How to Plan a Destination Elopement in Honolulu
Couples from all over the world choose to celebrate their love with an elopement in Hawaii, and one of my favorite locations to suggest is the capital city of Honolulu. Between its stunning beaches, mountain views, fun and lively vibes, and the abundance of resorts and activities to enjoy, Honolulu is a dream come true for couples looking to enjoy their elopement to the fullest. There is a bit of planning involved in a destination elopement at Hawaii’s capital city, so let’s go through everything you need to know!
Choose Where to Stay
An essential piece of the planning process is deciding where you’ll stay for your destination elopement, thankfully Oahu is spoiled with options. Some of Hawaii’s best and most luxurious resorts can be found in Honolulu and its wonderful neighborhood of Waikiki. My personal favorite is The Royal Hawaiian which sits right on the shores of Waikiki Beach, but there’s no shortage of lavish and luxurious resorts that will elevate your experience during your stay in paradise.
Choose Where You’re Eloping and Taking Portraits
Much like its abundance of phenomenal resort options, there are practically endless locations to choose from for your elopement ceremony and portraits. Whether you're looking for some classic Hawaiian beach vibes, something a bit more green and natural, or you want to experience historic Honolulu to the fullest, the choice is yours. Three of my favorite locations include:
Along Waikiki Beach
Tantalus Lookout of Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park
Book Your Elopement Vendors
Choosing the vendors that will bring your elopement vision to life is a crucial part of the planning process. The right vendor team can elevate your elopement from a great time to a once in a lifetime experience. Some vendors in my opinion are crucial for making this happen, while others aren’t always necessary. Still though, nearly every type of wedding vendor can elevate the elopement experience in one way or another. The choice then really comes down to the couple and the vision they have for their day.
Typical Elopement Vendors Include:
Photographer
Officiant (Known as Wedding Performers in Hawaii)
Hair and Makeup Artist(s)
Florist
Additional Vendors Include:
Videographer
Catering
Live Music
Rental Company
Planner/Coordinator
A Quick Note: As an elopement photographer in Hawaii I love assisting my couples in their planning process with things like location suggestions, timeline assistance, vendor recommendations, permit assistance, and more. If you plan on booking me as your elopement photographer I recommend doing so sooner rather than later so that I can help in the planning process to ensure your day is the best it can be!
Take Care of the Legalities
The legal aspects of eloping aren’t the most exciting bits to take care of, but they are among the most important. Thankfully Hawaii makes things relatively simple in this area. The Hawaii Department of Health has a very straightforward step by step guide to follow which you can find here. Be sure to stay on top of this so that you can relax and enjoy your
Plan for Your Guests
Yes, you can have guests at your elopement! Simply Eloped considers anything under 20 guests an elopement by definition, so invite your closest friends and family if you’d like to have them be a part of the experience. If you do plan on inviting some guests, it’s helpful to recommend them travel arrangements, where to stay, and what to do while in Honolulu for your elopement. Thankfully, as we’ve already covered, there are plenty of options in Honolulu with everything needed for a wonderful vacation, including the international airport.
Iron Out Your Timeline
Once you have an idea for what you want your elopement to look like, where it will take place, and who will be present, it’s time to finalize the timeline of your day. This is something I can help with as your photographer, but it’s important to keep in mind that your elopement is a celebration for YOU. Create the day and the experience that you want, and work with the suggestions of your photographer to ensure that everything you want to do will fit into your day. At the end of this article we’ll look at an example elopement that I photographed and how they made their day unique to them.
Have Fun and Celebrate!
There’s more to your elopement than just the ceremony itself. Your elopement in Honolulu is a whole day experience, so make the most of every moment. Take it slow in the morning and grab coffee together. Plan a romantic dinner at one of Honolulu and Waikiki’s many stellar restaurants like Roy’s Waikiki, La Mer, 53 By The Sea, and Fête. Try to fill your day with the things you love to do most and make it a full day celebration of your relationship. Be present with one another, and get ready to enter this new stage of life together as a married couple!
Here’s How Haille and Joe Celebrated Their Elopement in Honolulu
They took a morning swim together to start the day off right.
From there they snagged some coffee at one of the local, trendy coffee shops of Waikiki.
They then returned to their hotel to get ready, at which point I arrived for their first look.
We then headed to downtown Honolulu for some portrait photos in the gorgeous city town, including a stop at the iconic Hawaii Theatre in the Arts District.
From there we headed to the beach for their private vow reading and elopement ceremony at sunset.
After a few more portraits in the nearby mountains we parted ways, and Haille and Joel headed back into town for a romantic dinner to celebrate.
Theirs is just one example of what a full day of celebrating an elopement in Honolulu can look like. In truth, there are endless ways to create the elopement experience that’s right for you. You can have a sunrise ceremony with portrait photos afterwards, then give yourselves the entire remainder of the day to enjoy together. You can have portraits taken in the morning, then meet up with family and friends later in the afternoon for an intimate ceremony with your loved ones. There’s no wrong answers, so don’t be afraid to get creative and celebrate your elopement the way that YOU want to.
A destination elopement in Honolulu is one of the best experiences you can have on Oahu, but there are still plenty of other wonderful elopement opportunities found throughout the island. Take a look at this guide on some of my other favorite locations, and if you’d like to book me as your elopement photographer head to my contact page to send me an inquiry.
