Wedding Information
Bryan and I are getting married in -852 days. Rest assured we are hard at work planning for the big day which will take place in the Bahamas. Just as soon as we have the final details and arrangements in order we will release them here on the BryanAndJoy.com web site. It is our goal to use this web site to help us keep in touch before the wedding while also giving us a place to share wedding stories and pictures afterwards. Please check back to for updates. Listed below are details about our Registry. Also, see below for information about the island and what to expect, how to get there and what to do once you arrive. Hope to see you there!
Traditionally, the to-be-wed couple would register for household goods to start off their lives together. Since Bryan and I are not traditional (hence everyone flying across the US to see us get married on a sand bar in the Bahamas), of course our registry is not traditional. We have registered at Macy's (www.macys.com), you can go to the store or look online under Joy Young and Bryan Franks. Otherwise, we ask for gift cards to Lowe's, Home Improvement Store (www.Lowes.com). In the near future Bryan and I would like to buy a 'fixer-upper' house, and renovate it ourselves. Lowe's is a favorite destination of Bryan and myself for all our home projects. It is also a wonderful feeling to know that wherever we buy a house, all of our family and friends will have helped contribute to make it our home.
Located just 50 miles due east of Miami, Florida, the Bimini Islands are made up of 2 landmasses totaling 9.5 square miles. North Bimini forms a sort of shepherd's cane that shelters a mangrove-lined lagoon used by many species of fish and invertebrates as a nursery. A ferry takes you across the small gap between the islands at $3 each way. The west side of the island is generally bare of mangroves and faces the Gulf Stream, visible from the shore. The majority of the 1,600 people that permanently reside on Bimini live on North Bimini in two towns called Alice Town and Bailey Town. A small airport is located on South Bimini and hosts airlines such as Lynx Air, Bimini Island Air, and now Continental. Power boats can make the trip from Florida in just a few hours. Bimini does have several marinas open for boats, but does not host any cruise ships.
Make no mistake, even though you are a 25 minute flight from the U.S., it is NOT the States. Imagine the Florida Keys from the 1950s. Life is laid-back and casual. The main form of transportation is walking or golf cart, but there is no golf course (yet, that is). The weather and water are beautiful, but there are also no tourist shops or name brand stores. Many people on the island still fish for sustenance and their living, so fresh fish and conch are a staple part of the diet. The water is crystal clear and you can see bottom-dwelling fish from the bow of a boat in 40 feet of water. In short, Bimini is beautiful. One might first see the island and wish for better paved roads that didn't flood and a giant dump to pick up all the broken and rusted boats, but that wouldn't be Bimini. Once you make a trip to the island, you'll always want to return. It truly is, as Hemingway said, "An Island in the Stream".
Bryan and Joy are definitely "animal people" so we encourage everyone to enjoy the abundant life found in the waters surrounding Bimini. If you are interested in deeper water, the SCUBA diving around the island is excellent. But since Bimini sits on the Grand Bahama bank, it is very shallow (30 feet or less) for a good distance around the island. So you can see everything while snorkeling.
- The Sapona is a concrete ship that ran aground in 1924 while being towed to Bimini to begin rum-running and was used as target practice by the U.S. Navy during WWII. In 1945 a navy plane, Flight 19, took off from Ft. Lauderdale and disappeared. One of the rescue planes also disappeared. No wreckage was ever found. Interestingly, the first part of Flight 19's mission was a practice bomb run on the Sapona. Since then, the ship has become a gathering point for reef and big game fish.
- Kayakingthrough the mangroves will also give you the opportunity to see all kinds of fish and wildlife and appreciate the beauty of the mangroves that make Bimini so unique. The mangroves line most of the shores, but they also form channels where only a small boat can navigate through it.
- You might also want to snorkel at the Stones of Atlantis on the west side of the island. It is rumored by some to be the entrance to the legendary city. The underwater stones seem oddly well cut and are lined up in what looks like a road.
- Other prime snorkeling spots: Three Sisters, a small group of rock out-croppings, and Bonefish Hole. Don't be surprised if you see a few sharks around. Don't worry, they won't hurt you. You should feel special for being able to see one of these amazing animals in the wild.
- Dolphin excursions around the island are offered at the Bimini Big Game.
- For all snorkeling, diving, and kayaking interests please visit Bimini Undersea
- U.S. currency and Bahamian currency are 1:1. American money is accepted everywhere on the island. There is one bank, with limited hours, and one ATM that dispenses Bahamian money, but is often out-of-order. Credit cards are accepted at the major marinas but usually have a minimum of $30.
- You MUST have a passport to enter the Bahamas.
- Expect to be awed by the beauty of the island and water. There is no movie theater, mall, bowling alley, or main stream shopping.
- Visit The Bahama's Website for information about travel and the islands.
- Your passport!
- Sunscreen and bug repellent. Sunscreen absolutely and bug spray (for mosquitoes) just in case.
- A bathing suit, or two.
- Light clothing, but also be sure to bring pants and a jacket when the sun goes down and the ocean breeze picks up.
- Sunglasses.
- Comfortable shoes, you will walk most places.
- Snorkeling gear (fins, booties, mask and snorkel) if you have them, otherwise you can always rent.
By air:
All flights to Bimini are approximately 20-25 minutes long. Several airlines have flights that leave out of Fort Lauderdale International airport and land on South Bimini including Continental airlines and Lynx air. Bimini Island Air also flies to South Bimini, but leaves out of the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport located approximately 20 minutes driving time from FLL.
South Bimini
- Beach Club: $185 avg
- Bimini Sands: $185 avg
- Big Game: $135-$225 US/ night
- Blue Water: $83 avg
- Sea Crest: $147 avg
- WeechÂ’s Bimini Dock and Bay View: $125
- Ellis Cottages
- Bimini Ocean Villas
- Big John's Hotel -
- Brown's Hotel & Marina
- Ebbie's Bimini Bonefish Club