At 16:00 hours EST on January 16th, 16 couples were married on 16 Islands in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

The famous candy stripe lighthouse on Hope Town, Abaco in The Bahamas, provided the perfect backdrop for the wedding of Wanjira Banfield, to Pierre Alex Demosthene. Drizzling rain that started to intensify at exactly 1600 hours did not stop the wedding. Minister Silbert Mills began the ceremony on time and as the rain drizzled, umbrellas were brought out to cover the heads of the bridal party and the Minister.

The Abaco, “Light Up My Life” wedding, that took place atop a hill at Hope Town Harbor Lodge, for the Florida couple, was only one of 16 weddings that took place simultaneously on 16 Islands in The Bahamas.

The major bridal promotion launched by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, provided visibility and created awareness of the country as a premiere weddings and honeymoon destination. Couples looking for a wedding, honeymoon or anniversary destination can choose from 16 unique and exciting locations within the 700 Island archipelagic chain, as was successfully demonstrated by the multi-destination promotion.

The 16 Weddings, 16 Islands, One Priceless Day wedding promotion provided the 16 couples with air travel, accommodations and meals first to Nassau Bahamas and then on to one of 16 Islands in The Bahamas. The couples were chosen from an entry pool of thousands and their dream wedding prizes included wedding rings, bridal gowns, tuxedos, wedding ceremony, cake and reception.

Unique wedding experiences took place at Hope Town Harbor Lodge, Abaco; Acklins Island Lodge, Acklins; Kamalame Cay Resort, Andros; Resort World Bimini, Bimini; Pigeon Cay Club, Cat Island; Tranquility on The Bay, Crooked Island; Pineapple Fields, Eleuthera; Valentines Resort, Harbour Island; Sandals Emerald Bay, Exuma; Inagua Ocean Villas, Inagua; Gems of Paradise, Long Island; Riding Rock, San Salvador; Grand Lucayan, Grand Bahama; Hilton Hotel Nassau and Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island.

In addition to 16 hotel partners (listed above), other partners of the massive wedding initiative included MasterCard®; 1888mytuxes.com and Mon Cheri. Couples entered the competition at www.Bahamas16islandsWeddings.com.