Bahamas Wedding Photography: Heather Carey Photography
First Look Location: Kataluma, Double Bay, Eleuthera
Venue: 1648, French Leaves, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera
Decor & Event Planner: Mish from Boy Meets Girl, Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera
Band: High Rock, Eleuthera
“Eleuthera, the other Bahamas”
History
Cupid’s Cay, directly adjacent to Governor’s Harbour, is actually the birthplace of the Bahamas (1648). Over 350 years ago, a small band of English pilgrims known as the Eleutheran Adventurers set sail from Bermuda seeking religious freedom, warmer climates and, to establish new lands. Several weeks later they shipwrecked on the reefs near Preacher’s Cave on North Eleuthera (the uninhabited Arawak Island of Cigatoo). After several months, the Eleutheran Adventurers worked their way to Cupid’s Cay. It was here that the thankful survivors renamed the island “Eleuthera”. source: www.eleutheralife.com.
The island of Eleuthera is absolutely my favourite place in the Bahamas – I visit not only for work (if that’s what you call my amazing life as a photographer!) but also for play. Perhaps the island calls to me because my family (the Carey’s of Ireland) were amongst the first to settle the country and did so in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera – so my story goes back, way back…. Eleuthera means Freedom, and for those of you who spend time on the island you’ll know that it really does convey a sense of peace, of community, of quiet and solitude while at the same time offering luxury resorts and rental homes, fine dining just steps away from the ocean, miles and miles of beaches where you can lose yourself and never come across another person, and, also Eleuthera offers a rockin’ wedding planner in Mish from Boy Meets Girl / Rainbow Inn in Rainbow Bay.
I love working weddings with Mish – her eye for style and decor is the bomb and it was so much fun to see what she did with Kristin and Michael’s wedding decor – the theme was the cactus plant. From lining the aisle on the ceremony pier to decorating the wedding cake in a cactus shaped heart, Mish knocked it out of the ball park with this one!
Kristin and Michael wanted to do a first look at the beautiful ocean front home they were renting in Double Bay – called Kataluma – and it provided the perfect setting amongst the coconut grove garden for their own sneak peak and a pre-wedding kiss. On our way to the wedding venue we stopped at a few historical places in the settlement (aka town) to take advantage of some of the back story of the island.
1648 (named after the first year the island was settled) is the restaurant / villa hotel belonging to French Leaves and has a beautiful view across Governor’s Harbour’s harbour. The setting sun was our backdrop for the ceremony located on the pier and the rest of the evening took place poolside. Kristin, Michael and I managed to sneak away just before sunset for some more photos at Cupid’s Cay, the historical Haynes Library and other buildings before heading back to 1648 to take some portraits on their stunning grounds.
Entertainment was provided by the amazing, energetic High Rock band of Eleuthera and I would recommend them for any event you have on the island (note the old fashioned playing of the saw in the lead singer’s hand – very old school Bahamian).
The guest list was short and sweet but this crowd managed to squeeze in some limbo dancing of their own and kept the band going until well after hours. This is one wedding I shall remember for years to come, that’s for sure!
Leave a reply