Hawaii Wedding Ceremony and Minister Information

Ceremonies and Ministers

Marriage License: You must come to the ceremony with your marriage license or you will not be legally married. Like a drivers license, only you and your fiance can apply for the license. This must be done at the State Department of Health. We handle processing of your license after the ceremony.

Keepsake Marriage Certificate: All of our ministers have their own personal "decorative" or "keepsake" wedding certificate. This is not the same as the legal marriage license! YOU MUST APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE TO THE STATE OF HAWAII AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE CEREMONY!

Hawaiian Lei Exchange: All of our ministers can incorporate a Hawaiian Lei exchange between the Bride & Groom into the ceremony. Either we can provide the leis or you may bring your own.

All of our officiates are licensed and registered with the State of Hawaii.

Celebrant Officiate: This is a spiritual civil ceremony. Officiates wear aloha or wedding appropriate casual attire. All incorporate limited Hawaiian prayers. Ceremonies are approximately 15 minutes.

Non-Denominational Marriage Officiate: This is a non-denominational spiritual ceremony. Officiates wear aloha or wedding appropriate casual attire. All incorporate limited Hawaiian prayers. Ceremonies are approximately 15 minutes.

Christian Minister: Our Christian Ministers perform a traditional Christian wedding ceremony and vow exchange, with limited Hawaiian prayers. Many work with Christian ministries. They wear aloha or wedding appropriate casual attire. If you would like traditional vestments, please make sure you select this on our order form. Ceremonies are approximately 15 minutes though can be longer depending upon the venue (paid) and type of wedding (usually the larger weddings with processional and recessional).

Hawaiian Kahu: Kahu means "Guardian of the Word". Our Kahu perform a non-denominational Hawaiian wedding ceremony incorporating a blend of modern and ancient Hawaiian wedding customs, prayers, and Hawaiian chant, into a familiar western style wedding ceremony. Kahu usually dress in aloha attire with Hawaiian Kahu accents. Ceremonies are approximately 15-20 minutes depending upon the venue and type of wedding.

FYI: Ceremonies with larger bridal parties i.e. groomsmen and bridesmaids, those which require a processional requiring more instruction and set-up, and usually those at a hotel or private site, will require an additional charge for the officiate/minister... it takes longer than our normal beach wedding.

What happens on wedding day?

You're going to bring your license to the ceremony... don't forget your rings!
The officiate or minister will give you instructions just prior to the ceremony.
We're going to set you up in place or give instructions for a processional if appropriate.
The ceremony will commence and you'll be married forthwith :)
After the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license and the decorative certificate.
The officiate/minister will take possession of the official marriage license.
You will keep the decorative certificate to take with you.
Your marriage license will be mailed to the marriage license office.

Can we include special words or traditions in our ceremony? Yes. Let the minister/officiate know when you are being given instructions prior to the ceremony that you have special words to share with each other. You can do your own vows but, we suggest you follow the format of the particular officiate. You can also add your own personal or cultural traditions. IMPORTANT: If you do, please keep in mind that this will lengthen the ceremony and may shorten the time for photos, video, etc. and consequently, you may want to add an extra 1/2 hour.

Can we meet or speak with the minister before our wedding day? Generally, no and mainly because, we may not know who your exact minister will be until your last payment. Again, all instructions are given on the day of the wedding and it's pretty straight forward so there's no need to meet. If you are having a "regular" type wedding at a hotel or estate which will require more instruction for the processional, your bridal party, and your family, you might consider a rehearsal on another day. Generally, that price will be $125 depending upon the officiate.

Can we use our own Officiate/Minister? We prefer that you use our vendors. They know exactly what to do and how to do it so that our photographers and videographers can get the best shots. If you have a family member, relative, or friend who is licensed, let us know and we will consider it. Non-AHW officiates/ministers must handle their own license processing. FYI: It's not a problem to have others participate in the ceremony without having them to actually "officiate". This will relieve you of the problem of making sure your license will be valid. Read about outside vendors in the FAQ section.