NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Islands Of The Bahamas, recognized as the premier destination for romance, weddings, honeymoons and renewals, was the site of sixteen weddings as sixteen lucky couples from across the United States were married this afternoon. After winning their dream wedding, each ceremony took place on a different island with nuptials staged on Acklins and Crooked Island, The Abacos, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera and Harbour Island, The Exumas, Grand Bahama Island, Inagua, Long Island, Nassau, Paradise Island and San Salvador.

The invitation to participate, aptly named “16 Weddings, 16 Islands, One Priceless Day,” was issued on Valentine’s Day, February 14 last year and more than 3,000.00 couples across the United States of America submitted responses with the hope of being selected.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with Steven Singer Jewelers, Mon Cheri, 1.800mytuxe.com, made arrangements to provide the wedding rings, bridal gowns, the grooms’ tuxedos respectively. Couples also received as part of the wedding package – wedding cakes, bridal bouquets, décor for the signature weddings ceremonies, rehearsal dinners and the actual wedding reception – each of the uniquely different ceremonies was coordinated by the couples’ wedding consultant. The fortunate couples enjoyed the diversity, the beauty, the charm and distinct characters, flavors and cultures of each of their personal Bahamian nuptial.

The Bahamas’ Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Obie Wilchcombe thanked the participants saying, “While you have been a part of a promotion, the truth is we are sincere about sharing with you who we are and what we do. We want to share with you all that God has created for us and we want you to feel that you are a part of the family,” he said. “And so having you in The Bahamas to share such an important part of your life is truly significant. And we believe that events such as these will go down in history in helping us to define The Bahamas as the Romance Capital, particularly in a world where tourism is fast becoming the number one industry.”

Director General of Tourism, Joy Jibrilu also thanked the participants and invited them to return to The Bahamas. “What I would like to do is ask each of you to come back in future years and visit the 16 islands that have been part of this history making initiative,” she said.

16 Islands Weddings partners also include MasterCard®; Hope Town Harbour Lodge, The Abacos; Acklins Island Lodge, Acklins; Kamalamae Cay, Andros; Resort World Bimini, Bimini; Pigeon Cay Resort, Cat Island; Tranquility on The Bay, Crooked Island; Pineapple Fields, Eleuthera; Valentines Resort, Harbour Island; Sandals Emerald Bay, Exuma; Inagua Ocean Villas, Inagua; Stella Maris Resort; Long Island; Riding Rock, San Salvador; Grand Lucayan, Grand Bahama; Hilton Hotel Nassau and Atlantis Paradise Island.