[Editor's Note: I found this fantastic blog about finding the perfect venue for your destination wedding in Hawaii. Thanks to Sandi at Totem Travel.]
Destination Weddings are fast becoming the norm rather than the exception. Most couples are dreaming of a beach, sunset, and beautiful water when thinking of a wedding in Hawaii. We can help you find the best setting for your wedding, as well as help you and your guests deal with flights and accommodations. Once you decide on the island, which we will help you choose, the venue is next. We have contacts at many of the venues, and can work with them to provide you the best possible experience. Below are some ideas which hopefully will help you narrow down your options.
A wedding in Hawaii can include anything from a simple barefoot in the sand wedding with just the couple, to an opulent wedding, many guests, at ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu.
Each of the main Islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (The Big Island) and Kauai offer many beautiful venues.
Oahu, nicknamed The Gathering Place is the main island is the most populous and most commercial….in the Waikiki area. However, Oahu is so much more than the 66 acres that make up Waikiki. I recently toured Oahu with the specific purpose of visiting as many varied wedding venues as possible. Surprisingly, most of the venues were miles away, both figuratively and literally, from Waikiki.
This is not to say that many of the hotels along Waikiki do not offer beautiful wedding venues and packages. Most hotels offer wedding packages which can include all aspects of your wedding: catering, photography and music. A wedding coordinator is also available to help you plan everything, long distance! Outdoor sunset weddings are very popular, with rooftop or beach receptions!
Since most couples think of sand and beach, when they think Hawaii Wedding, there are some legal aspects involving permits, which are not costly but can be confusing and complicated. However, a good wedding planner, which we help you find, will deal with all of this on your behalf. Since the use of chairs, tables, arches and other assorted decorative elements are not allowed on the beach, be sure that all of your guests are comfortable with standing on the beach for 30 minutes while you repeat your vows, Remember, even if you do not actually recite your vows on the beach, photographers, which we can also help you find, love to photograph you on the beach, on the cliffs, in the water, at sunset, or sunrise. You will still have that beautiful beachfront wedding portfolio of pictures!
Many couples opt for a garden wedding overlooking the beach and ocean. One of my favorite locations for a garden wedding was on the Windward side of Oahu. There are garden & beach settings that make this venue particularly appealing. A casual wedding on the beach is of course very special, but even more special is that it can be on a Secret Island site! The Secret Island is actually private! You and your guests will be transported by boat to the Island, for your ceremony on the beach. You can have your reception on Secret Island, or in one of the gardens on the “mainland”. Very private and very romantic!
In addition to the Secret Island, garden settings offer some of the most beautiful wedding locations on Oahu. The staff will provide different decorative elements such as arches and flower arrangements, tables and chairs as are needed for your guests, and tents protection from the elements. Nature provides the views: Ocean, the small island, Chinaman’s Hat, and beautiful mountains all contribute to the ambiance!
Another of my favorite venues for a wedding is the Waimea Valley Park. This Park is on the North Shore of Oahu and has some of the most beautiful garden settings for a wedding. They do not have a beach, but they do have a beautiful waterfall! The waterfall is a short walk down a beautiful pathway with tropical flowers everywhere!
Some couples do want to have a chapel wedding, and Oahu has some beautiful options. Small privately owned chapels offer a beautiful setting in a tropical garden with sweeping ocean views. Many of the chapels have beautiful stained glass windows which contribute greatly to your photos, as well. The private chapels are generally non-denominational so they can provide your dream wedding regardless of religion. Some of the settings also feature gardens with waterfalls or fountains, gazebos and lanais for wedding ceremonies and receptions. One of my favorites also includes a Romeo and Juliet balcony for throwing the bouquet!!
Chapels in the harbor offer the unique opportunity for the bride and groom to be married, celebrate with their guests and fly off to their honeymoon on a sea-plane!!
Another chapel that is very convenient for guest staying in Waikiki is the St. Augustine By-The-Sea Waikiki Roman Catholic Church. The church is about 1 to 2 blocks off Kalakaua Avenue which is the main street in Waikiki. For your wedding photos, this church, built in 1854, with Neo-gothic architecture and many stained glass windows are going to be amazing!
For the ultimate in convenience, one or two of the Waikiki hotels have chapels on site. This can be particularly desirable if you are hosting a small wedding with all of the guests at the same hotel. The Ocean Crystal Chapel, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is a wonderful option. The Chapel is beautiful, air conditioned, great sound system, with an all-white color scheme. Since it is in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, there are many options your reception. Or maybe, the Waikiki Starlight Luau, on the rooftop, would be a great choice for your reception?
On the far North Shore of Oahu lies Turtle Bay. One of the most romantic settings on the island, this resort offers beautiful ocean views, gardens and an oceanfront chapel as wedding options. The waves are some of the biggest & most picturesque anywhere, and make the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.
Chapel at Turtle Bay
I’m sure you will agree Oahu is much more than Waikiki! But that’s fun, too!
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Muriel MacRae, is the owner of Del Sol Travel and has formed a new company called Del Sol Destination Weddings with Cathy MacRae. She has been helping couples plan and organize their dreams weddings throughout the world in exotic locations, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica. An expert in terms of dealing with some of the challenges of group travel, she is well versed in finding resorts that perfectly match the needs and wants of her clients. Furthermore, her expertise in wedding planning makes her more than just your regular travel agent.
