Hawaii Wedding and Ceremony Locations

About Locations:

We have areas all over the island that are good, it just comes down to what you want, where you want to be, the associated costs with using a particular location, and what works best for you based upon your requirements and needs.

Our primary selection criteria for locations are: scenic value for photos, easy accessibility for you and your guests, proximity to your other planned events and the services you require, and your cost considerations. We only suggest the best sites for weddings which suit your specific needs. You can of course, select any location you wish even if it's not on our form.

There are no "secret locations" or areas i.e. all wedding companies have access to the free public sites. Among the paid sites, everyone pays the same cost for usage and none of the most popular major locations are exclusive.

FYI: If you have reached the inescapable conclusion that you will have to use a paid site (hotel or estate), you must not wait! You can almost assume that weekend dates will be booked at the best venues as far out as a year. Increasingly we are finding that even weekdays are being booked as far in advance as the weekend dates. Consequently, if you know you will be getting married in Hawaii, do not put off planning it. As each month passes, your choices become more limited and maybe nonexistent long before you would think possible!


Free public sites:

If you are having a very small wedding party (under 15), limited budget, or just want it to be as simple as possible, a free public site is a good choice. The sites we use and recommend have great scenic value, are easily accessible, and for the moment do not require any permits. These sites are not private (what site really is?) though, most of these areas are large enough and Hawaii people respectful enough (they see weddings all the time), that you may experience almost as much privacy as you would many of the hotel sites which have guests walking around. Alcohol is illegal in public areas.

We don’t recommend elaborate set-ups or decorations like arches, chairs, stanchions, carpet runners, etc. at the free public beach sites (except for our Tiki Floral set-up). We really only make these items available for paid hotel or private estate ceremony sites which provide these elements i.e. arch and gazebo, stanchions, chairs, etc.

Here are just a few of the reasons why:

  • Renting and setting up these items can cost just as much as a paid hotel site but without the benefits of a hotel i.e. bathrooms, parking, easy access, etc.. Also, a hotel will usually provide an alternate spot for set-ups in case of incliment weather.

  • You cannot “reserve” your spot. It’s public and if others are using the spot you want or the only spot where a set-up can be done, you’re stuck.

  • Most beaches are sloping and the sand isn’t “packed” enough for chairs.

  • These set-ups are considered a nuisance by some and are really appropriate at a few location.



Paid Sites

The information we provide for these locations are for selection and information purposes only. Except for Lanikohonua, contracts for usage are made directly between the client and the facility and all site costs are paid by the client directly to the facility i.e. we don’t include these costs on our contracts and the facilities require contracts to be made directly with the clients.

Consequently, we suggest that either you contact the locations directly to check upon availability and to reserve your date or we can call locations and check upon availability for you, and have information sent to you. We require a $200 payment for this service of which $150 will be credited towards your reservation for our services.


Hotels:

If you are having more than 20 guests or want many of the traditional ceremony set-ups i.e. gazebo, chairs, aisle runner, stanchions, a hotel will be your best choice. Most not only have great looking manicured gardens, beach areas, and scenic views, but also the small things that make a great hassle-free wedding i.e. easy access, parking, bathrooms, security, semi-privacy, etc., a paid hotel location is worth the cost.

Paid sites can actually be less costly than a "free" location where you have to rent everything, paying for set-up and breakdown, etc. There are of course many hotels on Oahu though, only a relative few have the appropriate facilities and services and maybe more importantly, the  “look and feel” that says Hawaii wedding. It's a certainty, given your desires and wishes, that there is only one or possibly two hotels, among the many you have to select from, which will be best for your wedding. We add $15 per vendor for weddings at hotel sites for parking fee not associated with free site.


Private Estates:

There are semi-commercial locations and ranch sites which are referred to as "private estates" which are very scenic. We recommend 3 locations one of which one will be right for you depending upon your needs. You can have your ceremony and reception at most of these locations though some do not have food service facilities so everything has to be transported onto the site. If you are renting a vacation rental you may or may not be able to have a dinner reception so check with the rental agent before committing (see Receptions FAQ below for more info). Generally, if you are having a small ceremony, want something simple, or have a limited budget, we'd recommend using a free public site over a private estate and allocating those saved monies to other products and services of more lasting value.


Churches: There are a small number of churches which provide universal wedding services to non-parishioners and these churches are becoming fewer and fewer. Unfortunately, most are now contracted out, all day, to Japanese wedding companies who only really desire to service their Japanese clients. We have a few churches still available though we ask that you really consider getting married elsewhere. If yo must get married in a church, we'll try to help you.