights each way. You can get a perfect romantic settings and time while on a cruise to Bermuda. Since Bermuda cruises are pretty much all inclusive, you do not need to spend much time on the arrangements and spend more time with your loved ones.
Bermuda Church weddings
If you prefer a religious marriage, Bermuda can offer an array of
Historic Churches in beautiful settings to choose from. In Bermuda, there are more churches per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Check out
Bermuda Marriage Laws and Policies to know about the formalities for Church Weddings in Bermuda.
Wedding at Restaurants
Restaurants may not seem too romantic as wedding venues. But apart from convenience of holding a wedding reception or availability of food, drinks and facilities, there are some beautifully appointed restaurants with waterfront or garden settings that can also be perfect venues for a wedding. Here are few of them:
1)
The Harbourfront: Waterfront restaurant with great view of the Harbor in Hamilton.
3)
Tom Moore's Tavern: Located at Bailey's Bay (Hamilton Parish), this restaurant with classic elegance offers both indoor and outdoor wedding venues. While the indoor area would be one of the several rooms in the restaurant complete with cedar work, fireplace, casement windows, English silver etc, the outdoor venue is usually the patio. The restaurant is named after the Irish poet Thomas Moore who visited the island in early 1800s.
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 By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Melissa Auclair (October 2015)
Hello Everyone; Visiting the Unfinished Church is a must. It is a beautiful structure that can even be seen from the pier once disembarking the ferry from King's Wharf. Bermuda as well as this structure holds a special place in my heart as I was married here in 2010.
In 2016, I will be visiting once again and bringing along my 8 month old daughter Evelyn. I am hoping to hire a photographer for family photos to be taken at the very same spot I was married. I am looking so forward to my trip.
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