Romantic Harbour Island Wedding
This destination dream isn't just another gorgeous wedding captured by Caroline Fontenot Photographer, it's much more than that. Surrounded by Little Island Design lush blooms and Daddy D beats, these Ocean View Club sweeties wed in true island style. From Bahamian inspired local BBQ, to the lovely libations on the lower terrace followed by a bonfire on the beach, every moment is magical and you can see it all here.
From the Bride... We fell in love with Harbour Island immediately. It is secluded and luxurious and somehow feels instantly familiar. The island is rich with vibrant architecture and friendly locals. The pink sand beaches are breathtaking and we couldn’t get enough of the perfectly clear and turquoise waters. Everyone is very friendly, and is quick to point you towards their favorite place for Conch Salad by the bay, or share their secrets for making (or simply enjoying) a good Goombay Smash. Fresh seafood is a favorite of ours, and it is a staple on every menu. We met so many charming people on our fist visit: Ben and Charlie and Andy of course, but also Claudine, who spoiled Jay with fresh English muffins each morning, and a couple from Europe that has been holidaying on the island since they were both children, as well as an elderly couple that come for their anniversary each year. The love that people have for this place is infectious. We felt like old regulars after our first visit, and knew this place would play host so wonderfully to our family and friends. We wanted our wedding celebration to also be an unforgettable vacation for our guests. The experience we had on our first visit as a couple was wholly enjoyable and we were thrilled to share our special island with the people we love.
The Ocean View Club is a slice of bohemian heaven. We instantly felt at home at Ben and Charlie’s labor of love. We invited our guests to come down to the island on the Wednesday before our wedding so that they could make a vacation of the trip. We wanted this trip to be special for everyone and thought how wonderful it would be for us all to stay together. We decided to rent the entire hotel, which made for easy planning for our guests. The Ocean View Club is the perfect size for our party, with quiet rooms in the main house for both of our parents, smaller guest suites adjacent to a beach view terrace for our young friends and siblings, and private cottage retreats for a few couples and also for ourselves. The main house feels like a home itself, with a large living area with plenty of comfortable seating and tables large enough for jigsaw puzzles and dominos. The kitchen is always open to everyone, and became a kind of gathering place each morning, the way our own kitchen does at home. The honor bar by the patio was a huge hit with our guests, allowing us the luxury of having a fully stocked bar where self-service is encouraged. The staff at The Ocean View is accommodating and friendly, and atmosphere of the place encourages enjoyment of both the beautiful island and the wonderful company we shared. We are so grateful that Ben and Charlie opened their arms and their hearts to those we love. Our favorite memories will always be at The Ocean View Club.
We hosted a welcoming supper on Wednesday evening on the terrace, kicking off the beginning of our memorable trip. Our DJ, Devon aka Daddy D, actually caught the Tuna we were served the morning of our arrival. Our days after were spent playing bocce on the beach and floating lazily for hours in the ocean, Kaliks always in hand. We invited everyone to The Landing for supper on Thursday, served on the romantic patio for sunset on Harbour Island’s harbor. Dancing and shenanigans followed at many of the island’s disco techs, with a bit of night swimming to end the night.
Our parents hosted a Bahamian inspired BBQ of local flavors and libations on the lower terrace after our rehearsal, followed by a bonfire on the beach. Jay’s father gave a toast that everyone will always remember, and Lindsey successfully sabered a bottle of champagne to the excitement of everyone. We ate until we couldn’t, and enjoyed the company of the group with a seriously hilarious game of charades. No one wanted the night to end.
Saturday morning we all enjoyed a bit of beach before the girls retired for an afternoon of pretty pampering and primping. We decided to take our photographs as a couple before our ceremony, jaunting around the island on our golf cart, drinking champagne and sharing many wonderful moments with our photographer, Caroline, and her husband Mark. Our ceremony was held on the main terrace of the Ocean View Club, presided by a dear friend of ours. We wrote our ceremony together, maintaining many of the traditional rites, but also adding our own anecdotes and flair. We hosted a cocktail party directly after, entertained by each other and a duo of local musicians. Afterwards, our beach reception took place under a gorgeous white tent. Ben and Charlie created an elegantly simple tablescape adjacent to a custom dance floor. And boy did we dance! As the evening slipped into night, we migrated between the dance floor and the whimsical living room created around a bonfire. The scene was truly breathtaking. We would not have changed a single detail. As a special surprise for Jay, we spoiled our guests with an English muffin bar at the end of the night, as a late night snack for everyone before we departed. We exited along a lantern lit path from the scene, turning for one last long look to soak in the event that was a celebration in every way we had envisioned.
The Ocean View Club is a slice of bohemian heaven. We instantly felt at home at Ben and Charlie’s labor of love. We invited our guests to come down to the island on the Wednesday before our wedding so that they could make a vacation of the trip. We wanted this trip to be special for everyone and thought how wonderful it would be for us all to stay together. We decided to rent the entire hotel, which made for easy planning for our guests. The Ocean View Club is the perfect size for our party, with quiet rooms in the main house for both of our parents, smaller guest suites adjacent to a beach view terrace for our young friends and siblings, and private cottage retreats for a few couples and also for ourselves. The main house feels like a home itself, with a large living area with plenty of comfortable seating and tables large enough for jigsaw puzzles and dominos. The kitchen is always open to everyone, and became a kind of gathering place each morning, the way our own kitchen does at home. The honor bar by the patio was a huge hit with our guests, allowing us the luxury of having a fully stocked bar where self-service is encouraged. The staff at The Ocean View is accommodating and friendly, and atmosphere of the place encourages enjoyment of both the beautiful island and the wonderful company we shared. We are so grateful that Ben and Charlie opened their arms and their hearts to those we love. Our favorite memories will always be at The Ocean View Club.
We hosted a welcoming supper on Wednesday evening on the terrace, kicking off the beginning of our memorable trip. Our DJ, Devon aka Daddy D, actually caught the Tuna we were served the morning of our arrival. Our days after were spent playing bocce on the beach and floating lazily for hours in the ocean, Kaliks always in hand. We invited everyone to The Landing for supper on Thursday, served on the romantic patio for sunset on Harbour Island’s harbor. Dancing and shenanigans followed at many of the island’s disco techs, with a bit of night swimming to end the night.
Our parents hosted a Bahamian inspired BBQ of local flavors and libations on the lower terrace after our rehearsal, followed by a bonfire on the beach. Jay’s father gave a toast that everyone will always remember, and Lindsey successfully sabered a bottle of champagne to the excitement of everyone. We ate until we couldn’t, and enjoyed the company of the group with a seriously hilarious game of charades. No one wanted the night to end.
Saturday morning we all enjoyed a bit of beach before the girls retired for an afternoon of pretty pampering and primping. We decided to take our photographs as a couple before our ceremony, jaunting around the island on our golf cart, drinking champagne and sharing many wonderful moments with our photographer, Caroline, and her husband Mark. Our ceremony was held on the main terrace of the Ocean View Club, presided by a dear friend of ours. We wrote our ceremony together, maintaining many of the traditional rites, but also adding our own anecdotes and flair. We hosted a cocktail party directly after, entertained by each other and a duo of local musicians. Afterwards, our beach reception took place under a gorgeous white tent. Ben and Charlie created an elegantly simple tablescape adjacent to a custom dance floor. And boy did we dance! As the evening slipped into night, we migrated between the dance floor and the whimsical living room created around a bonfire. The scene was truly breathtaking. We would not have changed a single detail. As a special surprise for Jay, we spoiled our guests with an English muffin bar at the end of the night, as a late night snack for everyone before we departed. We exited along a lantern lit path from the scene, turning for one last long look to soak in the event that was a celebration in every way we had envisioned.