Mansion Wedding Venues in Bahamas

Karen

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

If you are looking for an island adventure, a truly relaxed vacation, and a front row seat to nature's breathtaking beauty, a destination wedding, you may want to try Eleuthera, Bahamas, and I know the perfect place for you to stay! I asked my friend Joanne to join me on a getaway to this island, and it surpassed every expectation we had. Our paradise home for the week was Moonflower, a four-bedroom, three-bathroom villa right on Gaulding Cay Beach in North Eleuthera. Sleeping up to 12 guests, it is a stunning oceanfront retreat equipped with kayaks, a paddleboard, and snorkeling gear. From the moment we booked, the owner went above and beyond, providing clear directions and invaluable local recommendations. Her best advice? Rent an SUV. We flew into ELH airport, picked up the SUV waiting for us, and took off! Getting used to driving on the left side of the road took a moment of focus, but our adventurous spirits quickly took over as we explored off the beaten path roads all week! Our very first drive set the tone for the entire trip as we crossed the famous Glass Window Bridge. The view took my breath away! Approaching the bridge, the land narrows to just 30 feet wide before shrinking to the width of the bridge itself. To your left, the Atlantic Ocean churns in deep, dramatic sapphire hues and to your right, the calm Caribbean Sea glistens in vivid shades of teal. Driving between those two contrasting worlds, I immediately wished I had brought my easel and oil paints, and that thought that recurred every single day of our stay. Arriving at Moonflower delivered another jaw dropping moment. Looking at the house and its surroundings, I couldn't help but exclaim out loud, "What?! We get to stay here all week?" After unpacking, we headed straight into the water. The sea at Gaulding Cay is crystal clear, perfectly calm, and feels like warm bathwater. You can walk out a great distance in waist deep water. Evenings were pure magic. After watching spectacular sunsets, we would search for starfish, once finding six in a single evening, ranging from yellow striped to black striped varieties. Each day brought a new landscape to discover. The first day we went to Queen's Baths (The Hot Tubs). This spot is on the rugged Atlantic side, where powerful waves over centuries have created jagged rocks and carved hollow basins. High tide fills the basins, leaving behind warm, sun heated pools as the tide recedes. Be sure to wear sturdy rubber soled shoes or sneakers for the sharp limestone walk! Sitting there listening to the crashing waves was mesmerizing. It is easy to see why it's one of the most photographed spots on the island. Our next stop was Sapphire Blue Hole. Tucked away down a rough road (where we were thankful for the SUV), this natural underwater sinkhole is a sight to behold. You can take a daring 30 foot leap into the sapphire water below but then the only way back up is climbing a vertical rope ladder, and that requires some serious upper body strength! From there we went to Preacher's Cave, which was just down the road a bit. Captain William Sayles discovered this historic shelter in the 1600s after being shipwrecked. Every day we planned to visit a new location. Governor's Harbour was a wonderful day trip where we shopped and then had a wonderful beachfront lunch. Norma's was this local shop where we scored adorable island dresses, sweatshirts, and t-shirts to take home. I plan on wearing the dresses at my son's destination wedding in Cancun. Harbour Island & Spanish Wells are islands accessible by ferry. On both days, we rented golf carts to tour the sights, shop, and find local food spots. Harbour Island is known for its pink sand. Spanish Wells was equally delightful and their golf carts were somewhat better than those on Harbour Island. We loved driving around picking out our favorite brightly painted island homes. For dining, two local spots were our favorites. Glass Window Bar & Grill is located beyond the bridge, offering fantastic outdoor dining paired with unbeatable views. Daddy Joe's is a delicious local staple that is right across the driveway from Moonflower. They have a bar area with a pool table and then a dining area where we enjoyed live music. Eleuthera captured a piece of our hearts, from its rugged natural wonders to its warm, tranquil waters. If you're ready to plan your own dream getaway, you can check out our stay at moonflowereleuthera.com.