How to Plan a Luxury Destination Wedding in Hawaii
If you’ve considered planning a destination wedding amidst the tropical paradise of the islands of Hawaii then you’ve likely realized how much planning goes into doing so. From booking your vendors, choosing a venue, creating the timeline of your day, and more, there’s a lot to consider and manage. As a Hawaii wedding photographer I don’t want this to discourage couples from choosing to celebrate their wedding here on these amazing islands, which is what’s led to this article’s creation. Here I’ll go through everything you need to know in order to plan your own luxury destination wedding here on the breathtaking islands of Hawaii.
Handle the Legalities
First and foremost, I want to discuss the legalities of having your wedding in Hawaii. This isn’t exactly the most exciting part of planning your dream wedding, but nevertheless it is crucial. Lucky for us Hawaii’s marriage laws are pretty simple and straightforward. I’ve written an article that covers everything you need to know in order to get your marriage license and have your wedding ceremony here on the islands, so bookmark it for a read after this article!
Dream Up Your Wedding Day
With the legalities out of the way, it’s time to start envisioning what your wedding day will be like. Do you want a large wedding or something smaller and more intimate? Would you like your ceremony and reception to take place at the same location? Do you have a setting in mind that you want to include, either for your ceremony, portraits, or your reception? Be open and honest with your partner as you discuss what you each want your wedding day to look and feel like as it will guide you through the planning process.
The When and Where of Your Destination Wedding in Hawaii
Some of the most important deciding factors when it comes to how your destination wedding in Hawaii will look and feel come down to the time and place.
Choose a Date
When it comes to choosing a date for your wedding day in Hawaii there are two main things you’ll want to consider: rainy season, and tourism.
Here on the islands we’re lucky enough to have pretty consistent weather throughout the year. Early spring and late fall typically have more rainfall than winter and summer, but these rain showers are usually fast moving and won’t last too long. Still though, it’s a good idea to inquire with your wedding venue on whether or not they have a fallback option for inclement weather, even if you intend on having your wedding outside this time of year.
Tourism is the other factor to consider when choosing your wedding date. The islands are a very popular destination for family and couples vacations alike, especially during the summer and winter months. This coincides not only with the drier months, but also with summer and winter breaks for families with kids. Even so, know that weddings in Hawaii are still very much possible during these months, though you’ll likely have to book things further in advance (as will your guests).
Choose an Island
There are 6 main islands you’ll want to consider for hosting your destination wedding in Hawaii, The Big Island (Hawaii), Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. Each of these islands offer breathtaking settings, stunning and luxurious wedding venues, and experiences that will make your time here on the islands truly unforgettable. Depending on how many guests will be attending your destination wedding, you may want to consider some of the more popular islands (Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai) as your destination to make travel arrangements simpler for your loved ones. If you’re up for more adventure and logistics planning though, Molokai and Lanai both offer some truly breathtaking settings for destination weddings!
Choose a Venue
As I alluded to above, the different islands all feature some truly spectacular wedding venues to choose from, many of which I’ve covered previously. From Sunset Ranch and Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, to my 5 favorites of Kauai, I’ve discussed many of my favorite venues in depth. To give you an idea of what each of the islands have to offer, check out this list of my top 8 luxury wedding venues across the islands.
Keep in mind the vision you have for your wedding day when choosing the venue that will host your day. You’ll want to ask these specific questions before booking your venue to ensure it’s the right fit for you:
Can the Venue Host the Different Events of Your Day?
Are You Able to Get Ready on Location?
Are there Portrait Opportunities at or Near the Venue?
Do They Offer an Indoor Option for Inclement Weather?
What Vendor Requirements do they Have?
How Long do You Have Access to the Space For?
Can They Accommodate All Your Guests?
Do They Offer Planning Assistance?
Create a Timeline
The timeline of your wedding day is what keeps everything flowing smoothly and according to plan, so having one that’s solid and takes all the different details of your day into account is crucial. Between getting ready, your first look, the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, portrait photos, travel time, and more, there is a ton to consider here. It’s one of the main reasons why many couples choose to book a wedding planner to help ensure that all these different moments work within the confines of your day, something we’ll discuss more next!
Book Your Vendors
Your team of vendors are the ones who are going to bring the vision you have for your wedding day to life. As such, finding the right vendors for your day is essential and worth taking the extra time to get right. Here’s a breakdown of all the different vendors you may want for your day, as well as what each of them brings to the table.
Wedding Planner
As mentioned above, a wedding planner can be one of the best investments you make for your wedding planning thanks to their help with your timeline creation. More than that though, they help with every aspect of planning for your day. If reading this article has you stressed thinking about all the different things you have to do in order to plan your destination wedding in Hawaii, consider booking a wedding planner to handle it all for you. All you’ll have to do is give them the vision you have for your day, and they’ll handle all the planning aspects allowing you to relax and enjoy yourselves!
Note: Some wedding venues require you to book a wedding planner in order to book their space, so keep that in mind!
Wedding Venue
Yes, your wedding venue is a vendor, and likely the second one you’ll be booking after a wedding planner! As we discussed earlier, there are a TON of fantastic wedding venues to choose from throughout the islands, so take your time in finding the right one. Just be sure to book them early, at least 12-18 months prior to your planned wedding date. If you’re struggling finding the right venue for you this is another area where a wedding planner can help. They can suggest venues that fit your vision, and this extends to other vendors as well as they have suggestions for each and every role.
Photographer
Another essential part of your wedding vendor team, your wedding photographer is the one who will help you to tell the story of your day. Once your wedding day in Hawaii is all said and done, all you’ll have left of the day are your memories and your wedding album. The right wedding album doesn’t just have photos from your day though, it helps to tell the love story that you’ve worked so hard to celebrate. This comes down to the photographer you choose, as each of us has a different approach to our photography style, editing style, and client experience. To read more about mine, and to see if I’m the right fit for you, check out this article.
Officiant
Known as wedding performers here in Hawaii, an officiant is an essential vendor to have for your ceremony as without them your wedding won’t be legal. For this you can either book a registered officiant, or you can have a friend of family member register through this link to perform your ceremony for you.
Hair and Makeup Artist(s)
Next are your hair and makeup artist(s), which you may book through a single studio, or you may have to book two separate vendors. Either way, having a team of artists you can count on to have you looking and feeling your best for your big day is key!
Wedding Coordinator
If you choose not to book a wedding planner, and instead would like to handle the majority of the wedding planning process on your own, you may still want to consider booking a wedding coordinator. A wedding coordinator is someone who will help to keep your day running smoothly, and can assist with any last minute questions you may have in the month or so leading up to your wedding day.
Videographer
Much like your photographer, a videographer will document your wedding day to allow you to relive your favorite moments for years and years to come, though we go about doing so in completely different mediums. While not every wedding necessarily needs both photography and videography coverage, it can’t be denied that many couples LOVE having a wedding video to help them relive the full story of their wedding day through a different lens.
Catering
Some wedding venues will have in-house catering that you are required to use for your reception, but if that isn’t the case there are plenty of excellent catering companies in Hawaii to work with to fuel your reception fun.
Florist
Many of the venues you’ll be choosing from for your destination wedding here in Hawaii feature stunning views and backdrops, but you’ll likely still want to book a florist for your day. Whether that’s just for simple touches like a your bouquets, or larger installments to really bring some floral beauty to the space, florists do incredible work and there are some wonderfully talented ones on the islands.
Entertainment
A wedding reception needs some entertainment, and there’s a lot to choose from on the islands of Hawaii. Whether you opt for a live band or a DJ is up to you as both are fantastic options, just make sure that your venue allows live bands if you intend to go that route.
Wedding Cake/Desserts
Last but not least, you’ll want to book a vendor to provide the wedding cake for your reception, and potentially some additional desserts as well. The cake cutting (if you opt to do one) is always such a fun moment of the wedding reception, and the right cake can enhance that experience even further.
Decide Where You’ll be Staying
Another important detail to iron out prior to your destination wedding in Hawaii is to choose where you, and potentially your guests, will be staying. With how popular tourism here is in Hawaii though the challenge isn’t so much finding a place to stay, and more so choosing between the incredible options. There are a ton of wonderful resorts throughout Hawaii that make for great options, not just for your stay, but also as wedding venues. Places like Andaz Maui and the Four Seasons Oahu are just two such examples that are perfect for both. Some even offer room discounts for couples that book their venue!
Decide Where You’ll be Staying
Another important detail to iron out prior to your destination wedding in Hawaii is to choose where you, and potentially your guests, will be staying. With how popular tourism here is in Hawaii though the challenge isn’t so much finding a place to stay, and more so choosing between the incredible options. There are a ton of wonderful resorts throughout Hawaii that make for great options, not just for your stay, but also as wedding venues. Places like Andaz Maui and the Four Seasons Oahu are just two such examples that are perfect for both. Some even offer room discounts for couples that book their venue!
As you can see, planning a destination wedding in Hawaii takes a lot of work, but the results are well worth it! For more wedding planning tips check out some of the articles linked within this blog, and if you’re interested in booking me as your photographer you can send me an inquiry through my contact page here.
